Buffalo Personal Injury Lawyer NewsHow To Handle Road Rage: A Defensive Guide
Road rage refers to a driver’s intense anger, typically sparked by another’s provoking behavior and manifested through aggressive or violent actions. In recent years, road rage incidents have hit record highs throughout the United States. According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), experiencing aggressive driving has become all too common, with approximately 80 percent of motorists reporting at least one incident within the past month.
Aggressive driving frequently escalates into all-out road rage, such as forcing other vehicles off the road, brake checking, or even ramming into others. It typically involves intimidation and attempts to damage cars or injure other drivers. Unfortunately, road rage accidents result in much more devastating injuries due to aggressiveness, high speeds, and violent impacts than other collisions. Over 30 victims’ lives are senselessly taken in road rage-related incidents yearly.
Why Do Drivers Experience Road Rage
Victims of car accidents may be forced to deal with painful lacerations and bruises or even more severe injuries, like broken bones and traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, it is essential to remember that collision-related injuries are not always physical. It is common to experience various emotions, such as anxiety, anger, fear, and depression. For some victims, these feelings can persist long after their bodily injuries have healed. 
While car crashes can happen just about any time, the risk of being involved in a collision significantly increases in bad weather. In fact, bad weather conditions are notorious for causing devastating car accidents throughout Western New York. Heavy rain, intense snowfall, poor visibility, and slick roads can all easily cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Driving in poor weather conditions is even more dangerous when drivers fail to take proper safety precautions to prevent unnecessary accidents. 
Another road construction season comes every year. While some drivers might get a little annoyed when they see the flashing arrows and orange cones, it is essential to remember construction crews are just doing their jobs. Without them, our roads and highways would never get repaired or resurfaced. You might not consider the dangers these workers encounter on the job, but being hit by a passing vehicle is at the top of the list. The additional challenges and distractions of construction zones also generate more significant risks for everyone on the road. 
Everyone leads a hectic life from time to time, and it is easy to get caught up in our busy schedules. Consequently, many drivers find themselves in a rush behind the wheel to reach their destinations on time. Regardless of how late you are, avoiding driving faster than the speed limit is crucial. Speed limits are posted for the safety of everyone on the road. Driving too fast will not only put you in danger but also others in the area, such as your passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and occupants of other vehicles. 
A fundamental rule lies at the heart of driving safely: unwavering attention to the road ahead. It’s a universally acknowledged truth that texting while driving can unleash a cascade of catastrophic events—wreaking havoc in the form of harrowing accidents, grievous injuries, and tragic loss of lives. We’ve all encountered those disconcerting moments behind the wheel, encountering fellow drivers whose focus seems adrift. Imagine the vehicle just ahead, swaying unpredictably. Despite your persistent horn blasts, the driver remains unperturbed. Frustration builds until you manage to overtake, only to catch a glimpse of the culprit—engrossed in texting on their phone. Does this unsettling scenario sound familiar?
Buckle up for a startling revelation: in the United States, a car accident occurs every minute, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Collisions have stealthily climbed the ranks to become one of the top three leading causes of preventable injuries and deaths. From minor fender benders to heart-stopping head-on encounters, the aftermath of each car accident can unleash a devastating wave of severe bodily harm, psychological trauma, and emotional distress.
Getting into a car accident can be terrifying and nerve-racking, especially if you or a passenger have suffered severe injuries. You may not know where to turn, and to add insult to injury, it may feel like your insurance company is not offering you the compensation you deserve. Your injuries may be causing you considerable pain and make it impossible to maintain the same job or even work at all. 
Millions of car accidents take place throughout the country each year. Unfortunately, many crashes result in costly property damage, severe personal injuries, and sometimes even wrongful death. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s top rated car accident injury lawyers realize that getting into a collision can be a frightening ordeal. After being the victim of an accident, it is only natural to be confused, upset, and frightened. It is common to endure post-psychological shock symptoms, such as racing thoughts, heightened anxiety, panic, and increased heart rate. 
Most new car models offer sophisticated safety features like collision avoidance systems, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure technology. Despite state-of-the-art advancements in car safety, getting behind the wheel is still one of the most dangerous things the average person does daily.