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3 Ways to Protect Yourself from Road Rage in California

You would not have to look far to find evidence that road range can lead to some catastrophic car accidents. It may seem that there is nothing you can do other than avoiding being the person with road rage, but in fact there are ways you can avoid others experiencing this phenomenon. Keep reading to find out what they are, and if you have been involved in a car accident involving road rage, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.

First: Understand What Road Rage Is

Before we give you the list of ways to avoid road rage, it is important to ensure that you understand what we mean when we use this term. Many people believe that road rage and aggressive driving are the same thing but this is false. Road rage is a civil or criminal offense and it occurs when a driver assaults another person using the road. It can involving slamming a car into another person’s car or accidentally hitting a car.

These accidents can lead to very serious injuries because the accidents often involve malice. This results in fast speeds and direct hits being involved in many cases. Angry drivers can sometimes assault another driver outside of the vehicle too.

  1. Stay Away from Drivers Experiencing Road Rage
  2. First of all, if you are driving and see another driver who appears to be angry or driving aggressively, try to avoid them. Get away from them if at all possible. You should do this even if it means switching lanes, slowly down considerably, or even getting off the road or highway (assuming it is safe to do so). Putting distance between you and a dangerous driver is the best way to mitigate the chance that you will be injured as a result of their actions.

  3. Call the Police
  4. If you believe that you and other drivers are in danger then it is appropriate to call for emergency help. You can dial 9-1-1 and tell the operator what is happening. An officer should be dispatched right away to look at the situation and pull over the driver. Once again, just be sure that you are safe to pull over and call the police before doing so.

  5. Avoid Confrontation
  6. No matter what happens, the most important thing is to ensure that you do not confront the driver. It can be hard not to respond to them with angry gestures or your own anger, this is actually the worst thing you can do. If they feel that they are being challenged then they may get even more aggressive. Do not make eye contact. Do not encourage their behavior.

If you are injured in an accident, whether with an aggressive driver or someone else, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to request a free legal consultation. We are here to protect your rights and work toward compensation for the damages you have suffered.