How do I Handle a Driver I Encounter Who is Displaying Signs of Road Rage?

Have you ever found yourself driving down the highway and noticed in your rearview mirror a driver tailgating you simply because you weren’t going as fast as they would have liked you to? Have you ever been cut off by another driver and noticed them displaying inappropriate gestures in your direction? If so, it is likely that the driver was displaying signs of road rage.

While your first instinct might be to get upset when you encounter someone like this, it is important that you understand the dangers associated with road rage. Many auto accidents have occurred in the past involving two angry drivers as they allowed their frustration to influence their ability to drive. And the last thing you want is to engage in an auto accident simply because else couldn’t control their anger while behind the wheel of their vehicle.

To give you an idea as to how dangerous road rage behavior actually is, below we highlight a recent accident that occurred in Sacramento that resulted in the death of two drivers. 

It was around 3:44 a.m. one Sunday morning in August when a call came into the California Highway Patrol [Source: Fox 5 San Diego]. They had been informed that a collision occurred on I-5 northbound near Arena Boulevard. When police arrived at the scene, they found themselves having to spend hours investigating the incident. Here is what they disclosed to the public so far. Apparently, two drivers had collided with one another and then drove farther down the highway to Del Paso Road. The two men got out of their vehicles and began to engage in a physical fight. The news outlet highlighted that one of the men “pulled out a blunt object” and beat the other driver until he was no longer alive.

That same driver then attempted to leave the scene but walked right into the middle of the freeway where he was hit by a vehicle. The impact led to him suffering fatal injuries. While it might sound shocking, CHP officer Mike Zerfas said that “fights on the freeway between angry motorists, whether it is the result of a traffic collision or some sort of road rage type incident, occur quite often.”

With that accident in mind, here’s what you should do if you ever encounter a driver who displays signs of road rage or are ever involved in an accident with one.

If someone is driving erratically on a roadway in San Diego, move out of their way and allow them to pass. Road rage accidents can be avoided if one driver simply takes the initiative to move rather than get upset themselves which might only escalate the situation into something more serious like a fight. Now, if you are ever involved in an accident with someone as a result of road rage, call 911 immediately to report the incident. CHP officials say that you should let them come out to the accident scene and handle the situation rather than engage in an argument with the upset driver.

Another thing you might want to do following the collision is get in touch with San Diego, CA car accident attorney Jeffrey E. Estes. The reason being is that you may be entitled to compensation for the damage the accident has caused but you may not want to have to deal with contacting the other driver’s insurance carrier on your own. So, if you would like assistance with getting your claim filed or the other driver is denying fault in the accident, our law firm would be more than happy to provide you with the assistance you need to get the matter resolved.

Visit or call Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates today at:
501 West Broadway, Suite 1650
San Diego, CA 92101
619-233-8021