Virginia Truck Crash Attorney: Tailgating Trucks Cause Accidents

When we think about negligent truck drivers, we often think about distracted driving, drunk driving, and driving when fatigued. However, one of the most dangerous things that a commercial truck driver can do on the road is to tailgate other drivers. 

With big rigs, the stakes of tailgating are higher

Although tailgating is a dangerous and illegal driving habit for everyone on the road, commercial truck tailgaters are significantly more likely to cause an accident if they follow too closely. Why is this the case? It’s simple physics. Because tractor-trailers are much heavier than passenger cars, they take longer to slow and stop. A fully-loaded big rig could take the length of a football field to stop if it is going over sixty miles per hour on the interstate. 

James River Bridge truck accident 

Just last week, we saw just how dangerous truck tailgating can be. A big rig traveling on I-95 in Richmond, Virginia, caused a four-car pileup after following a vehicle too closely on the James River Bridge. Four people were sent to the hospital with injuries as a result of the tractor-trailer crash. 

Virginia Beach tractor-trailer accident attorneys 

If you or a loved one has been harmed in a truck crash involving tailgating, you may wish to speak with a lawyer about receiving compensation for your injuries and other damages. Call the Virginia truck crash attorneys at Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton today to schedule a no-obligation meeting.