When a driver behaves aggressively behind the wheel, he or she may get to work five minutes faster or avoid sitting behind a frustratingly slow driver. Unfortunately, these ultimately minor frustrations cause numerous drivers to wreck every year, incurring thousands of dollars of legal fees and damages, and inflicting serious injury or death on those caught up in these entirely avoidable collisions.
If you drive aggressively, you not only place yourself at danger, you endanger others on the road. While it is certainly a different experience than driving after drinking or consuming some other substance that alters your alertness, aggressive driving is just as dangerous as drinking and driving in many instances.
Aggressive driving can look like a lot of different behaviors, such as
- changing lanes repeatedly, especially at higher speeds
- passing on the right
- running through intersections
- tailgating drivers who drive too slowly for your comfort
- excessive speeding
On occasion, many of these behaviors may have a legitimate place, but those who practice them regularly often lose focus on just how dangerous these behaviors are. For your own sake and the sake of others on the road, be mindful to avoid aggressive driving.
Of course, all the wise driving in the world cannot account for other drivers’ aggressive driving, and you may suffer an injury in a car accident any given day. Don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced personal injury attorney to discuss your rights and identify strategies you can use to pursue full compensation for your losses and the expenses of your recovery.
Source: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, “Aggressive Driving,” accessed Dec. 15, 2017