Road rage, also known as aggressive driving, is rampant in the Sunshine State. It seems counterintuitive that such a beautiful place with so many people on vacation would lead to accidents caused by road rage. Yet, the statistics show that you’re likely to need help from a Florida car accident lawyer who can gather evidence showing how another driver’s anger led them to cause your crash.
What are some examples of road rage accidents?
According to SafeMotorist.com, road rage is a phenomenon where drivers allow their emotions to push them to drive aggressively and dangerously. They may feel you insulted them, and they want to teach you a lesson, or they may just be angry and want to take it out on someone else. Regardless of the motivation, you could get hurt in a road rage car accident when drivers take actions such as:
- Speeding to get to an appointment or location
- Disobeying traffic laws, especially stop signs and traffic lights
- Tailgating or brake-checking in an attempt to intimidate you
- Forcing you to crash into another vehicle
- Cutting in front of you and slowing suddenly
- Swerving into your lane or trying to push your vehicle off the road
- Screaming, gesturing, or pointing weapons at you
- Assaulting you or using a weapon when you’ve both stopped after an accident
There may be many causes for road rage, but when the driver is negligent, careless, or intentional in their actions, they can and should be held accountable. The police may charge them, but you and your car accident attorney can also file an insurance claim or civil lawsuit against the at-fault driver for compensation.
How common are road rage accidents in Florida?
An analysis by the Insurance Information Institute (III) of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2022 showed that road rage-related behaviors led to as much as 48.4% of fatal accidents. The most commonly noted behaviors included:
- Exceeding posted limits or driving too fast for conditions
- Racing
- Driving carelessly or erratically
- Failing to maintain lane
- Failing to obey traffic lights, signs, or officers
Dedicated to investigating and reporting on gun violence in the U.S., The Trace found that a ten-year period ending in 2023 showed that, of the 3,095 people shot by angry drivers in the U.S., 777 of them died from their injuires. Specifically in Florida, data pulled from the Gun Violence Archive showed 12 deaths and 18 people injured in car accidents caused by road rage in 2024.
What should I do if I’m in a road rage car accident?
Our car accident lawyers recommend the following actions if you suspect you are a road rage target:
- If possible, slow down or change lanes to put distance between your vehicle and theirs.
- If they follow you or act more aggressively, try to find a safe place to park with people who could help you.
- Contact 911 for police assistance if they hit you while driving.
- If you stop after an accident and the other driver is aggressive or threatens you with a weapon, notify 911 of the threat while reporting the accident.
You cannot leave the scene of an accident, even when the other person is threatening or violent, under Florida law. The only exception is if you are severely injured and need emergency medical treatment. If you do leave the accident to protect yourself, your Florida car accident attorney will work diligently to have any potential charges dismissed and hold the road rage driver accountable for your harm.
Who can help with car accidents caused by road rage?
A skilled Florida car accident lawyer from Lytal, Reiter, Smith, Ivey & Fronrath can listen to your story during a free consultation at your convenience. When we take your case, we fight tirelessly to show how a reckless and negligent driver is financially liable for your injuries and damage. If we don’t win, you don’t pay – it’s that simple.
Learn more when you use our online form or call us at (561) 655-1990 today.
