Tailgating is a problem in most major cities, including New Orleans. When traffic is congested, drivers can become more aggressive and reckless because they are irritated with the slow-moving traffic. In addition, distracted driving can contribute to the problem of rear-end collisions caused by tailgating because drivers are not paying enough attention to the road ahead of them, especially in bumper-to-bumper or stop-and-go traffic.
If you are injured in a tailgating accident in New Orleans, our NoLA car accident attorneys can help you file an accident claim seeking compensation for your injuries. For a free appointment with a New Orleans car accident attorney, call 1-800-587-1889 today.
Is Tailgating Dangerous in New Orleans?
Unfortunately, tailgating or following too closely increases the risk of a rear-end crash. When you are following the vehicle in front of you too closely, you do not have time to avoid a collision if the vehicle stops suddenly. Rear-end crashes can result in serious injuries that can have long-term physical, emotional, and financial consequences for drivers and passengers. In some cases, the accident victim may need to undergo surgery, extensive physical therapy, and suffer permanent disability because of a tailgating accident.
In addition, tailgating can cause a chain reaction car crash that involves multiple vehicles. Multiple-vehicle accidents, especially accidents that occur on the interstate at high rates of speed, can be deadly. The vehicles in the middle of the crash are receiving impacts from the front and rear simultaneously increasing the risk of death and serious injury from the collisions.
Fault in rear-end crashes, especially in chain-reaction crashes, can be difficult to determine. You need to contact an experienced New Orleans car accident attorney as soon as possible. An attorney can protect your right to recover fair and just compensation for your injuries and losses.
Can You Avoid a Tailgating Accident?
While not all rear-end collisions can be avoided, you can greatly reduce your risk of a tailgating accident in three ways.
- Pay attention to the road ahead of you at all times. Distracted drivers cause many of the rear-end collisions in Louisiana. If you are not paying attention to the traffic ahead of you, you may not be able to avoid a rear-end collision. When you are driving, put down the cell phone and avoid all other distractions to decrease your chance of an accident.
- Slow down! When you are speeding, you have less time to react to a vehicle that stops suddenly in front of your vehicle. By reducing your speed, you increase the time you have to avoid colliding with another vehicle or object.
- Allow more room between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Tailgating is easy to avoid — put more distance between your vehicle and other vehicles. When you follow the vehicle in front of you too closely, you increase your risk for a tailgating accident.
In addition, remember to allow additional room between your vehicle and other vehicles during poor weather conditions. It takes longer to slow down and stop when the roads are wet, or your visibility is impaired by poor weather conditions.
Rear-End Traffic Accident Attorneys in New Orleans
If you are injured in a rear-end crash or a tailgating accident in New Orleans, we can help. Our NoLA accident attorneys have experience filing claims for rear-end car crashes. You can contact Attorney Fred Olinde of The Olinde Firm by calling (504) 587-1440 or 1-800-587-1889 to schedule a free consultation and no-obligation case review with a New Orleans tailgating accident lawyer.