Anytime you get on the road, you have to be careful not only about your own driving but the driving of those around you. This is because road rage accidents have been on the rise in many different states including Colorado. Denver car accident lawyers are seeing many more cases as these accidents occur in and around the city.
While most of the road rage accidents have happened in Denver, there are still accidents all across the state so you need to be careful no matter where you are driving.
The police and lawyers in Denver have all seen a massive increase in road rage incidences so they are warning drivers and pedestrians who are on the road to be extra careful and always report any suspicious activity that they might see.
Notable Road Rage Incidents
All road rage accidents are terrible and need to be investigated and taken seriously. However, there are some accidents that have happened in Colorado that everyone seems to remember because they were more serious than others.
Aurora, Colorado
Although we mentioned that most of the road rage accidents seem to happen in Denver, there are many that happen in other cities including Aurora, Colorado.
This case happened when a man got out of his car to confront someone who was driving recklessly. When he got out of the car, the man was shot by the teenager who was driving poorly.
Denver, Colorado
There have been many reckless driving and road rage accidents in Denver. One of the most notable ones is when a 24-year-old man killed two people while driving on Interstate 25. He was soon arrested and charged after.
El Paso County, Colorado
There have also been several reported cases in this area of Colorado. Two people apparently got into a fight on the side of the road on I-25 near the market of 133. When police got to the scene, they found one of the men lying on the road and he wasn’t breathing.
Even though no one knows for sure what caused the fight, the wife of the man who was found unconscious believes it was because of road rage.
Boulder County, Colorado
In Boulder in May of 2023, a road rage incident caused two deaths when a man purposely crashed his truck into another car which sent the car into oncoming traffic. The driver of the truck left the scene after causing the crash by driving more than 100mph and hitting the car.
A friend of the man driving the truck says he got mad because the other car was trying to race him.
This is yet another cause of road rage as the other driver got mad because he felt like another driver was confronting him and then he got made and caused a very serious accident.
Colorado is the Third Worst State for Road Rage
According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado is the third worst state for road rage. This is because many of the residents of the state have been followed by angry drivers and people have even gotten out of their car and come and yelled at them. They also say they have been threatened and yelled at by other drivers displaying signs of rage.
This means road rage incidents are on the rise and will probably continue to be on the rise since drivers are becoming more and more confrontational.
Road Rage and Aggressive Driving
Road rage definitely has a link to aggressive driving. Most people who have caused road rage accidents also have a history of aggressive driving including:
- Driving more than 15 miles per hour over the speed limit
- Honking excessively or making crude gestures at other drivers
- Running red lights
- Switching lanes too quickly
- Following other drivers too closely
- Not allowing other cars to overtake by speeding up
- Not allowing other drivers to merge by closing the gap between their car and the car in front of them
- Passing in front of other cars without giving at least the length of one car
In many other incidences of road rage, mental health may be a contributing factor. If you or someone you know might be prone to angry outbursts of aggression, consult a mental health expert.
If you notice a young driver or teen who is consistently engaging in agressive activity and angry outbursts, consider enrollment into a residential youth treatment facility to address aggressive behavior early on.
What To Do During Road Rage
If you are driving and feel like someone driving close to you is experiencing road rage, it’s important you get away from them as soon as possible. This includes pulling over or just allowing them to pass you so that there is enough distance between your car and theirs.
Make sure not to make eye contact with them and never engage with them by exhibiting the same driving behaviors as this could make them mad and cause them to act out even more aggressively.
If they continue to want to be close to you or are following you, call 911 immediately. You can also pull into the nearest police station or fire station if there is one nearby.
Contacting an Attorney
If you have been a victim of road rage and have injuries or financial issues because of the accident they caused, you should meet with an attorney as soon as you are able to do so.
They can meet with you to discuss what happened and go over any compensation that you are entitled to receive. They can also talk to the insurance companies on your behalf to ensure you are getting fair compensation.
If you have already been offered a settlement, it’s also worth meeting with an attorney because they can look at the settlement and determine if it’s really fair or not. If they do not feel like it’s fair, they can help you get something that is better or they can even file a lawsuit for you if the insurance company is not willing to offer more.
The Bottom Line
Road rage incidents in Colorado are increasing which means if you live here or drive through here, you are more likely to experience road rage compared to drivers in other states. This is why it’s important to know the signs of road rage and to get away from someone driving recklessly as soon as possible.
When involved in a road rage accident, always call law enforcement and a personal attorney.