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Road rage has come to describe a kind of blind anger demonstrated by one driver toward another driver. The provoking driver may not even be aware of the situation until the angry driver takes some retaliatory action. Road rage can lead to aggressive and unsafe driving behaviors resulting in accidents. Proving road rage caused an accident involves establishing a driver’s state of mind at the time of the accident.
There is no denying the frustration experienced at times when driving on busy roads with impatient people. But do people who experience road rage get angry because they are driving or are they driving while already upset? It’s hard to say why some people seem to take driving so personally that the careless actions of other drivers can send them into a furious madness leading to irrationally aggressive and dangerous behaviors.
A significant contributor to road tension is distracted driving. Such lapses can lead to misunderstandings and, in unfortunate cases, accidents. Post-accident, understanding fault, managing medical bills, and being aware of potential delayed injuries become paramount. Always remember the importance of documenting the scene for future reference.
According to NBCnews.com, traffic conditions are not the underlying cause of road rage, but they can provide the circumstances triggering it. From a psychological perspective, persons susceptible to road rage are thought to be in a negative frame of mind to begin with. The actions of another motorist just happen to unleash the beast.
The precipitating actions don’t even have to be particularly aggressive to provoke road rage. But the triggering behaviors are usually inconsiderate or illegal driving maneuvers. It is the perception of the interpreting driver that determines the aggressiveness of the response. Seeing another motorist texting while driving has been identified as a trigger for road rage.
A recent survey of drivers from every state ranked each state in terms of its confrontational drivers. Nevada ranked 6th for having the highest incidence of road rage. The drivers surveyed identified the following as the top four aggressive driving behaviors:
Evidence showing that aggressive driving behaviors were engaged prior to an accident supports the conclusion road rage was a cause of the crash.
Something about driving seems to bring out the worst in a lot of people. Incidents of road rage are increasing and are becoming more escalated. The following statistics compiled by Simply Insurance show that road rage and aggressive driving in the United States have become common behaviors and contribute significantly to automobile accidents.
Road rage shootings hit an all-time high in 2021. More than 500 people were injured or killed in roadway shootings – marking a 78% increase since 2019. The additional stresses felt by people while dealing with the pandemic may have contributed to heightened tensions and aggressive responses by drivers.
Nevada has seen its share of road rage incidents involving guns in 2022.
In cases that do not involve road rage, liability for personal injuries is typically imposed for the lack of ordinary care demonstrated by the at-fault driver. In personal injury cases involving road rage, the behavior of the at-fault driver is more deliberate and targeted. A driver’s deliberate actions may also violate criminal laws.
The law in Nevada imposes criminal penalties on drivers who are convicted of driving either ‘aggressively’ or ‘recklessly’. Aggressive driving includes such actions as speeding, following too closely, improper or unsafe driving, and failing to yield the right of way. Reckless driving is driving with a willful disregard for the safety of other people. When a driver is convicted of a criminal driving offense, it provides conclusive evidence of civil liability for the resulting injuries to others.
The mental state of the at-fault driver may also affect the amount of damages an injured party may recover. In civil liability cases, when someone acts with ‘gross’ negligence, they’ve shown deliberate indifference to the duty not to cause harm to others. A finding of gross negligence makes it possible for additional damages to be awarded.
Auto insurance policies are underwritten to cover accidental losses – such as those caused by a driver who is distracted or unable to negotiate difficult driving conditions. Many auto policies exclude coverage for bodily injury that can reasonably be expected to result from an intentional act whether or not the harm was intended.
When road rage is the cause of an accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance company may look very closely at the exclusions section of the policy to see if the actions of their insured fall outside the coverage. This may mean bad news for the injured person trying to recover compensation from the road rage driver. Proving road rage may not be the best strategy if it will prevent a driver’s insurance policy from providing coverage for the damages caused.
If you have been involved in a car accident cause by road rage, please call 702-680-1111 or contact us online so we can start discussing your case.
As founder of Gina Corena & Associates, she is dedicated to fighting for the rights of the people who suffer life-changing personal injuries in car, truck and motorcycle accidents as well as other types of personal injury. Gina feels fortunate to serve the Nevada community and hold wrongdoers accountable for their harm to her clients.
