Tailgating Often Leads to a Car Crash
Florida law1 requires drivers to drive a safe distance behind other cars based on the traffic and road conditions. Following another car too closely is commonly referred to as “tailgating” and is a common cause of auto accidents. Drivers must use their judgment to determine what distance is reasonable to keep between cars depending on the circumstances. For example, if it is daytime with light traffic and good weather, you can follow a little closer than if it is raining at night. In the end, you want to make sure you have enough time to brake if the car in front of you suddenly slows down or stops. Unfortunately, many people do tailgate for many reasons and they can cause serious collisions.
There are different motivations behind tailgating, including the following:
- A driver is impatient with a slower car and wants to force the slower driver to move over into another lane.
- A driver is engaging in aggressive driving or road rage and is tailgating to intimidate another driver.
- A driver is trying to “draft” another vehicle to get better gas mileage.
- A driver overestimates their driving skills and their reflexes to hit the brakes when needed.
- A driver simply misjudges the distance between the vehicles.
No matter what the reason for the tailgating may have been, tailgating drivers should be held liable if they end up colliding with the vehicle in front of them.
Rear-end accident can cause serious injuries to motorists, some of which include:
- Whiplash
- Neck and back injuries
- Concussion
- Spinal cord injury2
- Fractured bones
- Facial fractures
- Injuries from an airbag or seat belt
- Lacerations and contusions
All of these injuries require medical attention and can result in extensive medical bills and lost income if the accident victim had to miss work. If you incur such losses in an accident caused by tailgating, you have the right to seek compensation from the negligent driver.
Discuss Your Case with an Ocala Personal Injury Attorney Today
At the office of Meldon Law, our highly skilled car accident attorneys can help you hold aggressive and dangerous drivers accountable if they cause your accident. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you, please call our office for free at 800-373-8000.
Meldon Law
808 East Fort King Street Suite A
Ocala, FL 34471
(352) 629-5700
