Many drivers have experienced moments of frustration while they’re on the road. Congested traffic, erratic lane changes, and unexpected cut-offs can all generate frustration when you’re trying to get from point A to point B. For most drivers, these feelings of agitation are understandable.
It’s important not to underestimate the danger of road rage and the consequences that aggressive driving might bring about. It’s always important to remain level-headed and calm when behind the wheel, not only for your own safety, but the safety of other motorists on the road as well.
If you or someone you know was injured in an accident caused by an aggressive driver, you understand how angry driving can negatively impact your way of life.
If you were a victim of aggressive driving, you may be entitled to compensation for the damage you suffered in the accident, which is why it’s important to seek legal advice from a qualified car accident attorney before you speak with an insurance adjuster.
At The Fitch Law Firm, we have a supportive legal team committed to helping accident victims obtain justice and making sure those who cause harm are held fully accountable.
What Does Aggressive Driving Look Like?
Life’s stressors and unexpected factors on the road can create ordinary frustration for drivers all across the country, but motorists who experience road rage take their frustrations a step further, engaging in potentially dangerous driving behaviors.
While not every aggressive maneuver qualifies as road rage, a series of aggressive maneuvers may reveal harmful intent that a motorist can be held liable for in the case of an accident.
Aggressive driving can include any of the following behaviors:
- Excessive speeding
- Tailgating
- Failing to yield
- Erratic, unsafe lane changes
- Illegally driving on the shoulder, median, or sidewalk
- Driving in a manner that is reckless or negligent
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, aggressive driving constitutes a combination of moving traffic offenses that “endangers or likely to endanger other persons or property,” and can present as a spectrum of hazardous driving behaviors.
Road rage, then, is the very extreme of that spectrum, and it is a deliberate choice on the driver’s behalf to assault other vehicles or drivers for the sake of intimidation, retaliation, or punishment.
(614) 545-3930 
Aggressive Driving Accidents
While aggressive driving is largely understood as a dangerous set of behaviors, a study in the National Library of Medicine reports that about one-third of the citizenry admit to committing road rage at one time or another. Most of these accidents primarily involved shouting and gesturing to other drivers, but a small number of these instances escalated to direct and damaging contact.
But even if these more serious cases were the minority, the dangers remain high. Time on the road requires a lot of implicit trust between motorists, and it’s important that everyone plays their part in promoting safety. When someone violates road rules or takes part in road rage, it can put more than one driver at risk.
According to the American Safety Council, 66 percent of traffic fatalities are caused by aggressive driving, which is a formidable statistic on its own.
But the violence that takes place in road rage accidents isn’t always limited to assault between vehicles, as other elements can come into play during altercations.
For example, 37 percent of aggressive driving incidents also involve a firearm, a factor that heightens the harm that motorists can encounter (ASC). According to the Pew Research Center, more than 100 Americans were killed in road rage accidents involving guns during 2024.
Protect Yourself on the Road
It is the unfortunate case that very few Americans feel as if motorists are driving more safely — only nine percent, in fact (Pew Research).
In 2024, nearly half of Americans said that people in their community are driving less safely than they did before the pandemic (Pew Research). It’s more important than ever that drivers remain vigilant and engage in safe driving behaviors.
It can be difficult to know how to respond to drivers when they partake in aggressive driving, but your ultimate goal is to keep the situation from escalating.
Acting calm and refusing to engage or retaliate reduces your risk of getting into an accident. These are a few things you can do to protect yourself if you notice an aggressive driver:
- Stay calm: if another driver is being aggressive or angry, resist the urge to respond. Gestures and verbal exchanges can make the situation worse.
- Do not engage: Avoid making eye contact or confronting that driver in other ways. If you feel threatened, pull over and call local authorities.
- Create distance: Move over if you notice that a driver is tailgating you. If you need to, slow down or take another route.
What to Do After an Accident
Here’s what we recommend you do if you’re ever in a car accident involving an aggressive driver:
- Seek medical attention immediately: Your safety is the priority here. It’s important to visit a doctor and monitor your health even if you initially feel fine.
- Report the accident to the police: Make sure that both you and the driver remain at the scene until the police arrive, and that you receive either a copy of the report or a report number if that report isn’t ready yet.
- Document everything: After an accident, you want to collect as much information as you can. This means taking photos of the scene, any vehicle damage, and any visible injuries.
- Exchange information: Additionally, you should always exchange contact and insurance details with any other driver involved in the car accident, and you should try to collect the names and contact information of any witnesses.
Aggressive driving accident claims are not easy to prove, which can make the expertise of a legal professional more crucial. A qualified car accident attorney can play a vital role in helping alleviate the burden, guide you through the legal process, and collect testimony and evidence on your behalf.
We Will Be
There To Help
You All The Way
Legal Help for Columbus Car Accident Victims
Like most states, Ohio does not have any laws that specifically define or revolve around road rage or aggressive driving, but certain actions could fall under Ohio’s reckless operation law, which more generally states that no motorist can act in such a way to exhibit “willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property” (ORC).
According to Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10, you generally have two years after your accident to file your claim, as it can be more difficult to recover compensation once these two years are up.
Acting quickly may positively affect the outcome of your case. The sooner you speak with a qualified road rage accident lawyer, the sooner you can take legal action and begin fighting for the compensation you deserve.
At The Fitch Law Firm, we specialize in helping victims of car accidents navigate the complexities of Ohio law and obtain the compensation they deserve. Reach out now for a free consultation
