Tailgating and Rear-End Crashes | Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp

While every state has rules of the road that drivers are required to obey, the truth is that there are many drivers on the road that feel some of these rules do not apply to them. Violating these traffic rules often leads to serious car accidents that leave victims suffering painful injuries.

One of the most common traffic violations is tailgating. According to Virginia Traffic Code §46.2-816, a vehicle is not allowed to follow another vehicle “more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard to the speed of both vehicles and the traffic on, and conditions of, the highway at the time.”

The law does take into consideration whether or not the vehicles are in congested traffic with limited space between vehicles. In these situations, the law does realize that it is not feasible for a driver to stay well-behind the vehicle that is in front of it.

What Type of Crashes Can Occur Because of Tailgating?

When a driver follows too closely to the vehicle in front of them, they increase the risk of crashing into that car if the driver in that vehicle has to suddenly hit their brakes to stop. The most common type of car accident that occurs when a driver is guilty of tailgating is a rear-end collision. The extent of the injuries a victim suffers in a rear-end crash often depends on the speed the vehicles were traveling, however, even a low speed rear-end crash can result in serious injuries, including:

  • Brain injuries
  • Head injuries
  • Neck injuries
  • Paralysis
  • Whiplash
  • Broken bones

Any driver who is a victim of a rear-end crash caused by the other driver tailgating should document all the information they can following the crash. The more evidence you can gather, the more successful you will be at obtaining whatever financial compensation you may be entitled to under the law.

Even if a victim does not think they have been injured immediately following the accident, they should still seek out medical attention right away. Many rear-end crash injuries have delayed symptoms and a victim may not even realize they have been injured for days or even weeks after the crash. This delay in medical attention could ultimately give the insurance company ammunition to try to deny your claim.

It is also important to have your vehicle checked by a mechanic following the accident, even if there is no visible damage to the vehicle. There can be damage to the vehicle that is not visible that can end up causing serious issues, including another severe accident. Some of the damage that an owner may not be aware of includes undercarriage damage, issues with correct body alignment of the vehicle that can affect steering, bumper damage, and damage to the backlights of the vehicle.

Let a Virginia Injury Attorney Help

If you have suffered an injury caused by the negligent or reckless behavior of another driver in a rear-end crash, contact a Virginia car accident attorney from Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp to discuss what your legal options may be. Victims can be compensated for the medical expenses, lost income from being unable to work, pain and suffering, and emotional anguish.

If they are left with long-term and permanent disability, they may also be entitled to financial compensation for the losses this disability has caused, including loss of future income if they are unable to work or return to their profession, future medical expenses, and the overall negative impact the injury has had on their quality of life.

Our personal injury attorneys have successfully represented many clients who were forced to deal with painful injuries and long recoveries due to another person’s negligence. Contact our office today at (833) 997-1774 to schedule a free case evaluation.

 

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