Texas Accident & Injury News
Are road rage and aggressive driving the same thing?
Driver Shot Twice, Hospitalized in Road Rage Accident on the East Side
According to a KSAT News report, a road rage incident led to a driver being hospitalized last month.
Police reported the incident occurred at around 6:30 a.m. on December 28th, on Loop 410 and Rigsby Avenue. The driver, 21, reported to officers that he was being tailgated when he heard something hit his vehicle. He then gestured to the driver to pull over when the other driver opened fire on his vehicle. He was struck twice, once in the leg and grazed on the head. The shooter was not found. The 21-year-old was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Did You Know?
92% of individuals reported witnessing an act of road rage in 2023.
What to Do After a Road Rage Accident in San Antonio
Have you noticed more aggressive behavior on the roads recently? You’re not imagining it — road rage cases have increased 500% in the past 10 years.
Road rage accidents are scary and often involve the use of a firearm, making them potentially lethal. With cases rising, it’s important to know what to do when faced with road rage in San Antonio so you can keep yourself and your family safe.
Are Road Rage and Aggressive Driving the Same?
Have you ever gotten angry behind the wheel? That’s normal, and it’s not road rage.
What is Road Rage?
According to the NHTSA, anger turns into road rage when “a driver or passenger commits a traffic offense or uses another dangerous weapon that endangers a person or property.”
Common examples faced by San Antonio motorists include actions like:
- Leaving the vehicle to confront another driver,
- Deliberately trying to hit a vehicle,
- Using a firearm,
- Threatening another driver with yelling or hand gestures.
What is Aggressive Driving?
Aggressive driving is responsible for 66% of traffic fatalities, but it’s not necessarily road rage. In fact, some drivers engage in aggressive driving behaviors routinely without being agitated or angry.
Aggressive driving is basically any driving behavior that puts other people in danger. For example:
- Speeding,
- Tailgating,
- Erratic lane changes,
- Flashing high beams,
- Blocking vehicles from passing.
What Should You Do in a Road Rage Accident?
Normally, you are required to stop and exchange information after an auto accident. But, if your life or safety is being threatened, that overrides your post-accident obligation.
If you are not seriously injured, follow these practical tips:
- Drive to the nearest police station or sheriff’s department.
- If you can’t drive away, lock your doors, stay in the car, and call 9-1-1.
- If the driver fled the scene, call 9-1-1.
- If Police arrive at the scene, provide them with important information like the description of the driver, their license plate number, and the make and model of their vehicle.
Never engage with the enraged driver. 50% of drivers respond to aggressive behavior with aggressive behavior, but that could cost you your life. Avoid eye contact and rude gestures, and call for help instead of dealing with them yourself.
Injured in a Road Rage Accident? Call Carabin Shaw.
Insurance almost never covers intentional acts of violence. You’ll need help if you want to secure compensation after a road rage accident.
Carabin Shaw has been representing those injured in auto accidents in San Antonio for 30 years. If you were hurt in a road rage accident, call us for free, expert advice at 800-862-1260 or use the live chat at the bottom right of your screen. We look forward to serving you.
Contacting a Carabin Shaw attorney is free and does not obligate you to work with the firm.