You have no control over another driver’s behavior behind the wheel. This is why navigating Kansas roadways is always a risk. No matter how alert and cautious you are while driving, another person’s negligence or recklessness can cause a collision that results in personal injury. There are several aggressive driving maneuvers that greatly increase your risk of injury.
You’re likely familiar with the term “road rage,” which typically involves anger, shouting or using profanity or obscene gestures, horn-honking or even trying to run another car off the road. There are other more subtle types of driving behaviors that are aggressive. If you get stuck sharing the road with someone who is exhibiting this type of behavior, it might be best to take the nearest exit to avoid a possible collision.
Personal injury risk is high if another driver does these things
Chances of safely arriving to your destination decrease every time you share the road with a driver who exhibits these aggressive driving behaviors:
- Using the right lane to pass
- Blocking you from merging or disregarding a right-of-way
- Unsafe lane changes or weaving in and out of traffic
- Tailgating or brake checking
If someone refuses to yield when you know you have the right-of-way, it’s always best to let the individual go first. Many fatal collisions have occurred at Kansas intersections due to drivers who fail to yield a right-of-way. If you’re trying to merge into moving traffic and someone is blocking you on purpose, a collision may occur if your merge lane runs out. Brake checking occurs when a driver in front of you suddenly and randomly applies brakes to “tell” you to leave more distance between your vehicle and theirs.
Recovering from personal injury in the aftermath of a Kansas collision
Aggressive drivers are menaces to Kansas roads. If there’s a lot of traffic, especially when moving at highway speeds, there may be little or nothing you can do to avoid a collision if an aggressive driver is in your midst. If you suffer injuries in a motor vehicle collision, it could take weeks, even months, to fully recover. In the meantime, you might have to take time off work, attend repeated medical visits or obtain additional treatments, such as physical therapy or at-home health care.
The latter often becomes a permanent need for recovering Kansas accident victims who have suffered catastrophic personal injury, such as spinal cord or brain trauma. State law allows those who suffer injuries because of aggressive drivers to seek compensation for damages in civil court. A judgement against an aggressive driver can provide financial relief to help cover expenses associated with a plaintiff’s injuries.