Some of the most dangerous types of driving practices are also among the most common forms of driver negligence that result in car accidents. Tailgating is one of the most dangerous driving practices, and it commonly occurs in heavy traffic. The term essentially refers to the practice of following too close to the vehicle that you are following. This unsafe driving practice increases the chances of a serious collision on San Francisco and Bay Area freeways and streets.
The standard rule provided by most driving experts is that you should allow a two second following distance from the car immediately in front of your vehicle. This rule of thumb is based on the assumption that a driver is operating one’s vehicle in good weather and road conditions. When visibility is impaired by fog, rain or darkness or the roadway is wet, it may be prudent to increase the following distance between your vehicle and the one you are trailing. These basic guidelines for safe following distance also assume that a driver is traveling at a safe speed. Many serious traffic accidents might be averted if all motorists would abide by these simple rules.
Tailgating creates a number of risks that promote traffic accidents, including reducing braking time and providing less of a margin of error to engage in evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision. Tailgating drivers often are frustrated, anxious or agitated so they may even be engaged in other forms of aggressive driving, such as speeding or weaving in and out of traffic. When an aggressive driver intentionally violates multiple traffic safety laws, the potential risk to other vehicle occupants is magnified exponentially.
Drivers that fail to allow enough following distance are frequently involved in rear-end collisions. While rear-end collisions in heavy freeway traffic may occur at relatively low rates of speed, these so-called “low impact” injuries can still cause severe injuries resulting in permanent disability. Many serious whiplash injuries that result in months of disability from employment and permanent pain occur in these types of rear impact collisions.
Insurance companies can be very difficult to deal with when submitting claims based on rear-impact collisions that occur at lower rates of speed. The insurance company adjuster may contend that a lack of vehicle damage equates to a lack of physical injury. The problem with this reasoning is that the bumper of a car is designed to withstand impacts from other motor vehicles that occur at speeds of 10-15 mph, but the human body is not designed to withstand this type of physical impact.
If you were injured by a driver who was tailgating you or otherwise driving unsafely and need a San Francisco auto accident attorney, we invite you to contact The Law Office of Ian Zimmerman for your free initial consultation. We are open 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., speak Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese, and are available for weekend, evening, home and hospital meetings and visits. We also offer free initial consultations and work exclusively on a contingency fee basis so that you pay nothing if we don’t win your case.
Call (800) 266-5000 to speak with an experience California auto accident attorney about your case today.