RSSBrevard County Man Sentenced Today for Road Rage Killing
William Sherwood, the Brevard County man convicted on Wednesday Nov. 12th of a road rage killing in 2013, will be sentenced soon for his actions. According to Brevard County court documents, Sherwood rear-ended an SUV driven by John Pratt after Pratt cut him off in traffic in March of 2013. When Pratt approached the vehicle, Sherwood shot Pratt twice. Sherwood had claimed self-defense because Pratt reached into the vehicle and punched him in the face and wrenched his neck. The jury took just nine hours to determine that Sherwood was guilty of second-degree murder.
Road rage is defined as "visibly angry behavior by a driver of a motor vehicle which can result in crashes or other incidents on roadways" by Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. For motorists who make daily commutes on Florida’s streets and highways, road rage is a very real danger. Improper driving behavior and even innocent errors can cause frustration for many motorists. Coupled with outside factors such as stress from jobs or family life, these incidents can send some people over the edge. Though most of these confrontations only involve yelling or hand gestures, sometimes they become physical – as evidenced in the case of Mr. Sherwood.
There are several ways to protect yourself and your family from road raged motorists. Knowing the warning signs that may indicate road rage and abstaining from aggressive driving behaviors are a good place to start. If you find yourself in a situation where you are the target of road rage, keep a cool head and avoid confronting the other motorist. If you witness a road rage incident, do not hesitate to call the authorities.
Prevention and motorist education are important tools that can keep motorists safe on the road, but sometimes they are not enough. If you have been the victim of a road rage incident, please call the Law Offices of James O. Cunningham at 877-FL-INJURY (877-354-6587).
James O. Cunningham
Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.
Mr. Cunningham is an excellent and knowledgeable attorney.