As anybody who drives knows, there are lots of angry drivers on the roadway. You have probably suffered from road rage yourself. When a driver is angry, he or she can not focus clearly on driving. This makes that driver more likely to cause an accident because he or she might be driving fast, too close to other vehicles, or simply too focused on his or her rage to notice traffic signs and sudden stops. If you are injured in a car accident that resulted from road rage, you could be entitled to recover monetary compensation for your related damages.
What Causes Road Rage?
Road rage has many causes. At its root, road rage is the manifestation of a threatened or power-hungry individual seeing others on the road as objects, rather than people. When you are safe within your vehicle, it can be easy to see other vehicles as simply parts of the landscape, rather than cars carrying people with lives and families.
Stressful situations can trigger road rage. Examples of the kind of situation that makes drivers enraged include:
- Traffic;
- Hot weather;
- Stress at work or at home;
- Pressure from being late to destinations; and
- Thoughtless or aggressive driving from others on the roadway.
What to do After a Road Rage Accident
If you do not feel safe to exit your vehicle, stay in the vehicle and lock your doors. If you can, move your vehicle off the roadway and into a safe place like a parking lot. Then, call the local police to have an officer sent to the scene to fill out an official police report.
Usually, your next step should be to exchange insurance information with the other driver involved in the crash. But if the other driver is being verbally abusive and appears to be escalating the conflict, let law enforcement handle him or her. There are other ways to obtain the negligent driver’s insurance information, like determining the driver’s identity according to the vehicle’s license plate number or getting it from the official police report for the accident.
Pursuing Compensation for Your Car Accident Damages
In most cases, New York car accident victims file personal injury protection (PIP) claims with their own insurance providers to cover their damages. If your injury is severe enough, you could potentially recover compensation from the negligent driver’s insurance provider through a personal injury claim. Your lawyer can explain the differences between these claim types to you and help you develop an effective personal injury claim.
Your Floral Park personal injury attorney will offer you a clearer perspective on the matter once you understand your legal options. If the liable party’s insurance company denies your claim or tries to “make you go away” with a lowball lump sum, your attorney will take the necessary steps to press for more settlement negotiations or take your case to court. It is for the best to hire an attorney in the earliest stages of your case to ensure you receive fair damages for your injuries and material losses. You could also benefit from the expertise of a car accident lawyer in Floral Park NY or enlist the help of a Floral Park construction accident lawyer if you want to pursue other compensation venues through third-party civil lawsuits. Your legal team will offer you the best advice on how to pursue damages and from whom, so you maximize your chances to a full recovery.
Work with an Experienced Long Island Car Accident Lawyer
Road rage causes auto accidents. Sometimes, it kills. If you were injured in an accident with an angry driver, you could be entitled to recover compensation for your damages through a personal injury claim. Learn more by setting up your free legal consultation with one of the Long Island car accident lawyers on our team at the Law Office of Cohen & Jaffe, LLP today. Aggressive representation in New Hyde Park, Lake Success, Floral Park, Glen Oaks, Great Neck, Hempstead, Hollis & Valley Stream.
