Aggressive Driving Can Lead to Wrongful Death
I’m Ed Smith, a wrongful death lawyer in Sacramento. Aggressive driving, better known as road rage, is more common than most motorists think. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, aggressive driving contributes to more than 50 percent of fatalities on the roadway.
What Are the Characteristics of an Aggressive Driver?
The American Psychological Association reported the following characteristics that aggressive drivers may exhibit:
- Engage in risky behavior behind the wheel of a motor vehicle more than the average driver
- Are judgmental and have negative thoughts about other drivers to the point of insulting another driver
- Are prone to speeding, tailgating, running red lights and other traffic infractions
- Have twice the number of motor vehicle accidents than other drivers
- Average exhibiting aggressive or angry behavior against other motorists at least two times daily
- Act impulsively and are less controlled than others in expressing anger
What Aggressive Driving Behavior Do Drivers Admit To?
The AAA Foundation conducted a study released last year asking exactly that. Eighty percent of drivers admitted to having exhibited aggressive behavior behind the wheel of a vehicle at least one time during the year. The following numbers admitted to the following:
- 51 percent admitted to tailgating on purpose (104 million)
- 47 percent said they yelled at the driver of another vehicle (95 million)
- 45 percent admitted to honking at another driver in anger or annoyance (91 million)
- 33 percent said they made an angry gesture (67 million)
- 24 percent tried to keep another driver from changing to another lane (49 million)
- 12 percent admitted to cutting someone off intentionally (24 million)
- 4 percent exited their vehicle to confront a driver (7.6 million)
- 3 percent intentionally ran into or bumped another vehicle (5.7 million)
How to Avoid Aggressive Driving
WebMD offers helpful suggestions to avoid driving aggressively. These include:
- Stay away from alcohol when driving. Not only is it illegal to get behind the wheel when you’ve been drinking, but alcohol can also fuel anger in some people.
- Play music that’s soothing.
- Get a good night’s sleep. Lack of sleep can make anyone cranky.
- Plan to leave a few minutes earlier to avoid having to rush.
- Pay attention to what makes you angry, and learn to avoid those things.
- Even if you’re involved in an accident where no one is hurt, you can end up paying higher insurance rates, be handed a citation by the police and end up with other costs.
- Keep photos of loved ones on the car’s dash. This will remind you why you should drive carefully.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits
When aggressive driving ends in a fatality, the family of the decedent may be left in what might be described as a precarious financial position. Family income is often drastically reduced due to the loss of the deceased’s input. The ability to pay bills as well as the end-of-life expenses the family must pay is reduced. An experienced wrongful death lawyer in Sacramento can help in obtaining compensation for the financial losses the family is experiencing.
Losses the Family Can Recoup
Some of the losses the family of a decedent can recoup are:
- Burial and funeral expenses
- Lost income that the decedent might have earned had the death not happened, including reasonably expected income in the years to come
- Medical bills, including ambulance and emergency room expenses
- Expenses for household services normally performed by the deceased
- Expected financial support such as college tuition
- The loss of the love and support the decedent would have provided
Sacramento Wrongful Death Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, and I’m a wrongful death lawyer in Sacramento. If someone in your family was killed because of a road rage accident or other negligence, you need the help an injury lawyer can provide. Call me in Sacramento at any time or (800) 404-5400 if you are outside of the calling area. If you’d rather contact me online, go to my contact us page. I will be here to provide friendly and free advice.
I’ve helped my neighbors in Sacramento for more than 35 years with pedestrian, truck and other accidents such as burns. I’ve been here for clients when catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain trauma happened. I do everything I can to make sure clients are adequately compensated.
There is a forum of top-ranked trial lawyers throughout the United States who have won $1 million settlements and verdicts. I am a member of the Million Dollar Advocates from California.
See what my former clients and some peers have to say about my law practice on:
You can also check on some of the ways I resolved other cases on my verdicts and settlements page.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/grave-headstone-cemetery-graveyard-1634994/
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