Road rage is a term often floated around to describe a driver’s, often irrational, response to the actions of other drivers. Caving to road rage is often life-threatening. One California man was recently suffered several severe injuries, including a spinal cord injury, as a result of another driver’s alleged road rage. His community is now working together to support him and his family as he recovers.
The injured man was riding his motorcycle on a California road in mid-August. He reports that the driver of a sedan cut him off, and he then sped up to try to get away from the sedan. According to his claims, the driver began to behave erratically until, other witness report, the driver deliberately struck the back tire of the man’s motorcycle, causing a fire and road closure. Among other injuries, the motorcycle driver broke his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
After a police chase, the driver of the sedan was captured and charged with hit-and-run and attempted murder. The injured man is at a recovery center. Unfortunately, his doctors are unsure if he will every walk again.
The man is the father of three — including a teenager in high school and a college student. The community where he lives has organized several fundraisers to help with the costs the family is unable to pay for as he recovers — rent, car payments, college tuition among others. While it is wonderful that his community is helping to support the family after his spinal cord injury, the man also has the option of filing a personal injury claim against the driver of the sedan. The criminal charges against the driver will only support the man’s claims. As a result, a California civil court could award the man with damages to help with the financial burdens associated with the accident.
Source: Contra Costa Times, Antioch man faces long recovery from road rage tragedy, Trine Gallegos, Sept. 24, 2013