South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
It’s congested out there. That’s no secret. What may be more of a secret is how to handle the traffic. Many drivers are having a tough time and are getting quite impatient behind the wheel.
Take the recent fatal accident in Fort Lauderdale for example. We’re talking about the one that ended up closing the southbound lanes on Interstate 95 for four hours. It happened when a driver tried to pass another car on the right-hand shoulder of the Interstate, according to the Sun Sentinel.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reports that a passenger in the passing vehicle was thrown from the car as it flipped over. That passenger, 52-year-old Pompano Beach resident, died at the scene.
Officials say a 45-year-old driver from Sunrise decided that he needed to get passed the vehicle in front of him. He steered his car onto the shoulder of Interstate 95 near Sunrise Boulevard. The driver he had to pass was a 30-year-old Oakland Park resident.
When the impatient driver tried to get back into the right lane, his vehicle clipped the vehicle it was passing, causing it to shoot left. After shooting left, his car slammed into another car, driven by a 58-year-old from Lantana.
The passing driver lost control of his vehicle, and it flipped over. The passenger in his vehicle, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the car. The driver was wearing his seat belt and was later taken by emergency response crews to the Broward Medical Center and was treated for serious injuries.
Because of the severity of the accident, northbound lanes of traffic were also backed up. According to officials with the FHP, the accident is still under investigation.
The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) reports that signs of road rage are:
-Aggressive driving habits.
-Sudden and unnecessary acceleration.
-Braking erratically.
-Tailgating.
-Unnecessary use of the horn.
-Flashing lights.
-Rude gestures or yelling obscenities.
-Intentionally causing an accident.
-Threatening another driver with a weapon.
-Throwing things at other cars.
In the state of Florida, road rage is most commonly defined as violent or visibly angry driver behavior. This kind of behavior can result in accidents or other incidents. It is also called an extreme case of aggressive driving.
To avoid becoming the victim of a road rage incident, it’s important that you keep your cool and do not react. Avoid eye contact with an enraged driver. Don’t make obscene gestures, yell or honk back at them. Stay out of the left lane as that’s usually used for faster-traveling vehicles. Get out of their way. Report them to local authorities if you feel you or any other motorists are in danger. Avoid driving if you’re feeling stressed out or irritable.
If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident in Fort Lauderdale, St. Lucie or elsewhere in the nearby areas, contact Freeman, Mallard, Gonzalez & Sharp to schedule a free and confidential consultation to discuss your rights. Call 1-800-561-7777.
Additional Resources:
Fatal crash caused by attempt to pass on shoulder, say police, by Mike Clary, Sun Sentinel
More Blog Entries:
Fatal Traffic Accidents in Boca Raton and Elsewhere Often Preventable
July 2, 2012