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Tailgating is one of the most common dangerous driving behaviors, second only to speeding. Tailgating drivers are those who follow another vehicle too closely, presenting a significant risk of an accident if the driver in front suddenly brakes, slows, or stops. Tailgating is the most common cause of dangerous rear-end collisions, resulting in serious injuries like whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, and spinal cord injuries.
Drivers should rigidly adhere to traffic laws to avoid causing accidents and injuries. Maintaining an adequate distance between vehicles in traffic is critical to avoid rear-end collisions, multi-car pileups, and truck underride accidents—all significant causes of traffic accident injuries and fatalities.
Tailgating accidents—or rear-end collisions—are a common cause of serious car accidents in Connecticut and elsewhere. According to the National Safety Council, rear-end collisions make up 17.3% of two-car collisions, resulting in 3,400 deaths in 2022 alone. Tailgating accidents occur most often in high-traffic conditions and happen on major highways as well as in intersections. Nearly two million rear-end accidents happen every year in the United States, sometimes resulting in serious injuries, lengthy recovery times, and expensive medical costs for victims and their families.
Following too closely is the most common cause of tailgating accidents, but other factors may increase the chances of a rear-end collision. Common causes or contributors to tailgating accidents include the following:
Aggressive drivers, impatient drivers, and fatigued drivers are most at risk of causing an accident due to tailgating. Rear-end collisions caused by tailgating drivers cause serious accidents and injuries, including multi-car pileups.
Not only is tailgating the most common cause of rear-end collisions and multi-car pileups, but it also causes other deadly accidents such as underride accidents. When a passenger vehicle follows a large commercial truck too closely, a sudden stop or slow-down of the truck in front sometimes results in a deadly underride accident. Underride accidents are those in which the smaller vehicle lodges beneath a commercial truck’s trailer, causing catastrophic injuries to motorists in the smaller vehicle.
Studies show that tailgating also increases the chances of the driver in the front vehicle having an accident. When another driver tailgates, it can cause distress and irritation to the front driver, making it more likely for them to drive erratically or aggressively. This may trigger other types of accidents such as sideswipes, rollovers, and head-on collisions.
Most traffic experts recommend leaving three car lengths between the front end of the rear car and the back end of the front vehicle. The rule of thumb is to add a car length for every ten miles per hour of speed.
Many drivers use the three-second rule to gauge whether or not they’ve left adequate following distance between their vehicle and the car in front. To use the three-second rule, drivers should choose a stationary roadside object ahead like a street sign or mile marker. Note when the vehicle in front passes the marker, and then count. It should take at least three seconds before reaching the marker if there is adequate distance between vehicles.
If you or a loved one experienced a car accident due to a tailgating driver, and the accident caused serious injuries with damages like medical expenses, income loss, and pain and suffering, a New Haven car accident lawyer from Weber & Rubano is ready to help. Call our law office today for prompt action in your case.