South Carolina had the highest aggressive driving death rate in the nation, according to a report from the Surface Transportation Policy Partnership. The report found that South Carolina had 15.1 deaths related to aggressive driving for every 100,000 people.
More than a decade after that study, South Carolina still has a major problem with aggressive driving. In fact, the problem remains so severe that the South Carolina Department of Transportation in recent years set aside $1.5 billion to pay state troopers to work overtime to crack down on aggressive driving.
Aggressive driving refers to a combination of dangerous driving behaviors, all of which significantly increase the risk of a car accident. Aggressive drivers put themselves and others at serious risk of injury. Aggressive driving can even cause fatal wrecks. Driving in an aggressive manner is irresponsible and risky, and drivers who engage in this type of negligent behavior must be held accountable.
At Joye Law Firm, our South Carolina car accident attorneys represent people who have become victims of aggressive driving accidents. We can help you to take legal action to recover damages for your losses.
Contact our South Carolina personal injury attorneys at Joye Law Firm today to get one of our car accident lawyers working for you. We treat each and every client with courtesy and respect, and it is one of our law firm’s client commitments that we return all phone calls within 24 hours or one business day.
Call Joye Law Firm at 877-936-9707 or fill out our online consultation form now.
What is Aggressive Driving?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) refers to aggressive driving as a “combination of moving traffic offenses so as to endanger other persons or property.” Behaviors that can be considered aggressive include:
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Disregarding traffic signs
- Tailgating or following other vehicles too closely
- Illegal or unsafe passing, including passing on the right in an unsafe manner, passing against a double yellow line and passing on a blind curve or hill
- Weaving in and out of traffic
- Racing
- Seeking confrontation with other drivers
- Cutting off other vehicles
- Disregarding stop signs or red lights
Speeding is also considered to be a form of aggressive driving, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA). The dangers of speeding are well known and the statistics on speeding-related deaths speak for themselves. The South Carolina Highway Patrol says speed is second only to drunk driving when it comes to causing traffic deaths.
The GHSA also expresses concern that speeding can be especially risky when combined with other aggressive driving behaviors.
The Danger of Aggressive Driving in South Carolina
Aggressive driving creates an inherent risk both for the driver who is engaging in bad behavior as well as for others who share the road with the aggressor. According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, aggressive driving may be a factor in as many as 56 percent of the deadly car accidents in the U.S. This means thousands of people lose their lives each year as a result of preventable aggression behind the wheel.
Aggressive driving is so dangerous and life-threatening for many reasons, including:
- Aggressive drivers are less likely to be able to break or react to the unexpected.
- Aggressive drivers are less likely to be able to stop before hitting the vehicle in front of them or before hitting another obstacle.
- Crashes with high-speed aggressive drivers have more impact due to the higher speed.
- Aggressive drivers are less likely to have full control over their vehicles.
These are just some of the many risks posed by aggressive drivers. There is also the risk of intentional violence. Occasionally, extremely aggressive drivers with “road rage” may hit another vehicle on purpose or may use physical violence against another driver. These cases are outliers, but they do occur, and in these instances, the aggressive driver can face serious civil and criminal consequences.
Contact Our South Carolina Aggressive Driving Accident Attorneys Today
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a South Carolina car accident caused by an aggressive driver, you can depend on our personal injury lawyers at Joye Law Firm to fight for the compensation you deserve while treating you with dignity and respect. You aren’t just another faceless claim at Joye Law Firm — you are our client.
Call Joye Law Firm at 877-936-9707 or fill out our free online case evaluation form.
