Aggressive Driving: An All-Too-Common Problem
October 18, 2017- Categories: Vehicle Accidents
Driver’s education classes warn drivers against aggressive driving. Nonetheless, aggressive driving is commonplace on Southern California roads. According to a spokesperson for AAA of Southern California, 80% of drivers in the United States admitted that they engaged in at least one type of aggressive driving in the last year. Dangerous and aggressive driving often leads to serious accidents and injuries.
Neale & Fhima personal injury attorneys frequently represent aggressive driving accident victims in Orange County and Southern California. Our personal injury attorneys are experienced in pursuing legal action against aggressive drivers who cause accidents that hurt other people. If you are in need of legal advice, please contact us today.
What Is Aggressive Driving?
Aggressive driving is any type of unsafe driving behavior that is done deliberately with a disregard for the safety of others. The most common types of aggressive driving are:
- Speeding in traffic
- Tailgating
- Cutting off other drivers and slowing down
- Running traffic lights
- Weaving in/out of traffic
- Changing lanes with no turn signals
- Blocking other vehicles attempting to pass.
Extreme cases of aggressive driving may escalate to road rage, a term that actually originated in Los Angeles. Examples of road rage include cursing at other drivers, throwing things, ramming or sideswiping another vehicle, or forcing other drivers off the road. If you’ve been a victim of such behavior, consulting a vehicle accident lawyer can be crucial to understanding your rights.
How Common Is Aggressive Driving?
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety estimates that drivers engaged in these aggressive driving behaviors in the last year::
- Tailgating on purpose: 51%
- Yelling at other drivers: 47%
- Honking to show anger: 45%
- Making obscene gestures: 33%
- Blocking another vehicle trying to change lanes: 24%
- Cutting off other vehicles: 12%
- Exiting vehicle to confront other drivers: 4%
- Ramming or bumping other vehicles: 3%.
AAA also reports that aggressive driving leads to more than 50% of all auto accidents. Clearly, aggressive driving is a problem in Southern California and around the United States. But it gets worse. If you or a loved one has been involved in an auto accident caused by aggressive driving, seeking assistance from experienced auto accident lawyers is crucial.
Aggressive Driving Leads to Accidents and Injuries
Terrible accidents from aggressive driving happen fast. In Santa Clarita in June 2017, a scary cell phone video showed a motorcyclist kicking a Nissan sedan’s driver-side door on a busy highway. Such incidents highlight the importance of consulting a motorcycle accident lawyer when faced with such situations. The sedan driver, startled, swerved and smashed into a cement barrier. Next, the sedan hit a pickup truck, which flipped over. The truck driver suffered a serious gash to his head. But he survived, fortunately. Anyone in such situations should consult with a truck accident lawyer to understand their rights.
This type of accident from aggressive driving is typical, and getting more frequent. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration reports that deaths from aggressive driving have soared 60% since 2011. Aggressive driving incidents also often lead to traffic accidents and serious personal injuries, such as cuts, bruises, whiplash, chest injuries, broken bones and worse.
If you or a loved one in Southern California has been injured due to an aggressive driver, you have legal options. You may be able to file a lawsuit against the aggressive driver for your accident injuries, including:
- Medical expenses
- Past, current and future lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium.
Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyers in Southern California
Neale & Fhima is a full-service personal injury law firm serving Southern California, with offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego and San Francisco. Our attorneys can help you to deal with the insurance company and ensure that your legal rights are safeguarded. If you need legal advice about an accident involving an aggressive driver, please call (949) 661-1007 or complete the contact form below.
Attorney Aaron Fhima
Aaron Fhima is a trial attorney who has secured numerous settlements and verdicts against large corporations and some of the largest auto manufacturers in the world. Representing consumers and injury victims throughout the state of California, Aaron’s practice areas include personal injury, and lemon law litigation. Aaron has a long record of success taking on large defense firms; and he doesn’t hesitate to take cases to trial when necessary to enforce his clients’ rights. [ Attorney Bio ]
