Rear-end crashes are some of the most common collisions. Particularly when traffic levels are heavy, one vehicle might collide with a slower or stopped vehicle in front of it. Rear-end collisions can result in soft tissue damage, broken bones, spinal cord injuries and brain injuries in addition to property damage. They can even prove fatal in some cases.
As is the case for most motor vehicle collisions, rear-end crashes are almost always preventable. One driver often makes a mistake that leads to the wreck. What choices do people make in traffic that may increase their chances of a rear-end crash?
1. Tailgating other drivers
Getting too close to the rear end of another vehicle is likely the most common cause of rear-end crashes. Drivers generally need to maintain an appropriate following distance or run the risk of being unable to stop in time when another vehicle has to abruptly maneuver.
Three seconds of travel time between vehicles is usually the minimum safe following distance. More space may be necessary when the weather makes the roads unsafe. Drivers who tailgate others in traffic can easily cause rear-end collisions because they don’t leave themselves adequate stopping distance.
2. Becoming distracted while driving
Even those who leave an appropriate following distance may not be able to stop if they don’t notice a change in the flow of traffic ahead of them.
People generally need to commit their full attention to their surroundings in traffic. People eating a burger, reviewing a text message or engrossed in a conversation with a passenger may fail to react in time when a vehicle in front of them slows down or stops.
3. Aggressive maneuvers
The rear driver isn’t always the one to blame for a rear-end crash. Sometimes, the person operating the vehicle in front is actually at fault.
When one driver turns or merges too closely in front of another driver or when they fail to use turn signals beforehand, they may create a scenario where others cannot appropriately react to their intentions. Burned-out lights can also cause rear-end collisions.
Establishing who was at fault for a rear-end crash is the first step toward pursuing compensation. Drivers who can show that another motorist did something unsafe may be able to file an insurance claim or initiate a lawsuit to recover their losses after a crash.
