Road rage is a common phenomenon in congested areas, such as Las Vegas. Drivers are often focused on the driving of those around them, but rarely consider how their own driving may be increasing their chances of being involved in a car collision. Though there are many reasons a car accident can occur, it’s important to speak to an accident attorney in Las Vegas to learn what legal actions you can take.
Fortunately, the vast majority of drivers follow the law. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that a mere 3% of drivers have ever been convicted of drunk driving and that a large number of drunk driving arrests involve repeat offenders, keeping the actual population of drunk drivers lower than the overall number of arrests. Though it’s important to note that many people simply don’t get caught or end up winning their case even though they may have been breaking the law.
All things considered, most people pay attention to the road, follow the laws, and don’t drive recklessly. Though there are many more safe drivers than dangerous, it only takes one to cause an accident. Besides drunk driving, there are many ways drivers can create a dangerous environment on the road and it’s important to seek legal justice from a lawyer if you have been involved in an accident.
Speed limits are designed to let drivers reach their destinations as quickly as possible, as safely as possible. Speed limits are decided by considering the road’s design and the typical amount of traffic. Deviating too far above or below the speed limit can be dangerous.
Speeding creates a dangerous situation, not only because the conditions of the road make it so, but because that car is going at a vastly different speed from the rest of traffic. This disturbs traffic flow, forcing other drivers to specifically react to a single vehicle in order to avoid a collision. This takes attention away from the road in general, increasing the likelihood of a collision not only with the speeding car, but with any other driver on the road. The speeding driver must take more extreme measures to react to obstacles on the road, such as a closed lane or another driver making an error. Other drivers can’t anticipate the actions of the speeding car and thus they are always in a reactionary state. Speeding also makes the resulting crash more serious than if the car was traveling at an appropriate speed.
Though speeding is a much more common problem, driving too slowly also disturbs the flow of traffic and can create a dangerous environment on the road. Drivers are forced to change lanes to get around the slower car, essentially shutting down one lane with no warning. It can be difficult to realize a car is going much slower than all the other cars.
If a driver isn’t paying close attention and the car ahead leaves the lane, it’s very possible for that driver not to notice the car now in front is going much slower. This can result in a rear-end collision and possibly a collision involving multiple cars. Cars may not be able to change lanes or break sufficiently and may sideswipe the slower car or others in the nearby lanes. If you have been involved in an accident as a result of car either speeding or driving too slowly, a lawyer may be able to help get compensation.
Violating a red light can have devastating effects. When cross traffic is stopped, they aren’t behaving or anticipating any movement from that direction. They will speed straight ahead or turn without much thought. If a driver enters an intersection against the light, they could hit another vehicle on the side or even head-on. It’s also possible to hit a pedestrian who is trusting their crosswalk signal to keep them safe.
When drivers aren’t paying attention, their reaction time decreases or is completely lost. Anything can happen in the blink of an eye behind a fast-moving car. When your eyes or mind isn’t on the road, you won’t be able to detect changes in other driver’s behavior, such as someone suddenly stopping ahead, a light changing, or someone coming into your lane. Texting or otherwise fiddling with the phone is absolutely the most dangerous behavior, as it completely consumes your attention. Changing the radio and giving too much attention to passengers can also take too much attention from the road. Distraction driving is a very common cause for vehicle accidents. If you or someone you know has been involved in a car accident, make sure to consult with a distracted driving accident attorney.
Road rage is an all too common phenomenon when a person becomes enraged by another driver’s behavior. While it’s understandable to become upset when someone is being inconsiderate on the road, resulting to road rage actually makes you the dangerous and inconsiderate driver. Common road rage behavior includes tailgating, cutting the other person off, and engaging them verbally.
All of these behaviors are completely inappropriate and increase the likelihood of a car collision. Tailgating, or driving too closely behind another car, greatly increases the chances of a rear-end accident. Cutting off drivers increases the chances of a rear-end or sideswiping. Engaging the other driver verbally can be considered threatening and at the very least distracts the driver from the road. If someone is driving in a way that annoys you, take a breath and realize your life is more important than reacting to someone who doesn’t know how to drive.
Extended trips and busy lives can increase the pressure to drive tired. It’s important to realize that driving tired is very irresponsible as it decrease the driver’s ability to navigate the roads. Being tired decreases the driver’s reaction time, resulting in an increased occurrence of lane drifting, breaking later than normal, and not realizing what the drivers around you are doing.
Very tired drivers may also experience something called micro-sleep. This is when a person sleeps for a very small amount of time – between less than a second for up to a few seconds. Obviously this makes it impossible for the driver to pay attention to the road and may result in over-corrective behavior. This is a common problem which results in truck accidents. If you have been injured in a car collision because of the behavior of another driver, you should speak to an experienced truck accident attorney in Las Vegas who can review your case and help you get the compensation you deserve.
Everyone has an obligation to drive safely on the road. If a negligent driver was responsible for a collision, you may be able to pursue compensation under Nevada law. At Harris & Harris Injury Lawyers, we understand how devastating a life-altering event such as a car accident can be. We’ve been recognized by national and regional associations for our expertise in personal injury law. Give us a call to speak to a personal injury attorney in Las Vegas at (702) 384-1414 or contact us online.