The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) notes that tailgating can cause a car accident because drivers have less braking distance if they have to stop suddenly. Tailgating is defined as when a motorist is following too closely to the vehicle in front of them. If the vehicle in front of them stops suddenly, then the rear motorist has less time to avoid a collision.
If you have recently been involved in a car accident, you may wonder if it was the result of tailgating. By understanding the cause of your collision, you can use that information to hold the at-fault driver accountable for their negligent actions. The police report you filed at the scene of the collision may be able to provide further insight into how your accident happened.
POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO YOUR CAR ACCIDENT
We mentioned earlier that the police report could explain how your accident happened. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) explains that filing a police report for a car accident is mandatory if the collision resulted in any injuries, deaths, or apparent property damage exceeding $1,000.
The police report might note that there were other contributing factors to your accident and injuries.
Some of these elements may include, but are not limited to:
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Engaging in road rage
- Aggressive driving
There may be other factors to your car accident than those we have discussed here.
EXAMPLES OF INJURIES CAUSED BY TAILGATING
In 2019, the TxDOT released data on contributing factors that caused motor vehicle accidents throughout the state. According to the data, tailgating resulted in over 3,100 collisions, resulting in over 500 injuries.
Tailgating can result in rear-end collisions, which, according to the Mayo Clinic, can cause whiplash. The source notes that whiplash is caused when the muscles and bones in the neck move beyond their usual range of motion. This condition can result in radiating pain that extends from the neck to the arms and shoulders.
Other injuries and conditions you may be experiencing from a tailgating accident may include:
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord trauma
- Traumatic brain injuries, such as concussions or brain hemorrhaging
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Internal bleeding
- Torn ligaments
- Sprains and strains
If you were involved in a tailgating accident, you should seek prompt medical care if you have not done so already. You may have hidden injuries that require emergency intervention.
WORKING WITH A PERSONAL INJURY LAWYER FOLLOWING A CAR ACCIDENT
If you suffered injuries in a tailgating accident, you have the ability to team up with a personal injury lawyer to recoup your financial losses. They can handle many of the legal obligations that go into building a successful claim or lawsuit. They can also establish that your accident was the result of negligence in accordance with the American Bar Association’s guidelines.
They will build your case to assert that:
- The at-fault motorist in your accident owed you a duty of care.
- The at-fault motorist did not uphold their duty of care.
- As a result of the at-fault motorist breaching their duty of care, they caused your accident and injuries.
- Because of the accident, you have suffered financial losses.
Many personal injury lawyers offer their services on a contingency-fee basis. You may be able to secure legal representation at no out-of-pocket cost to you. However, because of Texas’s statute of limitations, which is outlined under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §16.003, you may want to take action sooner rather than later.
LONCAR LYON JENKINS CAN HELP YOU SEEK COMPENSATION
If you have been injured in a tailgating accident in Texas, our team believes that you deserve compensation and justice for your hardships. At Loncar Lyon Jenkins, we can build a personal injury case that seeks to recover compensation for your various collision-related expenses.
We can use the police report, photographs of the accident scene and your injuries, video footage, and eyewitness testimony to assign fault and liability. We can also calculate the cost of your incurred expenses so that you understand what constitutes a fair insurance settlement.
You may be looking to recover the following damages for your Texas tailgating accident:
- Medical expenses (current and future)
- Lost wages (current and future)
- Limited earning capacity
- Auto repair bills
- Pain and suffering
- Damages associated with wrongful death, including funeral expenses and loss of consortium
If you are wondering how tailgating can cause a car accident, call Loncar Lyon Jenkins at (877) 239-4878. We can answer all of your accident-related questions during a free case review.
