How to Stay Safe after an Accident with an Aggressive Driver

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Sharing the road with aggressive drivers can be frustrating. Unfortunately, you can only truly control the way you drive on the road, and reckless drivers will always be around no matter your personal attention to safety. However, there are some general strategies for keeping safe around aggressive drivers.

Even when drivers do everything they can to prevent accidents with aggressive drivers, crashes still happen. If you have been involved in a car accident in Texas because of a reckless driver, it’s essential to know your rights. Working with a skilled car accident lawyer is the best way to ensure you receive a fair and equitable settlement for any accident-related expenses. Here are some helpful tips for staying safe around aggressive drivers.

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    Let Aggressive Drivers Pass You

    If you are driving and dealing with an aggressive driver who is weaving in and out of traffic or tailgating other cars on the road, the best thing you can do is to let them pass. Most commonly, this scenario happens on multi-lane highways, and the best way to avoid an accident is to switch lanes and let the aggressive driver go in front of you. However, if you are traveling on a smaller road, such as a single-lane road—it’s best to pull over and let the other vehicle pass.

    The worst thing you can do in these situations is let your frustration with the aggressive driver affect your own driving. Avoid speeding up and attempting to prevent the reckless driver from getting ahead of you, as this is more likely to result in a crash.

    Stay Calm

    Dealing with an aggressive driver can be stressful—especially if you are in heavy traffic, making getting out of the way more challenging. The best thing you can do is to stay calm and focus on your own driving. Working yourself up into a panic will only worsen the situation by affecting your own driving.

    Don’t Make Eye Contact

    Most aggressive drivers are prone to road rage. Therefore, it’s best to avoid making eye contact with these drivers as it is more likely to instigate the aggressive driver. Signaling to the other driver that you are mad at how they are driving can worsen their road rage and put you in a more dangerous situation. If the other driver is trying to egg you on, stay focused on your own driving and do your best to ignore them.

    Contact Law Enforcement

    In some scenarios, an aggressive driver’s behavior may be so extreme that you may want to call the police. If you are concerned that the driver is endangering the lives of other drivers on the road, it may be a good idea to contact law enforcement to alert them of the aggressive driver. If you are going to do this, be sure to pull over and contact the police from a safe area. If you can, try to get the license plate number and model of the driver’s car to provide law enforcement with as much information as possible. Additionally, it can be helpful to provide the police with details about where you are on the highway, such as the last exit number you passed.

    Contact the Personal Injury Lawyers at Sutliff & Stout

    Getting into a car accident can be exhausting, stressful, and draining—especially when the accident was caused by a reckless driver. If you have been involved in an accident in Houston that was caused by an aggressive driver it’s essential to seek legal counsel from a skilled personal injury lawyer. Car accident claims can be complex, and it’s essential to have an experienced attorney on your side. At Sutliff & Stout, we understand the stress accompanied by car accidents and are dedicated to taking a personalized approach to every case. Our firm has been recognized as one of the top 3 personal injury law firms in Houston, and our team has helped thousands of individuals with their car accident claims.

    If you are looking to discuss your car accident case with a personal injury lawyer, the team at Sutliff & Stout is here to help. Call us today at (713) 405-1263 or contact us online to discuss your injury or car accident claim.

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