Tailgating is a dangerous driving practice in which one driver follows too closely behind another vehicle. Most driving experts recommend keeping at least three seconds of following time between the front end of your vehicle and the rear end of the vehicle directly in front. You can measure this stopping time by choosing a fixed point on the roadside and ensuring that at least three seconds pass between the back of the front car passing the point and the front end of your car passing the same fixed point. You can also measure a safe following distance by adding a car length for every ten miles per hour of speed you’re traveling.
Failing to keep a safe following distance dramatically increases the risk of a rear-end collision. If you’ve been injured in a rear-end collision in Fresno, call Jacoby & Meyers. We are ready to protect your right to full compensation for your damages.
Why Choose the Rear-End Accident Attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers?
For over 20 years, the dedicated car accident attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers have put their resources and deep roots within the Fresno community to work for injured clients, including those harmed by rear-end collision accidents. We offer the following advantages for your case:
- A free initial case consultation and contingency-based payment so you pay nothing until after we recover your compensation
- We have a wealth of experience and knowledge of California’s insurance system and traffic laws
- Our firm’s reputation as a member of the Multi-million Dollar Advocacy Forum puts a powerful voice behind your claim
- We tailor an individual strategy to the unique details of your case and pursue all avenues of compensation available to you
- We pride ourselves on helping our clients get through a difficult time in their lives when they’re suffering from injuries caused by someone else’s negligent or reckless actions
Our recent notable results include a $1,400,000 recovery for a California rear-end collision accident involving a commercial vehicle.
The Dangers of Tailgating
Following too closely increases the chances of an accident, especially rear-end accidents. Tailgating puts the occupants of both vehicles at risk by:
- Minimizing the amount of stopping time the rear driver has to avoid a collision
- Reducing reaction time to an obstacle in the road or a change in traffic flow
- Impeding the ability to see traffic signs ahead
- Increasing the risk of chain-reaction accidents or multi-vehicle pileups
- Tailgating behind a larger vehicle such as a commercial truck places the rear driver in the larger vehicle’s blind spot
Tailgating on slippery roads or in poor weather conditions increases the chances of a rear-end collision.
What Causes Rear-End Collisions in Fresno?
Rear-end collision accidents make up 17.3% of two-car collisions in the U.S. and resulted in 3,400 fatalities in a single recent year. The most common causes of rear-end collisions in Fresno and elsewhere include the following:
- Tailgating (following too closely)
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Aggressive driving
- Intoxicated driving
- Drowsy driving
- Brake failure
- Brake-light failure on the front vehicle
- An abrupt stop by the front vehicle
Injuries in rear-end collisions may occur to the occupants of both vehicles, but typically motorists in the first vehicle suffer the most serious injuries because they don’t see the collision coming and aren’t able to brace for the impact.
Injuries In Rear-End Collisions In Fresno
The crash force of a rear-end collision places tremendous stress on the vehicle’s occupants, hurling them forward under powerful force until the seatbelt snaps them back against the seat. The higher the speed of the rear driver, the stronger the crash force of the accident. Common injuries in rear-end collisions in Fresno and elsewhere include the following:
- Whiplash and other neck injuries
- Back injuries
- Head injuries/traumatic brain injuries
- Fractures
- Facial and dental trauma
- Soft-tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, and torn ligaments
- Lacerations, contusions, and abrasions
- Internal organ injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
Some rear-end accident injuries are immediately identified as emergency injuries, but other injuries common in rear-end accidents such as whiplash may have delayed symptom onset. It’s important to seek medical treatment immediately after a car accident to begin treatment and to document evidence that your injuries occurred in the car accident.
What Damages Can I Recover After a Rear-End Accident In Fresno?
The expenses of a rear-end accident often go far beyond repairing a bumper or even replacing a vehicle. Serious injuries require expensive medical treatment.
Common damages in rear-end accidents include the following:
- Property damage
- Past and future medical expenses
- Past and future income loss
- Diminished future earning capacity
- Compensation for pain and suffering
- Compensation for other damages that might apply such as disfigurement, the loss of one of the senses, organ loss, PTSD, or loss of enjoyment of life
When someone else causes an accident, you don’t have to be left responsible for the damages. Under California’s fault-based car accident laws, you can recover compensation from the at-fault party’s insurance.
Liability In Rear-End Accidents
Before recovering compensation in a car accident claim in California, the injury victim must provide compelling evidence of the at-fault party’s negligence and liability. This requires documenting evidence showing the following:
- That the at-fault party owed a duty of care to others on the road, including the injury victim
- They breached their duty of reasonable care through negligence
- Their negligent breach of duty directly caused the accident and injuries
- The injury victim suffered damages from the injury
The rear driver in a rear-end collision is most commonly at fault and liable for damages, but the front driver may cause or contribute to a rear-end accident if they make an abrupt stop or fail to repair broken brake lights. Less commonly, the manufacturer of defective brakes or brake lights may be liable for an injury victim’s damages after a rear-end accident in Fresno.
Call the Fresno Rear-End Accident Attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers
When many people hear “rear-end collision” they imagine a minor fender-bender; however, many rear-end accidents end with serious injuries and costly damages. If you suffered significant injuries in a rear-end accident in Fresno, you do not have to pursue compensation alone. Call Jacoby & Meyers for the experienced legal representation your case deserves and the best possible outcome for your compensation claim.
Fresno Office
Jacoby & Meyers Accident & Injury Lawyers – Fresno
516 W Shaw Ave #200,
Fresno, CA 93704