How Aggressive Drivers Cause Injuries?

How Aggressive Drivers Cause Injuries?

By Pyle Law, Reviewed by E. Thomas Pyle May 20 2022 8:36 pm

Aggressive drivers are dangerous. While you may not know how best to describe an aggressive driver, we all know one when we see one. It’s always in your best interest to steer clear of aggressive drivers in your midst. If an aggressive driver leaves you injured, contact an experienced Kansas auto accident attorney today. 

Definition of Aggressive Driving

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides us with a succinct definition. Aggressive driving is the act of engaging in more than one moving violation that endangers others at a time. When a driver weaves in and out of traffic at top speeds and cuts other drivers off in the process, he or she is a dangerously aggressive driver. 

Aggressive Driving Behaviors

Drivers can engage in nearly any kind of dangerous driving behavior. To clarify, there are certain driving activities that are most closely associated with aggressive driving:

• Speeding – Excessive speeding may be the number one sign of aggressive driving. Driving over the speed limit – or faster than conditions allow – endangers everyone on the road. In fact, in 2017, speeding caused more than a quarter of all traffic deaths. You’ve heard it before, and it remains true, speed kills. 

• Tailgating – Tailgating involves driving too close to other vehicles, and it is exceedingly dangerous. If you need to brake suddenly because of something unforeseen up ahead and you have a tailgater behind you, it’s likely to cause an accident.

• Failing to Yield the Right of Way – Failing to yield the right of way to whomever it belongs upsets the flow of traffic and can lead to serious accidents. 

• Raging at Other Drivers  – Aggressive drivers can morph into drivers with road rage, which involves raging at other drivers by honking incessantly, screaming, using obscene gestures, and more. Never engage with an aggressive driver – doing so is likely to escalate the situation. 

Aggressive drivers are far more likely to cause dangerous traffic accidents, and because they’re also prone to speeding, the attendant injuries tend to be that much more serious.

Coping with Aggressive Drivers 

If you’re sharing the road with an aggressive driver, give him or her all the room you possibly can. But if a driver is tailgating you, attempt to move over to allow him or her to pass. If you think it’s called for, alert the authorities about the danger. Your actions could help save a life. 

Kansas Aggressive Driving Statistics

When you are injured in a car accident that someone or something else caused, you are entitled to compensation for your damages. Drivers who violate the rules of the road and drive unsafely are liable for the accidents they cause, and a common violation involves aggressive driving. Seek legal consulting with our skilled attorney.

These drivers are an increasingly common cause of accidents in Kansas. In a recent year, the following was reported in Kansas:

• 228 aggressive driving accidents
• 151 crashes causing property damage
• 116 people were injured by aggressive drivers
• 8 fatalities due to aggressive driving

This dangerous driving behavior can happen anywhere – from rural roads to Interstate 70. 

If you have been in an accident with an aggressive driver, you could be entitled to compensation. Working with an experienced attorney from Pyle Law as soon as possible after your accident can lead to the best possible outcome for your claim. Read on to learn more about aggressive driving and how a car accident attorney can help. 

Some Behaviors of Aggressive Drivers

The term aggressive driving is that first emerged in the 1990s in reaction to a rise in dangerous on-the-road behavior. Aggressive driving includes:

1. Driving at excessive speed 
2. Following other motorists too closely 
3. Weaving through traffic 
4. Running stop signs 
5. Running lights 
6. Other aggressive acts that can escalate to angry and violent behaviors 

When a driver is engaging in aggressive driving, they are making the road unsafe for both themselves and other drivers. If a driver has made the choice to engage in dangerous behaviors that violate the rules of the road, they will be liable for the damage caused. This includes your medical bills as well as any impact on your ability to work and support yourself and your family. The costs of aggressive driving can quickly add up, and related accidents happen often in Kansas. 

Kansas Takes Aggressive Driving Seriously 

The state of Kansas takes aggressive driving seriously. The Kansas Highway Patrol notes that even a calm person may operate a motor vehicle in an unsafe way. This can lead to accidents and outcomes that can cause very serious injuries. 

The police advise that you not engage aggressive drivers and simply drive your vehicle to the nearest police station to report the driver. So, This helps to avoid confrontations that could lead to violence and the potential of additional physical harm outside the risk of a car accident. 

If you have been in an accident and believe the other driver was being aggressive, it is advised that you stop a safe distance from the crash scene. Then, when the police arrive, inform them that you witnessed aggressive driving behavior. Not directly confronting the driver after the accident can help save you from an interaction that could lead to violence and unnecessary aggression. 

If an Aggressive Driver Leaves You Injured, You Need an Experienced Kansas Attorney 

Aggressive drivers make our roads more dangerous for everyone. But the dedicated legal team at Pyle Law is here to help. Attorney Tom Pyle has the experience, knowledge, and compassion to help skillfully advocate for your rights and for your rightful compensation. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us online, email us at pylelaw@pyle.legal, or call us at 620-241-9000 or (888) 381-1155 toll-free today.