Emotional driving poses a significant crash risk, which is why getting behind the wheel while you are angry or upset is a bad idea that could cause serious harm to you or someone else.
Today, Roden Law discusses emotional driving, including what it is and how one quick decision could cause a lot of damage. We also talk about the signs and how to avoid driving while emotional.
Were you injured in a car crash caused by an angry or upset driver? If so, you may be eligible to recover compensation for your medical costs and other losses. Our experienced car crash lawyers in Savannah are prepared to help. Call to discuss your situation in a completely confidential, zero-cost consultation.
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What Is Emotional Driving?
Emotional driving is what happens when a person operates a vehicle while experiencing extreme emotions, such as anger, sadness, excitement or anxiety. Drivers experiencing these emotions are often unable to properly focus on the road. Emotional stress impairs driver judgement and slows your ability to react to dangerous situations on the road.
Intense Emotions to Watch for as a Driver
Experiencing high levels of excitement for something positive happening in your life can distract you as much as feelings that are equally intense, but negative.
Intense emotions include the following:
- Anger or rage of any kind
- Deep sadness and grief
- Panic or fear
- Feelings of stress or anxiety
Common Triggers for Emotional Driving in Savannah
You can experience things that trigger emotional driving anywhere, including Savannah. Typically, emotional driving is the result of something really upsetting or extremely exciting, such as:
- A breakup with a romantic partner, spouse or good friend
- Having a bad day at work, such as by getting fired or not getting promoted
- Encountering a traffic jam on the way home
- Getting a call about a loved one who passed away unexpectedly
- Getting cut off or almost hit by a careless or reckless driver
- Receiving exciting news, such as a family member who just had a baby
- Running late for an important appointment
Personal issues, work stress or family conflicts are very common triggers creating extreme emotional responses behind the wheel.
What Are the Dangers of Driving While Emotional?
Emotional driving significantly increases crash risks. Angry drivers may recklessly speed, tailgate or make aggressive lane changes. Drivers who are feeling extremely sad or upset may fail to notice traffic signals or pedestrians. Even drivers who are high on excitement tend to speed and take unnecessary risks.
The intensity of these types of emotions could lead to poor decision making, impaired judgment and slowed reaction time.
Whether you are traveling close to home through Savannah’s busy urban areas or along some winding rural road in Georgia, driving requires your full attention. Emotional drivers lack this focus, causing them to react more slowly to unexpected situations. This delay can mean the difference between a near-miss and a severe accident.
How to Recognize Signs of Emotional Driving
The fact is, you know when you are upset or angry. Getting behind the wheel while you feel that way is a really bad idea. But what if something makes you angry or emotional while you are already behind the wheel?
Self-awareness is crucial to prevent emotional driving, especially if you are already on the road. Some critical self-checks you can do include watching for these and other signs of extreme emotion:
- Gripping the steering wheel tightly
- Yelling at other drivers or passengers
- Driving noticeably faster than usual
- Feeling your heart race, crying or breathing faster than usual
- Having trouble concentrating on the road
- Making rash decisions or frequent lane changes
If something triggers you while you are on the road, you should find a safe stopping place to give you time and space to deal with your emotions. If someone is in the car with you, let them take over driving.
Legal Consequences of Emotional Driving in Savannah
Emotional driving, even if it does not result in a crash, can lead to serious legal trouble in Georgia. Reckless driving charges can result from speeding and other behaviors stemming from extreme emotions.
Charges for emotional or reckless driving carry heavy fines. Your insurance rates may skyrocket and you could lose your license.
If emotional driving leads to an accident that results in serious or fatal injuries, the consequences are even greater. You may face civil lawsuits for damages or injuries, or even criminal charges. One moment of emotional driving could change your life for years to come.
What to Do After an Accident Caused by Emotional Driving
If you get injured in an accident involving emotional driving, it is important to stay calm. Look around you to see if anyone, including you, are hurt. Call 9-1-1 to get first responders to the scene. Remember that even if you do not see any visible wounds, you may have sustained severe internal injuries.
Be sure to seek immediate medical attention and contact a knowledgeable lawyer to determine potential legal actions. This step is critical if you need to recover compensation for things like medical costs, lost wages and other losses.
Emotional driving is a serious issue that endangers lives. In serious crashes, the damages could be life-altering and result in severe legal consequences.
Take time to recognize when you are too angry or upset to drive. By understanding the signs, you can stay off the road when your emotions are high, helping to keep yourself and others safe.
Need Legal Help After an Emotionally Charged Savannah Car Crash?
If emotional driving led to your crash and resulting injuries, there is no need to face the aftermath alone.
At Roden Law, we have the staff and resources to get you the results you need. We help victims injured by negligence every day, and we are prepared to help you. We take car crash claims on contingency, so there are no upfront costs to pay.
Call today. We are here to get you justice. 1-844-RESULTS