Aggressive Driving Legal Issues

Aggressive driving has high costs in human life, health and property damage. Handling your car poorly on the road for any reason can be dangerous, but irresponsible driving due to aggression can be deadly. Talk to a car accident attorney about the details of the crash to determine if you have a valid claim.

Accidents are caused daily by speeding, swerving and running through stop signs. In fact, the majority of drivers in fatal crashes displayed at least one of these or other aggressive driving behaviors prior to impact.

While driving aggressively is not in itself a crime, it can result in being charged with moving violations, personal injury and wrongful death.  Serious legal consequences can arise from something as simple as an emotional distraction and a foot on the accelerator. Learn how to avoid or deal with becoming a victim of your own or another driver’s anger.

Intoxication
Besides the obvious physical impairment, drinking and driving poses a risk for heightened aggressive behavior. You don’t have to be over the legal blood-alcohol limit to lose control of your mood while behind the wheel. Alcohol affects individuals differently and does not have a consistent influence. It may induce a feeling of well-being one day and anxiety the next, often based on the person’s mood prior to ingesting it.

Road aggression works in a similar fashion. The driver’s state of mind prior to turning on the engine can greatly sway the way in which he will handle his vehicle. Add alcohol to a bad mood, and you may have an accident in the making.

The legal problems of driving under the influence are well known, though they vary by jurisdiction. Talk with a personal injury attorney or car accident attorney to learn your state's law. Most states are cracking down hard on intoxicated drivers, whether an accident is caused or not. Aggression fueled by alcohol, however, raises the chances of a wreck. Steep fines, license suspensions, court-ordered rehabilitation and incarceration are all used as penalties.

Even if you are sober and cause a crash due to emotional driving, you could become entangled in lawsuits and even personal retribution. If you are on the giving or receiving end of an injury caused by an accident and you suspect an emotional issue, contact an attorney right away.

If admitted aggression is already a matter of police record, to help prove negligence, or a charge that the driver did not use due care in respecting the safety of human lives. This can lead to personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits, involving high monetary damages and possible prison time.

Don’t assume that because you are driving with friends that you are either exempt from potential liability or serious physical harm. If you’ve caused an accident or if you’ve witnessed your friend displaying aggressive driving habits in the past, think twice before getting in the passenger’s seat.

Your Driving Record
Even if you manage to steer clear of accidents, aggressive habits can show up as traffic infractions on your driving record. This can influence your insurance rates and ability to maintain a license. Review your usual mental state while in the car and how well you follow the rules of the road.

Consider a driver safety course if you frequently:

• Fail to signal turns or lane changes
• Run red lights or stop signs
• Drive at tight intervals
• Cross the center line
• Exceed the speed limit

These are all violations that police are looking for and have come to associate with aggressive behavior. Avoid the inconvenience of being pulled over, costly tickets and a potential accident by addressing the issue yourself before you have a legal problem.

You can get aggressive driving under control. Find out how to increase your driving safety at the  AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. 

Have you been the victim of an aggressive driving accident?