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Trey justin hero edit a driver is tailgating when driving too close to another vehicle. Specifically, it's when they fail to leave three seconds of distance between their car and the one in front of them.

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A driver is tailgating when driving too close to another vehicle. Specifically, it’s when they fail to leave three seconds of distance between their car and the one in front of them.

Although tailgating may seem like a simple driving mistake, it’s actually extremely dangerous. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), tailgating is a leading cause of rear-end collisions. Almost one in every three car wrecks is a rear-ended accident.

It’s essential to avoid tailgating whenever you’re driving. If you aren’t careful and you get too close to another car — or you let another car get too close to you — you’ll increase your chances of collision.

Read on to learn more about tailgating and how you can safely handle tailgaters while driving. We’ll also cover how and why you should partner with experienced Shreveport tailgating accident attorneys to get the justice you deserve.

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Why Is Tailgating Dangerous?

Tailgating is dangerous because drivers don’t have enough time to stop or slow down as needed. This is likely to cause motor vehicle accidents, particularly when:
  • 1
    There are many vehicles on the roadway. Drivers tailgating on congested roads can lead to multi-vehicle accidents if the drivers don’t have time to stop and signal the drivers behind them to stop.
  • 2
    Tailgating drivers are impaired, fatigued, and/or speeding: Tailgaters already have less than three seconds to stop or slow down their vehicles. If you add alcohol intoxication, distraction, and fatigue to the mix, tailgaters have even less time and focus to maneuver their vehicles out of harm’s way.
  • 3
    Weather and/or road conditions are poor. Slippery roads, adverse weather conditions, poor visibility, and debris on the roadway can also cause serious tailgating accidents. Accidents are especially likely to happen when tailgating drivers fail to slow down in these situations.
  • 4
    Multiple drivers are tailgating. If multiple drivers are tailgating each other in a line, there’s great potential for the negligent driver or drivers in the queue to cause a chain of crashes. This will cause a lot of damage to the car or cars sandwiched in the middle of the queue since a tailgating driver can rear-end the car they’re following and be rear-ended by the drivers behind them.

Why Does Tailgating Happen?

Tailgating can happen for a range of reasons, such as distraction, impatience, or driver inexperience.

Some drivers may also tailgate due to aggressive driving and road rage. Angry drivers may drive dangerously close to vehicles to intimidate others.

How To Handle Tailgating While Driving

While tailgating can cause a lot of problems on the road. there are effective ways to handle it. As a driver:
  • 1
    Stay calm. Don’t let other drivers get to you. Keep your eyes on the road, particularly if it seems like the tailgaters are tailgating to get your attention.
  • 2
    Pull over. Move into the right-most traffic lane when it’s safe to do so and let the tailgaters drive past you.
  • 3
    Get away from the tailgater. If you can’t pull over, find the nearest exit or right turn to get away from the tailgaters.
  • 4
    Drive at a safe speed. Try to maintain a safe speed even if you’re surrounded by tailgaters. Resist the urge to speed and avoid pumping your breaks to warn the tailgaters. Speeding will increase the likelihood of an accident.
  • 5
    Call the police. If a tailgater appears to be targeting you and you’re concerned about your safety or the safety of others, call 911.

How To Determine if Tailgating Caused My Car Wreck

If you suspect that tailgating caused your car accident, you need to do the following to determine whether it was indeed a factor.
Analyze what happened before and during the incident

Try to reconstruct the series of events that had happened before the accident by asking yourself the following:

  1. Did you or another witness see a driver tailgating right before the crash?
  2. Did you tailgate?
  3. Did you speed up when others started tailgating you?
  4. Did you try to avoid the tailgaters?
  5. Was there road rage and aggression?
  6. Did you see the driver in front of you or behind you tailgating?
  7. Were you involved in a pileup wreck or a rear-ended accident?
Investigate the collision. 

Dig into the evidence and facts associated with the tailgating accident and examine everything in-depth. For example:

    1. Look at the cellphone records of all of the drivers involved in the car wreck. Were you or any other drivers making calls before the crash? Could this have caused or exacerbated the tailgating issue?
    2. Get Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) test results of all of the drivers involved. Was anyone drunk or tipsy before or during the time of the wreck?
    3. Retain accident reconstructionists to help you understand what happened during the accident and what caused it. These experts will evaluate the vehicle speed, points of impact, and other factors to determine whether tailgating caused or contributed to the crash.
Partner with an experienced Shreveport personal injury attorney.

A knowledgeable Shreveport, Louisiana personal injury lawyer will help you get the justice you deserve. They will provide you with clear and honest answers about every issue in your potential personal injury claim, including what options you have, potential damages, who’s at fault, and the strength of your case.

Talk to a Shreveport Accident Lawyer

Tailgating can cause a lot of harm, especially if it’s done by an intoxicated or fatigued driver. There can be substantial damage to your vehicle and the other cars involved. You may also suffer neck injuries, neck and back pain, and fractured bones. You need to avoid tailgating as much as possible and also to avoid other drivers who tailgate.

If you’ve been hurt as a result of tailgating or you suspect you’ve been hurt by a tailgater, reach out to a Shreveport accident lawyer today. The right lawyer will help you file and defend your claim so you can get proper compensation for your injuries.

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