There are a variety of ways in which a driver could fail to ensure the safety of others on the roadway. One example of this is by tailgating, in which a driver does not keep enough stopping distance between them and the vehicle in front of them.
In one recent Florida incident, a 92-year-old woman had to be airlifted to Blake Medical Center, where she was listed as being in serious condition. The accident occurred on Thursday, December 16 in northeast Manatee County.
According to law enforcement, the woman was driving west on U.S. 301 in the outside lane behind an SUV as the vehicles approached the highway’s intersection with 91st Avenue East. The SUV stopped due to congestion on the road, and the woman failed to maintain proper stopping distance, resulting in a rear-end collision with the SUV.
The driver of the SUV and her passenger both had minor injuries. The woman in the vehicle that initiated contact had to be airlifted to the hospital.
Drivers who tailgate and cause accidents as a result may be held liable for their actions in ensuing personal injury cases. To avoid liability for such accidents, drivers should:
- Ensure proper following distance: To make this task easier, pick a landmark somewhere on the side of the road and make sure you’re passing it two or three seconds after the car in front of you.
- Slow down: Tailgating often occurs because a driver is speeding and in too much of a hurry.
- Pay attention: If you’re not paying attention to what’s happening in front of you, it becomes easier to cause a rear-end collision.
For more information about the steps you should take if you’ve been injured in a rear-end collision caused by a tailgating driver, contact an experienced Florida personal injury attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.