Tailgating is a sign of aggressive and negligent driving. It is a driving behavior that can cause rear-end accidents. Unfortunately, when a driver follows another vehicle too closely, it can be difficult for the driver in the rear to make a sudden stop. Especially if the vehicle in the rear is a heavy truck, the weight of the truck can make it difficult to come to a complete stop without hitting the forward vehicle.

Because tailgating can lead to crashes and serious physical injuries, it is important you know what to do when driving in the vicinity of a driver participating in tailgating. Some of the things you can do include:

  • Avoid driving directly in front of the tailgater, especially if the vehicle is a large truck.
  • If safe to do so, switch lanes or speed up or slow down to get away from the tailgater.
  • If the driver is tailgating another vehicle, keep your distance.
  • If safe to do so, get the vehicle’s license plate number and contact the local police to report the driver.
  • If the truck has a phone number on the back of it, have your passenger call the phone number to report the driver’s reckless driving behavior.

When a truck driver participates in tailgating, a serious truck accident could occur in which a vehicle is rear-ended. By taking these steps, you can help prevent a truck crash and reduce your chances of being involved in a rear-end collision.

Damian Mallard, Esq.
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Board Certified Sarasota Personal Injury Attorney