Tailgating Accidents

Impatience on the road is a dangerous emotion. When a driver is engaging in aggressive driving practices, such as tailgating, they are likely to cause a serious accident and significant, even life-threatening injuries. The experienced Jacksonville car accident lawyers at The Lawrence Law Group assist victims injured in tailgating accidents with pursuing the appropriate legal actions against responsible parties. The aftermath of a serious car accident involves weeks or months of recovery, which is an important time to investigate the cause of an accident and gather vital evidence. Our firm guides clients throughout the entire duration of the legal process to make sure that their rights are protected. If you have been hurt in a tailgating accident and want to learn more about your legal options, contact us today to see how we can help.

To some people, tailgating seems like a harmless maneuver, since they think that they are always in control of their vehicles and therefore will be able to stop if a danger arises. However, many hazards encountered on the road are not predictable. A child running into the street or a car suddenly stopping to avoid debris, for example, may result in a vehicle that is following too closely rear-ending another car. On interstates, where vehicles like massive trucks and vulnerable motorcycles are traveling at high speeds, tailgating is especially dangerous. Common injuries associated with these types of crashes include spinal cord damage, soft tissue injuries, brain trauma, broken bones, and lacerations. Whiplash is a condition that affects about 20 percent of tailgating accident victims.

In Florida, tailgating contributes to over one-third of the total car accidents statewide. Tailgating reduces the time in which a driver can react to unforeseen conditions, making the risk of a collision that much greater. Drivers may get ticketed for “Following Too Closely” violations, which result in the payment of a fine as well as points added to their licenses. Other factors sometimes contribute to tailgating collisions, including road rage, distractions, and speeding.

Most often, the driver who was tailgating is the person at fault and liable for an accident. This driver not only is violating the law that requires them to follow other vehicles at a specific distance, but also they are acting carelessly, or negligently. Negligence is a legal concept that provides the basis for most personal injury cases. Simply put, when one driver acts unreasonably toward someone else, such as when they are tailgating at high speeds, that driver may be held responsible in court for any injuries that result.

Car accident victims may pursue economic damages for property loss, lost earnings, and past and future medical expenses. Noneconomic damages for pain and suffering are also available for victims who sustain permanent injuries, such as disfigurement. Sadly, a tailgating accident, especially at high speeds, may be so severe that a victim loses their life. In these devastating situations, certain family members may file a wrongful death action against an at-fault party on the victim’s behalf in order to seek compensation for burial or funeral costs and loss of consortium. Seeking the advice of a knowledgeable personal injury attorney in the aftermath of a car accident is a sensible step to ensure that the proper legal steps are taken.

If you need legal guidance following a tailgating accident, the Jacksonville attorneys at The Lawrence Law Group can help. We are available to discuss with you in person or over the phone to help determine whether and how you should pursue a claim. Our motor vehicle collision lawyers represent people throughout Duval, Clay, Putnam, St. Johns, Baker, Brevard, Nassau, Union, Flagler, Columbia, Suwannee, Hamilton, Jefferson, Volusia, and Alachua Counties. If you have been hurt or have lost a loved one, contact us online or call (904) 632-0077 for a free consultation.