Most rear-end collisions are caused by drivers following too closely behind the vehicle in front of them and by drivers making sudden stops. Oftentimes, it’s a combination of the two. A driver is following too closely, so if the driver in front of them realizes they won’t be able to squeeze through a yellow light and suddenly brakes or has to stop for a pedestrian suddenly emerges from behind a vehicle, a rear-end collision ensues.
These often become chain-reaction collisions encompassing multiple vehicles crashing in to one another. Sometimes, a driver who tries to avoid this kind of chain reaction will swerve into another lane only to hit or be hit by another car and suffer even more serious injuries than they might have if they’d remained in their lane.
The importance of the “3-second rule”
While no one can prevent other drivers from engaging in behavior that leads to rear-end collisions that injure innocent people, everyone can take steps to help avoid being one of those innocent victims. First, it’s important to follow that “3-second rule” where you stay at least that far behind the person in front of you (and extend it if roads are slick and/or weather or road conditions aren’t optimal.
This can be challenging and frustrating. It often seems like if you allow a safe amount of space, someone slides in ahead of you and then you have to keep that 3-second distance behind this and additional vehicles that cut in while it seems you get farther and farther behind. But, it is an effort worth making.
Don’t count on your collision-avoidance system
Increasingly, newer-model vehicles have crash-avoidance systems that help drivers avoid rear-end crashes. Some provide an audio and/or visual warning that there’s something immediately ahead. Others gently apply the brakes to slow the vehicle if it “senses” an impending crash. These are certainly helpful, as are other technological advancements like blind spot and lane departure warnings. However, they aren’t meant to allow drivers to let their guard down and pay less attention to what’s happening on the road around them. There is simply too much at stake to lean heavily on a system that could malfunction.
If your best efforts to stay safe don’t stop a negligent or reckless driver from causing a collision that injures you, it’s crucial for you to seek the compensation you’re due for medical bills and other expenses and damages. Having experienced legal guidance can help you work towards obtaining a fair settlement.
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