The Impact of Road Rage on Car Accidents in Alabama

It’s fair to say that people seem to be more under stress these days than ever before. We’ve all seen people driving erratically at a high rate of speed, cutting others off and tailgating.  

Road rage results when you combine aggressive driving with a reckless disregard for others on the road. Occasionally, that aggression can escalate into a physical altercation and even murder. 

A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports in Alabama in 2016, the state came in third among states for road-rage-related fatalities with 64 deaths.  

It’s best to get as far away as possible from these drivers.  

If you have been involved in a road rage car accident in Alabama, Attorney J. Allan Brown will provide a consultation to assess your case and discuss the compensation you may be able to receive from the at-fault driver.

Road Rage Accidents in Alabama 

AAA reports there are more than 1,200 reports of road rage incidents nationally. There may be more incidents because it is tough to characterize what happened between drivers before an accident. 

NHTSA reports that road rage contributed to more than half of car crashes involving aggressive driving between 2003 and 2007. 

Road rage can stem from running late, heavy traffic, slow drivers, tired drivers, and those already stressed before they got behind the wheel.  

In Alabama, a Road Rage Law went into effect in September 2019. It was designed to keep people out of an interstate highway’s left lane for more than 1.5 miles.  

According to AAA, most drivers have been agitated when a left-lane driver won’t move over. 

The exceptions are if they pass one vehicle while in the left lane or when traffic and weather conditions necessitate traveling in the left lane.  

Keeping the left lane only for the fastest traffic prevents aggressive drivers from getting into an altercation with slower drivers. The goal is to lower the potential for a road rage incident and aggressive driving when motorists travel at different speeds.  

Besides speeding, other forms of road rage can come from: 

• Tailgating or following too closely to the car ahead 
• Racing in the streets puts everyone in danger 
• Driving erratically and weaving in and out of traffic 
• Passing on a road median or shoulder

The survey found road rage on highways about 27% of the time, 15% in parking lots, 12% at intersections, and just 7% on rural roads in Alabama.

The Impact of Road Rage in Alabama 

In some cases, we’ve seen incidents of road rage turn into murder when one or both drivers are armed. In other cases, road rage can turn into shooting into another’s vehicle.  

Other events may result in both cars pulling off the road and shouting at each other or getting into a fistfight.  

According to a survey from Forbes Advisory, Alabama ranked sixth among ten states with the most confrontational drivers. That means yelling, fighting after exiting their vehicle or experiencing rude or offensive gestures.  

The survey also found Alabama drivers have also experienced attempts to block their cars by another aggressive driver.   

Besides road rage, another survey placed Birmingham, Alabama, ninth in a list of the worst drivers in the country. 

Your Alabama Car Accident Attorney 

Aggressive driving can injure both drivers. Injuries include neck and head injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, and fractures.  

The cost of road rage can include medical expenses, pain and suffering, property damage, and lost income. Wrongful death often results from aggressive driving and a road rage accident. Attorney J. Allan Brown will seek compensation for the loss of your loved one. 

Consider that the Alabama contributory negligence doctrine means if you contributed in any way to escalating the road rage, you could lose your chances for recovery. This is a time for an experienced, compassionate personal injury lawyer to handle your case. 

Attorney Brown will offer a complimentary consultation on your car accident in Mobile and around Alabama to explore your options. Call his Mobile office at (251) 473-6691 to schedule an appointment with his office as soon as you can following a car accident.