Road Rage Car Accidents: 5 Things to Know
by King Law
Road rage is a serious problem in Rochester and throughout the country. It often arises out of aggressive driving, and it can result in serious and even fatal car accidents. If you are involved in a road rage accident, it is critical to seek advice from a Rochester car accident attorney as soon as possible to seek the compensation you deserve. In the meantime, the following are five things to know about road rage accidents.
1. More People Experience Road Rage Than You Might Think
Road rage is much more common than you might expect. According to a study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, “nearly 80 percent of drivers expressed significant anger, aggression, or road rage behind the wheel at least once in the past year.” In that study, AAA reported that more than 50 percent of drivers admit to have purposefully tailgated other vehicles out of anger, and nearly 25 percent of drivers admit to intentionally cutting off another vehicle.
2. Road Rage Can Involve Many Different Types of Actions
Road rage takes many forms. According to AAA, road rage can include tailgating, yelling at other drivers, honking out of annoyance, making angry gestures, attempting to block other cars from changing lanes, cutting off other vehicles intentionally, getting out of a car to confront a driver, or ramming another vehicle intentionally.
3. Most Road Rage Injuries Will Require an Insurance Claim
If you were injured in a road rage accident, you will most likely begin your process of seeking compensation by filing an auto insurance claim through your New York personal injury protection (PIP) coverage. Yet you may be eligible to file a lawsuit with help from a lawyer.
4. You Will Need to Meet the “Serious Injury” Threshold If You Want to File a Negligence Lawsuit
Even in car accident cases where the at-fault driver was exhibiting signs of road rage, New York’s no-fault law still requires the injury victim to prove that his or her injury meets the “serious injury” threshold requirement in order to file a lawsuit. An experienced Rochester car crash lawyer can help to prove that your injury is sufficiently serious to allow you to sue the road rage driver who caused your injuries.
5. You Will Likely Need to File That Road Rage Lawsuit Within Three Years
You should not wait to seek advice from a car accident attorney when you have sustained injuries in a road rage accident. Under New York law, you will likely have only three years from the date of the road rage incident to file a lawsuit against the reckless driver.
Seek Advice from a Rochester Car Accident Lawyer
Do you have questions or concerns about filing a car claim to seek compensation after a road rage accident? One of the experienced Rochester car accident lawyers at our firm can assess your case today and can help you to move forward with a claim. If you have suffered a “serious injury” according to New York law, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver in addition to seeking financial compensation through an insurance claim. Contact King Law to learn more about how our firm can assist you.
Categories