At Nordean Law, we strive to keep our community safe. We pursue justice for the injured and we share critical information on how to keep you and your family safe.
Follow the link below for the best tips to prevent accidents of all kinds. If you have a specific question, or if you were injured in an accident, reach out to one of our attorneys today.
When a driver is driving too close to the car in the front without maintaining a proper distance, it is referred to as ‘tailgating’. It is a serious offense of traffic rules and can lead to severe accidents or even fatal if large vehicles or trucks are involved.
One must maintain a specific distance from other vehicles on a busy road based on the traffic, weather and road conditions. Vehicle code 21703 in California prohibits a driver from following another vehicle closer than a reasonable distance based on the speed limit, traffic and road conditions.
Tailgating accidents differ from rear-end accidents. Rear-end accidents are caused suddenly when the car in the rear end (car in the back) crashes with the car in the front. While tailgating accidents are caused as a consequence of tailgating, i.e. when a car has been driving closer than needed to another car for a decent amount of time.
Nordean Law has expert Tailgating Accident Lawyers who have years of practice in assessing and identifying a tailgating accident to hold the defendant accountable. If you are involved in a tailgating accident, contact us for a free consultation, and professionally handle your case.
Tailgating accidents can happen out of the carelessness or negligence of the driver, while some drivers do it intentionally. Our Orange County car accident lawyers have handled a fair share of tailgating accidents from different causes, and we have first-hand experience handling them with the unique approach they demand. The following are some common causes of tailgating accidents:
A driver distracted by their phone while driving might not realize how close they are approaching the vehicle in the front. It can cause an accident in a matter of seconds without the driver getting the opportunity to save themselves.
Drinking and driving, and driving under the influence of intoxicated substances are other common causes where the driver is not conscious enough to realize they are tailgating.
Tailgating on purpose is done when the driver doesn’t want another vehicle overtaking and entering right in front of them. This happens especially in heavy-traffic areas. Intentional tailgating is considered to be a legal offense.
Excessive speeding, or trying to speed when a car is driving at normal speed in the front, can also cause tailgating accidents. From speeding to tailgating to crashing, it happens much faster as the driver behind is driving at a higher speed than other vehicles.
Tailgating accidents have serious consequences due to the heavy impact on the front car from the back. Here are some most common injuries associated with tailgating accidents:
In most tailgating accidents, the driver or passenger of the car in the front faces a forced impact from the back. There are chances of the brain slamming into the inside of one’s skull or the head slamming into the car. This can cause severe brain damage, internal bleeding, concussion, or hemorrhage.
The forceful impact can directly hit the spinal cord, causing fractures or compression from within. Extreme spinal cord injuries can also lead to long-term health problems or paralysis.
The driver’s neck might swing back and forth after the sudden impact of force, leading to severe damage in the muscles, tendons, and disc of the neck and shoulders, causing severe whiplash injuries.
When one tries to brace themselves to stay in place when a forceful impact is made to the vehicle, their legs and arms, especially joints, may be unable to sustain the force. It can result in the muscle jamming or bone fracture.
In most cases, a tailgating accident results from the carelessness, negligence, or intentional tort of the rear-end driver (the driver at the back). It is up to the driver to maintain the needed physical distance with the vehicle in the front to avoid tailgating. Such accidents are preventable in the hands of the defendant. Even when the front driver suddenly hits the brake, the fault (fully or partially) lies with the rear-end driver for tailgating and causing the accident.
A victim is entitled to compensation for economic and non-economic damages.
If the defendant is at fault for intentional tailgating with the victim’s vehicle, the court also demands compensation from the defendant’s insurance company for punitive damages as punishment.
If you were injured in a tailgating accident out of the rear-end driver’s fault, it is extremely necessary to file a personal injury claim against them to receive compensation for all the injury, damage, pain, and suffering. Identifying the defendant of a tailgating accident is comparatively simpler, but the proper assessment and determination of damages and claim amounts can be tricky.
You will need a tailgating accident attorney practicing expertise in this specific accident. A good lawyer will help you gather proper evidence, contact medical professionals familiar with personal injury cases and negotiate fair compensation with the defendant’s insurance company.
At Nordean Law, our team of tailgating accident lawyers has all the qualities of an ideal lawyer and access to resources to further your claim file or lawsuit with professional litigation services. And when we win, we pay you.
Contact our Top Rated Personal Injury Lawyer For Tailgating Accident Lawyer today.
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