Everyone on the road is responsible for maintaining good driving practices for the sake of general safety. Unfortunately, aggressive drivers are an ever-present threat that endangers everyone around them.
Even if you follow the rules of the road with perfect precision, the harsh reality is that someone else’s negligence can involve you in a catastrophic accident. You can further protect yourself against aggressive drivers by knowing how to react in the heat of the moment and how to follow up if an accident does occur.
Avoiding an accident with an aggressive driver
The opposite of aggressive driving is defensive driving, a methodology for actively avoiding accidents while behind the wheel. You can choose to take a defensive driving course, or simply start by adopting some safe driving habits in your everyday life. For example, braking early and slowly instead of making a sudden stop can help protect against rear-ends from aggressive tailgaters.
Pursuing compensation after an aggressive driving accident
If you incur damage or injuries as a result of an aggressive driver’s actions, you have the right to claim financial compensation. Proving fault can be simple when the other driver is exhibiting blatantly aggressive behavior such as excessive speeding or weaving, as there are likely to be many witnesses to these acts. Photographic evidence and dash camera footage can also be key in displaying the nature of an accident.
Being thoughtful and aware when behind the wheel is the best you can do to protect yourself against aggressive drivers. You can never fully negate the risk of someone else causing an accident, but you can at least take the appropriate steps afterward to take action against negligent motorists.