A fender-bender on a busy Dallas highway quickly spun out of control at around 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15. A black and white Ford Crown Victoria rear-ended a truck and continued driving. About ¼ mile down the road (westbound on 1-20 at 1-35 in Dallas County), the Ford broke down and the maroon truck involved in the accident pulled over.
The driver of the truck exited his vehicle and approached the driver of the Ford to exchange insurance information. Two young men and 2 children exited the Ford, got into a grey van, and drove away.
Meanwhile, an unidentified young man attacked the driver of the truck, who was still trying to gather information about the accident.
The suspect knocked the man to the ground and threw several punches before fleeing when bystanders got involved. A passerby caught the confrontation on video and shared it with CBSN Dallas-Ft. Worth.
Authorities are asking anyone with information on the assault to contact the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department Vehicle Crimes Unit at (214) 589-2343 or (214) 749-8641.
Understanding Road Rage
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines road rage as “the angry and violent behaviors at the extreme of the aggressive driving continuum.” While aggressive driving is a traffic violation, road rage occurs when aggressive driving escalates into criminal activity, which can include yelling and gesturing, confrontation, physical assault, and even murder.
The unfortunate accident described above is a clear instance of road rage – which is becoming more and more common on American roadways.
When you drive, try to avoid aggressive driving behaviors, such as speeding in heavy traffic, weaving in and out of lanes, tailgating, and cutting other vehicles off. If you notice someone else driving aggressively, do not retaliate. Instead, disengage and give them space. Try to avoid eye contact with angry drivers.
You can always call 911 if you feel threatened. If someone follows you, drive to a police station, hospital, or fire station for safety. Even after an accident, you can stay in your locked vehicle if you do not feel comfortable getting out. As long as you don’t leave the scene, you are following the law and you can call law enforcement to help you.
Car accidents are, by definition, accidents, but road rage is not. If you’ve been a victim of road rage, you can file both criminal charges and a personal injury lawsuit.
For more information about your legal rights on and off the road, contact Mathias Raphael PLLC Accident & Injury Lawyers.
We can help you after car crashes, road rage incidents, and more.
All you need to do is call us at (214) 739-0100 today or contact us online for a free consultation.