Philadelphia Aggressive Driving Car Accident Lawyer

Many people are familiar with the term “road rage” but do not realize that it is different than aggressive driving – even though one may lead to the other. Aggressive driving in Pennsylvania is becoming the cause of more accidents than distracted or drunk driving.

Pennsylvania does not have an aggressive driving statute but does have the Pennsylvania Aggressive Driving Enforcement and Education Project (PAADEEP) aimed at educating drivers about aggressive driving, how to avoid driving aggressively and how to handle other aggressive drivers.

There is a distinct difference between aggressive driving and road rage incidents. Aggressive driving can include, but is not limited to:

• Erratic lane changes;
• Tailgating;
• Racing other vehicles;
• Speeding;
• Not signaling;
• Racing to beat a traffic light; and
• Other behaviors.

Road rage is more serious and a criminal offense. If someone is killed due to road rage, there may be vehicular homicide charges. Road rage is aggressive or angry behavior exhibited by motorists including rude, offensive gestures, verbal insults, physical threats and/or dangerous driving methods.

Aggressive driving habits include cutting off other drivers, reckless driving, improper passing and intimidating maneuvers. National data shows that over 90 percent of vehicle crashes are the result of driver behavior.

The definition of aggressive driving is operating a vehicle in a hostile manner while disregarding the safety of others. PennDOT classifies accidents as aggressive driving collisions if at least two of the 20 dangerous driver behaviors led to the accident. Collisions involving these behaviors are now noted to make up a significant portion of Pennsylvania’s crashes.

Even though statewide deaths have declined over time, reaching a new low in 2019, there were still 1,059 fatalities, 131 fewer deaths than in 2018. There were 129 deaths as a result of aggressive driving crashes in 2018, compared to 95 in 2019, a sign that while the death rate is lower, aggressive driving is still an issue.

In cases involving aggressive driving, determining liability can be challenging. Using negligence in a claim means the injured party must prove:

• Injury – Generally life-altering injuries or death must be involved.
• Duty – The plaintiff must show they were owed a duty of care by the other driver.
• Breach of Duty – The duty of care was breached.
• Causation – That the other party was the actual and legal cause of the accident causing injuries and/or death.

Contact MyPhillyLawyer for Help

If you or your loved one was injured in a car accident with an aggressive driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and damages. For advice and other assistance during the claim process, consult an aggressive car driving accident attorney at MyPhillyLawyer for a free evaluation of your claim.