Address: 5622 Central Avenue , St. Petersburg, Florida 33707
Phone: 727-571-1333
Email: contact@jlgtampabay.com
©2025 Jones Law Group. All Rights Reserved. Website and SEO by Site Social SEO
Are you injured or wronged and interested in a consultation? Fill out the form for a free consultation with us.
The Dangers of Road Rage
One of the primary dangers of road rage is that it leads to aggressive and careless driving behaviors which put other drivers, passengers, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians in harm’s way.
Summary
It’s not an exaggeration at all to say the dangers of road rage are frightening. Not only does it not make any sense whatsoever, it can also lead to injuries that can have lifetime consequences.
Road rage can also have a tragic end – and all because someone chose to get behind the wheel when they were having a really bad day and decided to take out their aggression on innocent people.
Even if you weren’t the intended target of a road rage incident, you may still have sustained injuries caused by an out-of-control driver. At the Jones Law Group, we don’t have any patience for drivers who give in to road rage.
When they cause an accident that results in severe injuries – or worse – they have to be held accountable and forced to pay dearly. Our attorneys will be ready to help you get every penny of compensation if you’ve suffered an injury in a senseless road rage accident.
Schedule a free review of your case by giving us a call at (727) 571-1333 or contacting us online.
Road Rage Statistics Highlight the Dangers of This Behavior
Even though everyone knows about the dangers of road rage, many of us don’t realize just how bad this problem is. Here are just a few statistics that will paint a clear picture:
Car accidents caused by road rage can inflict catastrophic injuries that impact lives of accident victims and their families for years to come, and statistics like these emphasize the gravity of the issue.
What Causes Road Rage?
Just about every driver has been on the road when they were frustrated for some reason or another. But what makes someone so angry that they become so consumed by road rage they cause an accident?
Types of Aggressive Driving
Aggressive driving can take a lot of forms. As road rage increases in Florida, here are just a few examples of impulsive behavior to be mindful of, as they can be incredibly hazardous.
Even if the aggressive driver’s vehicle never actually hits your car, their actions can still be a dangerous distraction. A driver exhibiting road rage may bear some liability if their reckless behavior contributed to your car accident and subsequent injuries.
What Types of Accidents Does Road Rage Cause?
Road rage can contribute to a lot of different kinds of car wrecks. Here are a few of the more common ones.
T-Bone Accidents
When someone is so angry that they are completely oblivious to the safety of the people surrounding them, they could easily speed through a red light or a stop sign. This will very likely result in the road rage driver slamming into the side of another motorist entering the intersection.
Head-On Collisions
In extreme instances, one of the dangers of people with road rage is they can get so irate that they actually become disoriented and don’t realize where they’re going.
They can wind up going the wrong way on a highway by trying to enter by using an exit ramp. It doesn’t take a lot of imagination to picture just how devastating this kind of high-speed, head-on collision can be.
Rear-End Accidents
Again, a traffic jam can be infuriating – but there are plenty of drivers who take their anger to extremes. They might be so enraged they will try to plow through any vehicle in their path and slam into the rear of an unsuspecting driver as a result.
Rollover Accidents
Generally, a vehicle has to be traveling at a high rate of speed in order to actually overturn. Sometimes, aggressive drivers become so impatient that they seize an opportunity to slam on their accelerator without regard for anyone else’s safety.
If they collide with another vehicle, say on the highway, both cars may be at risk of a rollover. Even if the aggressive driver’s vehicle overturns because they struck a stationary object, their damaged car and the debris it produces can become hazards to nearby motorists.
Chain-Reaction Accidents
A driver exhibiting road rage can cause considerable destruction in their wake. Subsequent collisions may result as other drivers swerve to avoid them, encounter debris from the crash, or become distracted by the spectacle.
How Does Road Rage Affect Car Accident Claims?
You might know beyond a shadow of a doubt that another driver’s road rage led directly to your accident. In order to file a successful car accident claim, however, you’ll have to show solid proof that was the case.
If your attorney can uncover that evidence, there’s a chance you could obtain what are known as “punitive” damages. It’s important to know that punitive damages are hardly ever awarded.
But the point is to punish someone for egregious negligence and to do so severely that others won’t make the same mistake. Who would deserve this kind of punishment more than someone causing an accident due to their road rage?
How Does Road Rage Affect Compensation?
One of the dangers of road rage is that they can be incredibly traumatizing emotionally to an injury victim. A typical accident may involve negligence, but road rage is an even worse form of negligence.
Victims may suffer severe emotional harm because they were directly targeted. If that’s the case, they could obtain even more compensation in a car accident settlement in addition to what they’ll already have coming for their medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.
Contact Jones Law Group if You’ve Been Involved in a Car Accident
While the dangers of road rage are obvious to most drivers, the potential costs of a road rage-related car accident injury may not be. Our team of Florida personal injury lawyers can help you identify your damages and pursue compensation for those losses.
The expert, passionate car accident attorneys with the Jones Law Group are standing by to help if you’ve suffered an injury in a road rage accident.
Contact us online or call (727) 571-1333 for a free review of your case. We take road rage-related car accident cases from Madeira Beach, Largo, Gulfport, and other communities in the St. Petersburg area.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do if another driver is exhibiting road rage towards me?
Even if you are tempted to respond, do not engage an aggressive driver. This only puts you at a greater risk of getting injured.
Avoid making eye contact, continue to operate your vehicle in a responsible manner, and do not retaliate. Try to put space between you and the aggressive driver as quickly and as safely as you can.
Should I go see a doctor after a road rage car accident?
Absolutely. Seeking medical attention for personal injuries is standard after a typical car accident, let alone one involving road rage. Chances are good that your adrenaline is pumping, which may be temporarily clouding your ability to perceive pain.
Therefore, it’s important to let a medical provider assess you for any injuries. Another one of the dangers of road rage is that it can cause acute stress, which can lead you to make mistakes like forgoing medical attention, consequently compromising any case you may consider bringing.
What is the deadline to file a claim in civil court following a road rage incident?
Criminal and civil statute of limitations often differ. If you’re looking to file a personal injury claim to recover financial compensation because an aggressive driver injured you, that would be considered a civil case, and you would have 2 years to bring a claim under Florida law.
About the Author
Bobby Jones is the founder and managing partner at Jones Law Group. He has been practicing law for over 20 years, primarily focusing on personal injury and civil law, commercial and business law, and construction law. He routinely writes and reviews the articles on this blog.
The Benefits of Having Car Insurance
January 30, 202510 Distractions that Cause Car Accidents
January 28, 2025What Do Those Intersection Traffic Light Cameras
January 25, 2025The Dangers of Road Rage
January 23, 2025Top 5 Types of Motor Vehicle Accidents
January 20, 2025Categories