When a motorist drives too close to the vehicle in front of them, that is considered tailgating. Essentially, tailgating is an aggressive form of driving where motorists do not leave enough room between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them which increases the likelihood of a rear-end collision. When there is insufficient distance between vehicles, motorists are not able to react quickly enough to changing road conditions which makes tailgating exceptionally dangerous. Tailgating accidents can cause victims to sustain catastrophic injuries that may result in expensive medical bills, lost wages, pain & suffering, and emotional distress. In the unfortunate event that you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident caused by tailgating, please don’t hesitate to contact our trusted New York City Car Accident Lawyer who can help you seek monetary compensation for your economic and noneconomic damages.
Why are tailgating accidents so dangerous?
When a motorist is on the road they must be aware and prepared to adapt to their surroundings. On the road, traffic patterns can be unpredictable. If a motorist tailgates they will not have enough room or time to safely react to changing road conditions and hazards. Tailgating accidents are not only extremely dangerous but are a common occurrence due to impatience. Many motorists engage in this violent driving behavior because they are attempting to make the vehicle in front of them drive faster. Tailgating is an attempt to intimidate the motorist into changing lanes or speeding up so the vehicle can get around them. Additionally, a motorist may tailgate to keep another vehicle from switching into their lane. Regardless of the reasoning for tailgating, it is extremely dangerous driving behavior as it can cause serious accidents and injuries.
Who is liable for this type of auto collision?
When a tailgating accident occurs, determining liability can sometimes be difficult. In most cases, the motorist that tailgates is liable for a tailgating accident. Motorists may suddenly brake due to changing road conditions or a hazard, resulting in the tailgater colliding into the back of the vehicle in front of them. In this situation, the motorist that tailgates is responsible for the cause of the accident. This is because they neglected to leave enough room between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them. However, if the motorist in front of the motorist that is tailgating purposefully comes to a stop without a reasonable cause for doing so, they can be held liable as well. Nevertheless, in most cases, the motorist that tailgates is usually the only liable party. This is because they did not abide by the rules of the road and engaged in reckless driving behavior that put everyone on the road’s safety at risk.
In the unfortunate event that you or someone you love has been injured in an auto accident that was caused by tailgating, reach out to one of our dedicated and determined team members. Our firm is committed to helping our clients navigate their legal options to seek the justice they deserve.
