Auto Accidents Caused by Tailgating or Following Too Closely

One of the most common types of car crashes are rear-end crashes, which often occur when one driver is following the vehicle in front too closely. When the forward vehicle has to stop suddenly, the vehicle in the rear does not have enough time to brake without crashing into the back of the forward vehicle. Following too closely, also called tailgating, is a dangerous habit, which can be perceived as aggressive driving by the forward vehicle. Some drivers tailgate without realizing it, and some drivers who habitually engage in tailgating behavior are often aggressive drivers who frequently display road rage. They are also impatient drivers who seek to intimidate the vehicle in front of them to drive faster.

According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, there were 176,043 traffic crashes in 2014 with 901 fatalities and 44,983 injuries. Of those traffic crashes, 288 were caused by following improperly, which is up slightly from the year before, but down significantly from 2005 when there were 416 crashes in Tennessee caused by improper following.

Common injuries from tailgating accidents

Vehicle occupants who end up in a rear-end crash caused by the driver behind them following too closely can end up with several different types of injuries that can range in severity from whiplash to a head injury depending on how fast the vehicles were traveling and the size of the vehicles involved. Here are some examples of injuries suffered in rear-end crashes:

• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Traumatic brain injury
• Spinal cord injury
• Burns
• Cuts from broken glass

Determining fault in a rear-end crash from following too closely

Rear-end collisions are most often considered to be the fault of the driver of the vehicle in the rear who was following too closely behind the car in front. Tailgating is against Tennessee law, which says that the driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent taking into consideration speed and traffic conditions.

There are exceptions to this general rule. If the forward car had defective brake lights, and the accident took place at night then the driver of the forward car may share some of the fault in the accident. Also, if a car suddenly swerves and cuts in front of another car causing a crash, they may also share some of the blame for the accident. If you suffer an injury in a rear-end car crash that was caused by the negligence of another driver, you may be able to take legal action against them. You could receive compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, pain and suffering and lost income.

At the law firm of Bailey & Greer, PLLC, we protect the rights of those who have been injured due to the negligence of another. You are welcome to contact us to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with one of our experienced Jackson or Memphis auto accident attorneys.