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3 Ways Drivers Contribute To Rear-End Car Accidents

On Behalf of | Jan 12, 2023 | Personal Injury |

As you might suspect, rear-end car accidents happen frequently during cold weather months, as tires have less traction on icy, snowy and slippery pavement. Indeed, according to the Federal Highway Administration, almost 25% of all motor vehicle crashes occur during these conditions.

While you cannot do anything about the weather, you certainly can commit to driving responsibly. You also can avoid doing what other drivers do that makes them dangerous to themselves and others. Here are three ways drivers contribute to rear-end accidents.

1. Tailgating

Tailgating happens when one vehicle follows another too closely. This is risky behavior, of course, as it gives the tailgater less time to react. Simply increasing your following distance to three or four car lengths can make a big difference.

2. Speeding

Just like tailgating, speeding can decrease the time a driver has to respond to traffic and changing road conditions. Bluntly put, if an approaching vehicle is moving faster than yours, it might slam into the back of your car.

3. Distracted driving

Too many drivers pay more attention to what is on their smartphones than to the road. If a driver fails to focus, he or she might collide with the back of your vehicle. This might be especially true at stoplights, where drivers may reach for their electronic devices or car radios.

While you might minimize your chances of having a car accident by being responsible, you obviously cannot control how other motorists choose to drive. Ultimately, if you have injuries after a rear-end accident, you might be able to force the at-fault driver to compensate you.