Driving can be stressful. You have to deal with impatient and aggressive drivers who honk their horns, hugs you, cuts you off, or even hogs you in the middle lane. As a result, feeling angry while driving or becoming a little aggressive is not uncommon.
But what should you do if you ever find yourself in a road rage incident?
What you should do in a road rage incident
The truth is, there is nothing you can do to stop another driver from yelling, gesturing in anger, or honking angrily. But, at least you can try to control your attitude and behavior to prevent the situation from getting worse.
Some of the things you can do to avoid getting drawn into a road rage situation:
- Never get out of your car to confront another driver who is trying to force a confrontation.
- Always fully and amicably acknowledge your mistakes if you are wrong.
- Never overreact to another driver’s misconduct and always measure your responses if you have to say something.
- Always make sure you are in your best frame of mind when driving.
- It’s good to include possible delays when planning your drive to avoid getting too upset by traffic jams and other reckless drivers.
- Always keep your car doors locked and call 911 or drive to the nearest police station if things start to get messy.
While these actions can help protect you during a road rage incident, sometimes things can explode disproportionately. The other driver may intentionally hit or crash into your vehicle or confront you, causing serious injury or property damage.
What you should do after a road rage incident
Hire a car accident lawyer
If the other driver has caused you injury or property damage, it is important not to deal with it directly. Instead, you should hire a lawyer who specializes in traffic accidents, such as Jacoby & Meyers deal with the insurance company, the other driver and their lawyer to make sure you get the compensation you are entitled to.
Seek medical help
When a road rage incident results in injury, it is essential that you are examined, diagnosed and treated.
Even after the emergency medical team has examined you at the scene of the accident, it is essential to see a doctor. This will help rule out the possibility of hidden injuries that might not manifest for a few hours or days.
In addition to ensuring your health, seeking medical help will provide you with important medical documents to support your request.
Call your insurer
After receiving medical attention, it is always a good idea to contact your insurer to let them know that you have been involved in a car accident. During this call, make sure you do not disclose anything other than the place and date of the accident, your contact details and the contact details of your lawyer.
Be careful when dealing with agents for insurance companies. These people will appear friendly and might inspire you to say and do things that could possibly harm your claim. Therefore, if the representative asks you about the incident, refer them to your auto accident lawyer. This will help you avoid the unscrupulous tactics insurance companies use to deny or reduce compensation.
Closing thoughts
Road rage can lead to accidents, injuries or even death. Understanding how to stay calm under pressure will help keep you safe. Most importantly, knowing what to do after a road rage incident will help you fight for a fair and equitable recovery.
Interesting related article: “What is an injury?” “