Two Incidents Of Road Rage Reported On Night Of Bironas’ Death
News reports from this past weekend indicate that Former Tennessee Titan kicker Rob Bironas was allegedly involved in two road rage incidents shortly before he died in a high-speed, single-car accident.
According to news sources that obtained the 911 calls and interviewed victims of the rage events, in the first encounter, Bironas became angry with some college kids who tried to tell him that something was burning in Bironas’ vehicle exhaust system. One of the college kids told reporter that Bironas “looked over at me and said ‘I’m going to kill everybody in your (expletive) vehicle” and then he began chasing the truck that the kids were in. During the chase, which allegedly reached speeds of 110 mph, Bironas reportedly swerved in between lanes and tried to sideswipe the kids’ vehicle. The kids were eventually able to escape the incident when Bironas lost track of them in a residential neighborhood.
Sometime after the first incident, another motorist called 911 to report that Bironas had also tried to run them off the road. The woman told the 911 dispatcher that Bironas pulled his SUV up next to the vehicle that she and her husband were in and tried to run them off the road. He then gave them a menacing look before speeding away. The woman warned the 911 dispatcher that the man in the SUV was dangerous and that police needed to know something was wrong with him.
Shortly after this second 911 call, Bironas apparently lost control of his vehicle when negotiating a curve and he died when the vehicle struck a tree. Police say that speed was a factor in the accident but that there was no evidence of alcohol or drugs at the scene.
Road Rage And Aggressive Driving Creates Roadway Dangers
It is tempting to think that these types of incidents are a rare occurrence. However, road rage is not uncommon in the United States. Unfortunately, approximately 1,500 people are injured or killed in road rage incidents each year and aggressive driving accounts for more than half of all traffic fatalities, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
While road rage is an extreme form of aggressive driving, drivers often engage in angry behind-the-wheel behaviors such as racing, tail gaiting, lane blocking, failing to follow speed signs and rules of the road, as well as verbal and non-verbal confrontational communications with other drivers. Any of these behaviors can cause a crash but speed is particularly deadly; AAA Foundation studies show that it is a factor in about one-third of all fatal crashes.
Stressed Out Drivers More Likely To Drive Aggressively
Any driver is capable of road rage. However, studies on road rage have developed a profile of those who are more likely to commit road rage acts. These studies point to the following characteristics of aggressive drivers:
– Men between the ages of 16 and 26 years old who have a history of crime or violence and who also have problems with alcohol or drugs
– Individuals who are going through some kind of emotional crisis, such as losing a job or girlfriend, going through a divorce, or suffering from an illness or injury
– Individuals with poor impulse control or who are prone to explosive outbursts of anger
– “Type A” or competitive individuals who also have a hard time tolerating the frustrations of driving or who want to punish other drivers or “teach them a lesson” for any perceived driving offenses.
Help For Road Rage Victims
If you have been injured in a road rage crash or otherwise been injured by the acts of an aggressive driver, it is important that you seek medical attention right away, both for the sake of your health and to preserve any legal claims that you may have against the driver.
Also, a Tallahassee road rage accident lawyer at Fasig & Brooks is here to help you determine what possible legal action you may take against someone who harms you in a motor vehicle accident. Contact us online or call us at (850) 222-3232 with any questions you may have about your rights to financial recovery for your injuries, pain, suffering, and other damages.
