Road rage is one of the leading causes for car crashes in the U.S. today. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA), road rage is involved in about 66 percent of traffic fatalities. A recent study also revealed that Indiana has more incidents of road rage than any other state in the country.
If you were involved in an accident and suffered injuries due to an act of road rage, our attorneys at Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak are prepared to help. Having a licensed attorney on your side to protect your interests after a traumatic traffic accident helps to protect your legal interests and may also strengthen your claim.
Learn more about how we may be able to help by setting up your free, no-obligation consultation at our firm.
The Difference Between Road Rage and Aggressive Driving
Many people may believe that road rage and aggressive driving are the same, however, they are different.
Aggressive driving happens when someone operates his or her car in a manner that could endanger others on the road, such as:
- Driving at excessive speeds
- Following or tailgating dangerously close
- Aggressively cutting in front of you and then slamming on brakes
- Speeding up to get through a red light
- Merging into another lane without signaling
- Darting in and out of traffic
- Speeding up or blocking cars as they attempt to pass or change lanes
Road rage is the extreme of what happens when aggressive driving behavior transitions into anger or violence. Aggressive driving is behavior that merits a traffic ticket, but road rage often turns into criminal offense. Examples of road rage could include:
- Screaming or gesturing at someone
- Excessive horn honking
- Stopping and getting out of a car to attack another driver in person
- Striking another person’s car with a vehicle
- Other physical violence, such as shooting someone from a car
Gathering Evidence for Damages
After an accident due to road rage that causes you to suffer injuries and other damages, you may be able to pursue a claim for compensation. However, often a person who commits road rage may quickly leave the scene of an accident, making it difficult to hold him or her accountable.
If you can capture any identifying information, such as the license plate or car make and model, police may be able to identify the at-fault driver.
Eyewitness, dash cam footage or camera footage from nearby traffic cameras or business surveillance may also help you capture information about the person as well as evidence of liability for the crash. Try to get statements and contact details from any eyewitnesses and take photos of the damage to your vehicle and your injuries.
Indiana Takes Road Rage Seriously
In Indiana, according to state laws under Indiana code: IC 9-21-12-13, a driver who commits an act of road rage can face misdemeanor charges and punishment, even for a first offense. Penalties may include a one-year driver’s license suspension, fines up to $1,000 ($5,000 if the defendant passed a school bus that was stopped) and 180 days or more of jail time if the defendant caused a person bodily harm.
Pursuing Compensation for Your Injuries
In Indiana, drivers can seek compensation through a personal injury claim for injuries and other losses sustained due to an act of road rage. However, it is important to seek medical attention immediately following the incident. In addition to protecting your health, doctor’s notes and medical records will help to link your injuries to the accident.
Getting compensated for injuries after a road rage accident can be challenging, especially if the driver left the scene. Our experienced lawyers have years of experience handling all types of car crash claims, and we are prepared to help victims hold the at-fault party accountable for the injuries and other losses he or she caused.
Contact an Attorney for Help Pursuing a Claim
At Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak, our attorneys are standing by to answer your legal questions and help you pursue maximum compensation if you have a valid case.
Contact our firm to set up a free legal consultation with one of our South Bend car accident lawyers. It is completely confidential, and there is no obligation to move forward with a claim. During this meeting, we can determine your legal options and answer your questions. We strongly recommend that you do not wait to get started on a claim, especially after a crash caused by road rage or aggressive driving behavior.
There are no upfront costs if we take your case, and you also pay no attorney fees unless we first recover compensation through a settlement or jury verdict.
Call Pfeifer, Morgan & Stesiak today: (574) 444-0741
