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Road rage is a major problem, and the National Highway Safety and Traffic Administration estimate that about 66 percent of traffic fatalities are due to aggressive driving. If another driver’s aggression has caused an accident, you may be tempted to respond in kind, but this can make things much worse. Your goal should be to de-escalate the situation and get help for anyone injured. In this article, we’ll talk about what to do immediately after a road rage accident and in the aftermath as you deal with injuries and property damage.
When you’ve suffered a car accident due to another’s negligence, insurance companies may want to take advantage of you, deny your claim, or offer you less than it’s worth. Don’t let this happen. Call a Georgia car accident lawyer right away to ensure your legal rights are protected.
Attorney Ali Awad is no stranger to defending his clients against big insurance companies. He founded the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm to help injured people secure the compensation they deserve. It became so successful that it was eventually named the fastest-growing law firm in the country, over 499 others. In his spare time, Mr. Awad is popular on social media, sharing no-nonsense legal advice with more than a million followers. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, don’t hesitate to contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation about your case.
How to Handle a Road Rage Accident
Immediately after the crash, you may be disoriented or in shock. As soon as you can think somewhat clearly, find a safe place to stop your car (if it’s movable), assess any injuries, and call 911 to report the accident right away. If you can’t move your car, put your flashers on to alert other drivers and reduce the risk of another collision.
In most situations, it’s a good idea to speak with the other driver and exchange contact info. But after a road rage accident, you may not feel safe doing so. You are legally required to remain at the scene of the accident, but you do not have to get out of your car if you don’t feel safe. Do mention your concerns to the 911 operator if the other driver decides to escalate.
If the other motorist does approach your car, try to stay calm. Let them know you’ve contacted the authorities and ask if they want to exchange contact and insurance information now. It may be difficult, especially if they clearly caused the accident, but do not blame them or mention fault at all. Wait until the police arrive to tell them your side of things. If the other driver starts yelling that they’re not giving you anything or it wasn’t their fault, just nod and say, “Okay.” Law enforcement will have to verify their insurance info anyway, and you can get it at that time.
It’s not unusual for aggressive drivers to simply take off instead of stopping after causing an accident. If this occurs, don’t chase after them. Pull over, call 911, and do your best to get a license plate number off the vehicle. If you can’t, describe the vehicle and the direction it was headed to the best of your ability for the 911 operator.
Get yourself checked out by a medical professional, even if you think your injuries are minor, and be on the lookout for unusual symptoms over the next few days. Frequently people may feel fine right after an accident, but as their body responds to the injury, swelling and pain may appear later on. If you develop pain or other symptoms, see a doctor right away and mention your car accident, so they have all the necessary information to diagnose you properly.
What About Medical Bills and Other Damages?
People who cause accidents through aggressive driving don’t always want to take responsibility for their actions. They may tell the insurance company that you were actually to blame, and if there were no witnesses at the scene, the police report could be inconclusive. In some cases, all they have to go on are two wildly different accounts of the accident, and due to time and budget constraints, they may not have the resources to investigate anymore.
As a result, insurance claim denials are common after these incidents. The insurance adjuster, after all, is inclined to believe anything that gives them an excuse to deny your claim and save the company money. Some people will call the insurance company to attempt to change the adjuster’s mind or enlighten them about the situation. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to be effective. Worse, the insurance company will probably record the call, then “cherry pick” things you’ve said out of context to make it seem like you were at fault.
Keep in mind that under Georgia law, you can still collect damages if you are partly at fault (less than 50 percent) in an accident, but this amount will be reduced by your percentage of responsibility. So the insurance company doesn’t have to convince anyone that the accident was wholly your fault to reduce their financial liability.
The best way to avoid this trap is not to engage, but that doesn’t mean you should give up on getting your claim paid. Instead, call an experienced Georgia car accident lawyer right away. Your attorney can help you by negotiating with the insurance company on your behalf. Additionally, a law firm investigative team will go to work seeking out additional witnesses or other evidence, such as video or photos of the crash.
If you or a loved one have been harmed by an aggressive driver, you deserve compensation for your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, vehicle repairs, and other damages. Even if you’re not sure the other driver was entirely at fault, you may still have a case against them.
The CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm Car Accident Attorney Team
Please contact the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm for a free consultation and a no-win, no-fee guarantee if we take your case. Our injury and accident attorneys are ready to help at 833-254-2923.