Have You Been Injured in an Aggressive Driving Accident?
Most people think that aggressive driving includes only extreme instances of "road rage." But the Chicago aggressive driving accident lawyers at our office would tell you road rage is often provoked by some seemingly minor infraction which may even be inadvertent.
For example, cutting into someone's lane a little too closely, failing to use a turn signal, or passing too close. And sometimes these infractions are carried out on purpose by other aggressive drivers. Some people seem to believe that the safety of others is less important than their own desire to reach their destination as fast as possible.
These actions can cause another offended driver to become irrationally angry. And he or she may react by using a vehicle as though it is some kind of tool for revenge.
The "injured" party feels justified in running someone off the road or hitting someone's vehicle. Or, purposefully cutting in front of someone, or undertaking some other dangerous activity with the intent to "get even," and to "show them how it feels."
In some cases, drivers have been shot at and driven into ditches or oncoming lanes. And when two angry drivers decide to use their vehicles in a contest of who is "tougher" or "right", the results can be deadly. And not only to themselves, but to others as well.
Unfortunately, these angry drivers have little or no regard for the safety of the other party. Further, they have no concern for anyone else who has the misfortune to be in the immediate vicinity.
Aggressive Driving is Not Just Extreme Behavior
But aggressive driving does not just include these sorts of extreme behaviors. Aggressive driving can be characterized, essentially, as not driving "defensively."
A motorist who drives while keeping the safety of himself and other users of the roadway in the forefront of his mind is a defensive driver. Driving defensively should be every driver's primary priority. This, regardless of how other drivers may behave.
What is Considered Aggressive Driving?
In contrast, aggressive driving may include driving behaviors such as:
- Speeding
- Ignoring traffic signs and signals
- Using shoulders in congested traffic to go around others
- Speeding up when lights turn yellow
- Ignoring pedestrians or cyclists
- Changing lanes rapidly without signaling
- Passing illegally
- Pulling onto the road when there is not a big enough gap in the traffic
- Nosing into another lane where there is insufficient space
- Weaving through traffic
- Tailgating
- Chasing other drivers
- Blocking drivers who would like to pass
- Refusing to yield to a driver with the right-of-way
- Brake checking the driver behind you
- Speeding up to gesture, honk, yell, or flash lights at another driver
- Purposefully slowing down and speeding up to get another driver to react
- Racing other drivers
Most motorists are probably guilty of speeding at one time or another. Further, some drivers may be guilty of having undertaken one or more of these actions at some time.
However, there are other drivers who have a habit or propensity to do many of these things regularly. And they ignore other drivers in their selfish and aggressive use of the roadways. And all too often, these behaviors lead, eventually, to an accident. Some of them have tragic results.
Aggressive Driving Accident And Injury Statistics
Studies conducted by the American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conclude that some manner of aggressive driving is a factor in more than half of all traffic fatalities. Further, speeding is a factor in about one-third of all fatal crashes.
When you apply those ratios to the actual number of car accident deaths in the United States in a given year--for example, 2019, when 38,800 people died from car accidents--it is sobering to realize that well over 19,000 people might still be alive if the at-fault drivers could simply control their aggressive behavior when getting behind the wheel.
And that is only the fatalities. Outside of fatalities, many thousands of people receive injuries in accidents due to aggressive driving.
Millions suffer injury in traffic accidents in the United States each year. In Illinois alone, 94,164 people were injured in 2018, according to IDOT.
As you confront these numbers, you also come to realize that aggressive driving does not just cost us in lives and injuries. It also causes a lot of anguish, expense, stress, misery, pain, suffering, and damage. And not just for accident victims, but for their family members and friends.
If Injured in an Aggressive Driving Crash, Abels & Annes Can Help
Too often, aggressive drivers get away with their behavior. They create problems for other drivers in their wake as they go speeding on their way. They are usually oblivious to the confusion, frustration, or fright they have caused.
Sometimes the problems they bring about are tragic, leading to serious car accident injuries or even fatalities. Further, on occasion they are among the ones who suffer from havoc they produce. Either way, aggressive drivers need to answer for the damage they cause.
If you have injuries from a car accident with a driver who was driving aggressively, we can help. The aggressive driving accident attorneys in Chicago at Abels & Annes want to make sure that justice is served.
Our civil justice system is there to make sure that people who cause harm to others take responsibility for their actions. This is especially important when individuals hurt others through carelessness. And, when their behavior demonstrates a total disregard for the severe harm that their behavior can cause to others.
Contact a Chicago Aggressive Driving Accident Lawyer
At Abels & Annes, our dedicated personal injury attorneys have many years of experience representing car accident victims. We help people with injuries from a variety of circumstances. This includes drivers whose erratic, illegal, or aggressive behavior has caused an accident.
Our goal is to help car accident injury victims to obtain a recovery for the damages they suffer. This, both physically and financially from culpable individuals. We represent motorists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, bicyclists, truckers and passengers. We also help minors and children whose injuries often create medical needs that last well into the future.
If you would like a consultation regarding your aggressive driving car accident, contact the Chicago car accident attorneys at Abels & Annes at (312) 924-7575. Alternatively, you may use the online form here on this website.
Your consultation is completely free, and there is no obligation to hire us. If we agree to proceed with a case on your behalf, you will not pay us any fees unless and until damages are recovered for you.
Do not let aggressive drivers get away with their irresponsible behavior. Otherwise, they will continue to place everyone at risk.