Following other cars on the road too closely has been known to lead to many serious car accidents. This act of tailgating is so common, you may have experienced it yourself multiple times. Rear-end collisions tend to be the most common type of car accident when it comes to tailgating. If you suffered injuries from a car accident in Florida, then do not hesitate to ask a Miami auto accident attorney for guidance.
What is Tailgating?
The action of tailgating is when one driver follows another driver too closely. What this does is increase the chances of a collision if the driver in the front suddenly stops. This can happen when the driver in the front is avoiding an unforeseen obstacle or not noticing a stop sign at first. Of course, a variety of other things can make a driver stop unexpectedly as well.
One of the main problems with tailgating is not being able to predict what other drivers will do. No matter how much experience a driver has, no one can know if the driver in front of them will slam the brakes without warning. Some drivers will even stage car accidents to scam you for money by slamming the brakes so you will hit them.
Knowing what safe following distances are can help you avoid tailgating yourself. We may not always realize we are doing this. The standard safe distance is usually one car between you and the other driver. You can also use the three-second rule to judge this.
Look at the object ahead of you on the road and start counting seconds after the car in front of you passes this object. If three seconds pass by the time you pass this same object, then you are at a safe driving distance.
How to Recover from a Tailgating Accident
A tailgating accident can be severe. Rear-end car accidents caused by these can result in whiplash, neck injuries, spinal cord injuries, and traumatic brain injuries in the most severe cases. How fast the car was traveling behind you while tailgating makes a huge difference in the severity of your injuries.
When it comes to recovering from your accident, the best car accident steps you can take include:
- Calling 911 if anyone was injured or there were severe property damages
- Move yourself and others from danger only if injuries will not be worsened
- Write down the other driver’s contact, vehicle make, and auto insurance information
- Take pictures of the accident scene and your injuries
Organize your pictures, medical records, and police report for your accident claim. Consider contacting a Miami car accident lawyer to see what other steps you need to take.
Florida Auto Accident Attorney
Finding out your car accident claim was denied can be frustrating. Call the Piedra Law Injury Attorneys at (855) 881-4878 to talk to a Florida serious injury lawyer for a free consultation today. Our legal team might be able to help you obtain compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages. We are located in Miami, Dade County, Broward County, Hialeah, Fort Lauderdale, Pembroke Pines, Hollywood, North Miami, Sunrise, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Doral, Kendall, and Homestead, Florida.