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McKnight Case Update and How to Avoid Road Altercations

Posted on Dec 13, 2016 in Traffic

  [caption id="attachment_6175" align="aligncenter" width="890"] Photo courtesy of www.nola.com[/caption] Many of us have been behind the wheel after a long day, and when traffic thickens at the height of rush hour it’s common for the average driver to feel more stressed.  In most cases road rage altercations between drivers might include angry verbal exchanges, but in exceptional cases, things turn ugly. Louisiana is once again in the national spotlight after the Joe McKnight shooting last week, the second death of a former NFL player this year connected to a road rage incident. Ronald Gasser, 54, was arrested on Monday for a manslaughter charge, days after the episode took place at an intersection in Terrytown.  McKnight, a top running back recruit hailing from the University of Southern California, played several seasons in the NFL for the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs before joining the CFL in 2016. The circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting are still somewhat unclear as local authorities continue their ongoing effort to collect evidence. Allegedly, the incident started on a bridge with both McKnight and Gasser driving erratically and yelling at each other, before both men stopped at the intersection in Terrytown.  McKnight left his vehicle and approached Gasser, who was seated in his vehicle, when Gasser fired three fatal shots with a handgun. How to Avoid Road Rage Incidents The tragedy has fueled racial tensions in New Orleans, as local advocacy groups criticized authorities for waiting to charge Gasser with manslaughter.  What is perhaps most heartbreaking about McKnight’s death is that it likely could have been avoided had either of the men taken measures to diffuse the situation. As a criminal defense lawyer, I’d like to encourage local motorists to employ safe driving practices to avoid getting into altercations with drivers with whom you share the road.  Here’s a few tips I’d like to share:
  1. Avoiding aggressive drivers is sometimes impossible, but if you’re being tailgated by a hasty motorist, it’s best to move over and let them pass instead of antagonizing them with a brake check.
  1. If you accidentally cut off another driver on the road, make an “I’m sorry” gesture.
  1. Use your horn only when absolutely necessary.
  1. Avoid eye contact with angry drivers and give them room.
  1. Keep your driving environment calm by listening to pleasing music and relax your grip on the wheel.
  1. Don’t get distracted behind the wheel by talking on the phone, texting, eating, or applying makeup. All these actions reduce your reaction time, which could get you into trouble with other drivers.
Criminal Defense You Can Trust If you’ve found yourself implicated in road rage related charges, contact Bloom Legal, LCC, for support. We understand that incidents on the road sometimes happen, and we’re here to provide you legal consultation to help mitigate your situation.

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