South Carolina Road Rage Accident Lawyer
People sometimes hear about the worst road rage incidents in South Carolina, such as a deadly shooting in 2023, but countless drivers suffer injuries in less outlandish crashes that don’t make the news. An angry driver who cuts someone off, brake checks someone behind them, or weaves aggressively through traffic can easily cause a severe crash and catastrophic injuries. Worse still, people who suffer injuries from out-of-control drivers frequently struggle to recover compensation for their medical bills, lost income, and other harm they suffered.
The South Carolina road rage accident attorneys at Stewart Law Offices can help you seek fair compensation from an aggressive driver who caused a car crash. Our aggressive driving accident lawyers can examine the evidence to identify how an angry driver’s actions led to a road rage car accident and your injuries. We can also document your losses, handle all the legal procedures, and negotiate for a fair settlement on your behalf. If the other driver or their insurer refuses to admit fault, we’ll be ready to defend your rights in court. Call now or complete our contact form to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced car accident attorneys.
Stewart Law Offices: Advocating for Injured Road Rage Car Accident Victims
Recovering compensation after aggressive driving accidents isn’t easy. You need an experienced, dedicated, and resourceful legal team that can help you.
That’s what we offer at Stewart Law Offices. We’ve been in business for over 25 years and recovered millions of dollars for our clients during that time.* Unlike many law firms, we’re available 24/7 to address your concerns or questions, and we’re happy to visit you at home if you can’t come to our office. We don’t charge any upfront fees**, as we don’t want to add to your financial burdens during this difficult moment. Let our dedicated car accident lawyers handle your legal case while you concentrate on healing.
Common Examples of Aggressive Driving and Road Rage on South Carolina Roadways
Road rage and aggressive driving behavior can take many forms.
Some common road rage examples in South Carolina include:
- Tailgating – Following another vehicle too closely gives drivers little to no time to react if the car ahead brakes suddenly.
- Speeding excessively – Driving well over the posted speed limit, especially to intimidate or weave through traffic, increases the risk of a driver losing control while also making resulting car crashes more severe.
- Brake-checking – Slamming on the brakes to “teach someone a lesson” can catch the trailing driver off guard, leading to high-speed, rear-end crashes.
- Cutting off other drivers – Abruptly changing lanes without signaling or leaving enough room can force others to swerve or brake hard, which may cause avoidable car accidents.
- Blocking lane changes – Speeding up or refusing to let someone merge creates unnecessary tension on the road and can lead to a motor vehicle accident.
- Yelling, cursing, or making rude gestures – Verbal or physical aggression can escalate situations, potentially causing distracted driving or retaliatory actions from others on the road.
- Chasing or following someone after a perceived slight – This type of pursuit can lead to reckless driving, speeding, or physical confrontations that often end in car crashes.
- Deliberately bumping or ramming another vehicle – Intentionally hitting another car is dangerous and can cause severe injuries or chain-reaction crashes.
An experienced car accident lawyer from our firm can investigate your auto accident and determine if road rage played a part. We can help build a strong personal injury case on your behalf to pursue maximum compensation for your legal claim.
Dangers of Aggressive Driving
Road rage drivers who act out of anger make decisions based on emotion rather than logic. This reckless driving behavior can lead to devastating crashes and serious injuries, especially at high speeds. Angry drivers may ignore traffic signals, fail to yield, make unsafe lane changes, or take dangerous risks, all of which reduce the time and space needed to avoid a collision. In particular, these actions increase the chances of T-bone, head-on, or rollover accidents—types of crashes that often cause significant injuries or even death.
In many cases, other drivers and passengers are the ones who suffer the consequences of someone else’s road rage, as these crashes often cause broken bones, spinal cord damage, internal injuries, or traumatic brain injuries. Pedestrians and cyclists are especially vulnerable because they have little or no protection from crashes.
Finally, aggressive driving accidents often result in totaled vehicles and costly property damage. While the financial toll of road rage accidents pales in comparison to the human cost, these crashes can add up to millions of dollars in repair costs, medical bills, and lost wages for crash victims.
How Common Is Road Rage in South Carolina?
Unfortunately, the South Carolina Department of Public Safety doesn’t track road rage crashes. The closest thing the department tracks is crashes resulting from a driver’s “aggressive operation of vehicle.” In one recent year, the department recorded over 1,400 of these crashes statewide, and those collisions caused 29 deaths and another 700 injuries.
There’s more data available on road rage accidents nationally. One report found that there were 12,610 injuries and 218 murders from road rage over a recent seven-year period nationwide. Another study from the National Safety Council indicates that a little over one percent of all fatal crashes nationwide in one recent year involved road rage. That may not sound like much, but considering there were over 42,500 traffic deaths nationwide in one recent year, that one-percent figure means about 425 people each year die from road rage crashes.
Evidence That Can Help Support Your Claim Against an Aggressive Driver
It can be challenging to prove that a driver’s road rage caused a crash because there’s no physical test for anger. Nevertheless, a skilled South Carolina aggressive driving attorney can look for evidence that helps determine liability. This evidence might include:
- Dashcam footage – Video from your vehicle or a witness’s car may have recorded the at-fault driver’s reckless maneuvers.
- Eyewitness statements – Testimony from other drivers, passengers, or pedestrians can confirm your account of the reckless driver’s actions.
- Police reports – Police officers often document signs of road rage, including citations for aggressive driving or statements from involved parties.
- Traffic or surveillance cameras – Footage from nearby intersections or businesses may show the crash or the other driver’s aggressive behavior leading up to it.
Contact Stewart Law Offices for Experienced Help
You should not have to bear the cost of another driver’s out-of-control emotions. Stewart Law Offices has extensive experience holding aggressive drivers accountable and can pursue the compensation you need to rebuild your life. Call now or complete our contact form for a free consultation.