Your Boca Raton Car Accident Lawyer Warns of the Dangers of Tailgating

Tailgating, or following too closely behind the car in front of you, is one of the leading causes of accidents nationwide. The most obvious danger of tailgating is failing to stop in time to avoid hitting the vehicle in front of you if that vehicle suddenly brakes. Colliding with the vehicle in front of you can also cause a chain reaction collision affecting multiple vehicles. While the potential for tailgating to cause a serious accident is clear, many drivers still engage in this dangerous behavior every day. It is estimated that nearly half of the drivers on the road risk accidents due to tailgating, and that the practice of tailgating contributes to up to one-third of all roadway accidents. Likewise, almost one-third of all collisions are rear end collisions.
As your Boca Raton car accident lawyer can tell you, research shows that the average vehicle traveling at 60 mph can slow down at a rate of about 15 feet per second. Therefore, a vehicle needs about six seconds to come to a complete stop. Since the average person needs a second to realize the need to slow down and prevent an accident, it takes the average driver more than seven seconds to avoid a rear-end collision. If you are tailgating, then you are unlikely to have sufficient time to slow down and avoid a collision.
The reasons for tailgating, despite its dangers, vary from one driver to the next. Some drivers are not paying attention to the distance between their vehicle and the car in front of them. Other drivers become distracted by cell phone usage, fiddling with the radio, or talking with other passengers in the vehicle. Still other drivers, anxious to reach their destination, strive to hurry the drivers in front of them by tailgating. No matter what the reason for tailgating, your Boca Raton car accident lawyer knows firsthand that the practice of tailgating is a dangerous one, and can result in serious injuries or death.
If you are involved in a car accident caused by tailgating, or any type of motor vehicle accident, it is imperative that you consult with a personal injury atto
ey to determine if you have a claim for damages. Contact your Boca Raton car accident lawyer at the Shiner Law Group today for a comprehensive, free consultation regarding your case.