Tailgating is a dangerous activity on the road as it does not leave a safe distance in between two vehicles for a sudden stop to occur. Following too closely behind another vehicle can lead to a disastrous car accident, resulting in personal injuries, pain and suffering, property damage, and more in North Port.
The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FHSMV) reported that there are almost over 400,000 car accidents every year, and tailgating is listed as one of the most common causes. If you suffered injuries in a car accident due to tailgating, then you will need to seek legal counsel from a car accident lawyer to understand what type of compensation you could be eligible to receive for your injuries and other related damages.
At The Law Place, we have over seventy-five years of collective experience in representing clients that have been hurt in car accidents in North Port and all over the State of Florida. Our law firm has been working under personal injury law for decades, and we will guide you through the legal system with skill and efficiency. Our team of car accident lawyers will work night and day to build a strong personal injury case and fight for the compensation that you are owed.
If you are looking for the best legal advice, then reach out to a car accident lawyer from The Law Place today to set up a free consultation. A car accident attorney will discuss the facts surrounding your case and offer you unbiased advice on what move to make next. Our phone lines are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week so that you can call us at a time that suits you.
Contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight to win the compensation that you deserve for your car accident case involving tailgating in North Port.
What Is Tailgating in North Port, FL?
The term ‘tailgating’ refers to someone who follows too closely behind the car ahead of them. Tailgating creates an unsafe distance between the two vehicles, which could potentially result in a serious car accident if the vehicle in front has to make a sudden stop. This is also known as a rear-end collision.
The U.S. Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) explains the guidelines when it comes to the recommended safety distance for following behind other vehicles on the road. The appropriate safety distance is to leave the length of one full car between vehicles for every 10 miles per hour. However, the recommended safety distance might change depending on the weather conditions and the road itself. In this case, you will have to double the safety distance for dangerous road conditions to leave more space to hit the breaks. The doubled safety distance will give you the appropriate amount of time to react to an unexpected change on the road, such as a vehicle suddenly braking or making a sharp turn.
Why Do People Tailgate in North Port, FL?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines tailgating as a type of aggressive driving in the State of Florida. It is considered an unreasonable and risky activity that has the potential to result in severe car accidents and personal injuries. There are several reasons why a person might tailgate on roadways, which include:
- Distracted driving.
- Speeding.
- Careless driving.
- Road rage.
- Aggressive driving.
A driver that behaves recklessly behind the wheel is a danger on the road, especially when it comes to tailgating. If you were involved in a car accident after being followed too closely from behind, then you should reach out to a car accident lawyer today to recover the compensation that you are owed in North Port.
What to Do After a Car Accident in North Port, FL?
We hope that this never happens to you, but if you were to get involved in a car accident, then you must take the necessary steps to protect your legal rights and put yourself in the best position to file a personal injury claim.
Remember the following advice:
- Check for injuries – After an accident, you must check yourself over to see if you have suffered an injury. Once you have done this, check on everyone else involved in the accident to see if they are injured or not.
- Call an ambulance – If medical attention is required, call an ambulance to the scene of the accident.
- Call the police – Florida Statute 316.062 requires you to pick up the phone and call the police to the scene of an accident. The police officers will write a report of the accident, which will become an essential piece of evidence for your personal injury claim later.
- Move to a safe place – Step away from oncoming traffic and move to a safe place near the scene of the crash to wait for the ambulance and police officers to arrive.
- Contact information – Get the contact information of the other driver, such as a name, address, phone number, insurance details, and vehicle registration number.
- Collect evidence – If you can, collect evidence from the scene of the accident. Take pictures of the scene of the crash, road conditions, vehicle damage, injuries, and anything else you think is important.
- Seek medical treatment – You have up to two weeks to seek medical attention after a car accident in order to get a medical report and file a personal injury claim as stated in Florida Statute 627.736. It is essential that you get a check-up at the hospital as soon as possible, as the adrenaline caused by a crash might prevent you from realizing the full extent of your injuries. In addition, your medical records are a vital piece of evidence when it comes to pursuing a personal injury claim. If you pass the deadline, the insurance company might use this as a way to claim that your injuries were not the result of the tailgating car accident and were caused by something else.
- Call your insurance company – You must call your insurance company to inform them of a car accident immediately. However, be cautious when you talk to them on the phone, as they might use your statements against you to devalue your personal injury claim. Do not share any facts or details about your car accident and keep it simple. A car accident lawyer will even speak to your insurance company on your behalf if you let them.
- Hire a car accident lawyer – If you have been hurt in a car accident, then you must hire a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. A car accident lawyer will provide you with the support and guidance that you need to succeed in a personal injury claim and recover the compensation that you deserve. Contact The Law Place today to set up a free consultation.
Determining Liability in a Car Accident in North Port, FL.
If someone was tailgating you, and it led to a car accident, then the driver behind will usually be at-fault. A tailgating accident is also known as a rear-end collision in the State of Florida.
A car accident involving tailgating can often be prevented if all drivers were to act reasonably on the road. However, a driver who is found to be negligent for failing to operate their vehicle in a safe manner is putting lives at risk. A reasonable driver would understand the importance of operating their vehicle in a safe manner and would leave enough space in between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them, especially on hazardous roads or during bad weather conditions.
The car accident attorneys at The Law Place will be able to prove negligence by establishing:
- A duty of care was owed – Every driver has a responsibility to take the necessary safety precautions on the road to keep themselves and other drivers safe.
- A duty of care was breached – If a driver does not behave in a reasonable manner by tailgating and driving recklessly, then they would have breached their duty of care.
- The breach of a duty of care caused the accident – If a driver operates their vehicle in a reckless manner by tailgating another driver, then it will most likely be their actions that caused the accident.
- The accident resulted in damages – Your tailgating car accident resulted in damages such as injuries, medical bills, property damage, pain and suffering, and more. Damages in a car accident like this tend to be easy to prove. However, the lawyers from the at-fault driver’s insurance company will immediately get to work on dismissing or devaluing your personal injury claim. This is why it’s essential that you have a car accident attorney with experience and skill on your side to protect your legal rights and stop anyone from taking advantage of you.
What Compensation Is Available After a Tailgating Car Accident in North Port, FL?
A car accident involving tailgating can result in many different damages that you can make a claim to recover. Some of the most common types of compensation in car accidents include:
- Medical bills – The expenses for your injuries, hospitalization, transportation costs, prescription medication, physical therapy, rehabilitation, and more.
- Loss of wages – You can make a claim for lost wages for time taken off work or any changes to your usual income following a car crash.
- Property damage – The costs to repair or replace your car following a rear-end collision, including any damaged clothes or property, such as a mobile phone.
- Pain and suffering – The emotional anguish, mental trauma, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and depression since a car accident. Pain and suffering can be difficult to prove, but a strong car accident attorney will work hard to build a case that will prove every one of your damages, including the loss of your quality of life following a crash.
- Wrongful death – The loss of a loved one is a tragedy, especially in the case of a car accident involving tailgating. You will be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit to cover funeral expenses, medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and more under Florida Statute 768.21.
If you were hurt in a tailgating car accident in North Port, then you could be eligible to receive compensation for all your injuries and damages under Florida law. Reach out to The Law Place today to speak to a car accident attorney that will talk you through the process of filing a personal injury claim. Find out how we can be of service to you during this challenging time.
Dealing With a Car Insurance Company in North Port, FL.
A person that is involved in a car accident in North Port will have to deal with their insurance company, which can prove to be quite difficult. Insurance companies have a reputation for taking advantage of car accident cases, and they have a team of lawyers on their side to devalue or even dismiss your personal injury claim.
We highly recommend that you speak to our team of car accident lawyers who are highly experienced in tackling car accident cases in North Port. An insurance company will use anything that you say against you to offer you the least amount of compensation possible. If you feel intimidated at the thought of talking to your insurance company, then you can let your car accident attorney speak to them on your behalf.
Feel free to call The Law Place today for legal advice and support.
Contact The Law Place Today in North Port, FL.
If you or someone you know was injured in a car accident involving tailgating in North Port, then you could be entitled to compensation. To do this, you will need an experienced law firm who can represent your case.
At The Law Place, we have over seventy-five years of combined experience and knowledge helping car accident victims recover the compensation that they deserve. Our team of car accident attorneys will develop a strong personal injury claim, and they will fight to achieve justice for your car accident case in North Port.
Our law firm will handle the legal battle so that you can focus on your recovery. We will investigate your tailgating car accident, gather facts and evidence, deal with the related paperwork, and negotiate with insurance companies to settle on a compensation amount that you are happy with.
Call our office today to speak to a car accident lawyer that will discuss the details of your case and help you to decide what move to make next in your current situation. Our phone lines are open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week so that you can speak to us when you are ready.
Contact The Law Place now on (941) 444-4444 to schedule a free consultation, and we will fight to win the compensation that you deserve for your car accident case involving tailgating in North Port.