Road rage incidents are not uncommon in Ontario, and there has been much debate about the factors that could drive individuals to behave in this way. Road rage is often blamed on a combination of the stresses of modern life and the frustration of coping with heavy traffic, but research that has been recently published indicates that there may be a connection between traumatic brain injuries and road rage incidents.
The researchers based their findings on surveys of nearly 4,000 drivers, and they found that individuals who had suffered a traumatic brain injuries were far more likely to be involved in a serious road rage incident. The drivers polled were all Canadians of various ages. Researchers defined a road rage incident as serious if threats were made to harm another person or damage property, and a brain injury was considered traumatic if it led to a hospital stay or a loss of consciousness for five minutes or longer.
Aggressive driving behavior has previously been linked with psychiatric disorders and substance abuse, and researchers concede that more work needs to be done to determine the strength of the connection between road rage and brain injuries. However, the co-author of the study said that learning more about this link should be made a priority considering the large number of individuals who have suffered a serious brain injury.
Many Ontario residents suffer a traumatic brain injury in an accident caused by the negligent actions of others. This type of injury can be life-changing, but the symptoms are sometimes subtle and difficult to detect. A lawyer with experience in this area could help an injured client file a lawsuit seeking damages from the person whose negligence was the cause of the accident.
