Austin, Texas Road Rage Laws - Legal Insights for Victims & Their Families

The district of Austin is home to over 2 million registered vehicles according to the Texas Department of Transportation. This staggering number helps to explain the levels of traffic in the city and its surrounding highways. Alongside the high tension that comes with heavy traffic and populated streets, road rage injuries in Austin are an increasingly dangerous possibility.

Unfortunately for victims of road rage injuries, Texas does not have laws that specifically criminalize “road rage.” However, creating dangerous conditions, injuries caused by road rage, and driver negligence in controlling their temper are all legally covered by reckless or aggressive driving.

If you or someone close to you has been injured because of a negligent driver and their reckless driving, the Austin personal injury attorneys at Carabin Shaw will help you fight for the justice and compensation you deserve. Filing a claim after an injury caused by a reckless driver can also keep other drivers safe, as many consequences of reckless driving include loss of driver’s license or, in severe cases, conviction.

Road rage alone is not necessarily an offense that can be brought against a driver, but driving behaviors associated with it can be.

Aggressive driving is defined by the National Highway Traffic Administration as any “traffic offense that endangers or is likely to endanger persons or property.” The penalty incurred by an aggressive driver depends on the driver’s intent. There are, however, important road rage victim rights that can be pursued with the support of an attorney, especially in cases where a victim was injured by the aggressive driver.

Aggressive driving comes in many forms, but can commonly include:

• Cutting off a driver before slowing down
• Stopping another driver from switching lanes
• Unsafe lane changes
• Assaulting other drivers or their vehicles

There are extensive road rage penalties in Texas for negligent and aggressive drivers, as any of the above behaviors can result in catastrophic damages and injuries to a car accident victim.

While aggressive driving is any driving offense that could be dangerous, reckless driving is defined as the “willful or wanton disregard for the safety measures of persons or property” and can just as easily result in a devastating Austin road rage car accident. Reckless driving behaviors that result in accidents can be:

• Tailgating
• Distracted driving
• Excessive or criminal speeding
• Driving under the influence

Our team at Carabin Shaw has over thirty years of experience with auto collision injuries, and we have the resources and expertise necessary to provide the guidance that you need.

Proving that the driver who caused your accident was negligent and aggressive requires substantial evidence, which our lawyers will help you to gather. Toxicology reports, excessive speeding, and a poor driving record can all stand as evidence that the driver was reckless or aggressive.

Meanwhile, medical reports, lost work hours, and other expenses caused by your injuries stand as evidence of the damages they caused to you. Visit Carabin Shaw reviews to see how else our experts can support you and your case.

Proving aggressive driving alongside an injury claim adds several complicated steps to the process. You deserve to focus entirely on your recovery after an accident. Our free initial consultation allows you to ask any question you may have about your case, and what our expert attorneys can and will do in order to protect your best interests. Additionally, because we offer our services on a contingency-fee basis, you pay nothing for our support until your case is won.

Working with local Austin experts means hiring an attorney who knows the area and is familiar with common driving patterns within the city. To schedule your initial consultation or ask clarifying questions, call our English and Spanish-speaking staff, available 24/7 and toll-free, at 800-862-1260.

For more information:

• Austin District Statistics
• NHTSA