Road rage incidents have increased dramatically over the last few years, costing victims thousands of dollars in medical expenses and property damage. Victims of road rage shouldn’t have to bear the cost of medical care or vehicle repair on their own.
If you received injuries or property damage due to a road rage incident, listen up: you can sue to recuperate your losses. With the help of an experienced Houston auto accident attorney, you can file a road rage claim against the perpetrator of the road rage act to receive compensation for injuries and damages.
What is Road Rage?
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) defines road rage as “aggressive or violent behavior” displayed by angry drivers on the road with the intent of causing other motorists harm.
Some common examples of road rage include:
- Someone ramming their vehicle into yours to cause damage or harm
- Someone trying to run you off the road
- Someone striking your vehicle with their hands or a destructive object
- Someone striking you with intent to cause harm
- Someone initiating a fight with passengers in your vehicle
- Someone blasting their horn
Aggressive driving on its own may not be considered road rage, per se, but it can escalate to that level if it goes too far. Driving can be stressful at times, causing people to lose their temper and react in negative ways. If, for example, the driver in front of you causes you to miss a light due to texting while driving, and you respond by angrily honking your horn or spouting off verbal insults, you’re guilty of aggressive driving.
Tailgating, speeding past slow drivers, and cutting drivers off are other examples of aggressive driving. When aggressive driving is taken to the level of wanting to cause other motorists harm, it can quickly escalate into road rage.
Road Rage: A Form of Assault and Battery
Road rage incidents are committed by drivers who intentionally want to cause other motorists harm. People who commit such incidents can be charged with assault and battery. Intentional road rage isn’t an accident. Accidents caused by road rage are the result of intentional acts perpetrated by angry drivers. These drivers are responsible for their actions and can be held accountable for the results.
Road Rage Accidents Can Cause Serious Injuries
Victims involved in a road rage accident can suffer from severe injuries and even death. Many of these injuries can cause extensive amounts of medical bills and treatments that can cause the victim to lose time off work, leading to financial strain.
Road rage accidents typically take the form of sideswipes and rear-end collisions as the aggressive driver utilizes the vehicle as if it were a weapon.
Injuries may include but are not limited to:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Internal injuries
- Spinal cord injury
- Broken bones
- Neck injury
Victims can likewise experience trauma as a result of the accident, leading to expensive therapy and counseling.
What Can Victims of Road Rage Do?
If you sustain injuries in a road rage accident, you have the right to sue the perpetrator of the incident for damages. You’ll need to keep an accurate account of your medical care to substantiate your injuries and treatments. You’ll also need a precise statement of medical expenses, including hospital stay, treatments, medications, doctor bills, surgical procedures (if necessary), etc., to validate medical costs. If ongoing therapies are needed, your doctor can provide an analysis of future treatments and prospective expenses.
If you can’t work due to your injuries, you’ll need to document lost wages from your job. Sometimes road rage victims sustain injuries that result in permanent disability, making it impossible for them to return to the workforce. All these aspects will be considered when your attorney files your claim and negotiates a settlement on your behalf.
Road rage lawsuits and claims can help victims recuperate:
- Costs of vehicle replacement or repairs
- Costs of medical treatment both present and future
- Lost wages (if applicable)
- Loss of future earnings
- Compensation for pain and suffering and emotional duress
- Loss of companionship
To file a road rage claim, your attorney will need to show proof of the incident. This can be accomplished by obtaining copies of the police report and eyewitness accounts. Working with a competent Houston auto accident lawyer is key to filing a successful road rage claim and getting the compensation you deserve.
Road rage accidents are especially tragic when it involves the death of a family member. The knowledge of knowing that your loved one will not be returning home because of the aggressive and negligent driver is devastating.
If the road rage accident caused the death of a loved one, you should file for a wrongful death lawsuit. Our wrongful death attorneys will fight for your family so that you receive the compensation you and your family deserve.
Speak With Our Attorneys Today!
Road rage accidents in Houston, Texas, have been on the rise in recent years. Houston is ranked as the eighth-worst city when it comes to traffic. Our Houston car accident attorneys know all too well the dangers road rage accidents cause to victims and others on the road. Whether it involves serious injuries or the death of a loved one, we are here to put your mind at ease.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a road rage accident caused by an aggressive driver, Joe I. Zaid & Associates are here to help. We are experienced and skilled car accident attorneys that will fight for your rights so that you can recover and get your life back!
We will not rest until you are fully recovered! Call us at (346) 756-9243, we offer a free consultation, and if you decide to hire us, you don’t pay any upfront costs until we win your case.
Don’t delay your claim any longer, the longer you wait the harder it will be to recover anything.