North Dakota Tailgating Accidents
When you think of a tailgating accident, the first thing that might come to mind is a minor fender-bender, one that doesn’t cause anything but a little bit of damage and annoyance. But tailgating accidents can actually be very serious, leading to significant injuries.
At Sand Law, we have a team of attorneys who are experts in car accident cases. Once you get in touch with us, we will listen to the details of your collision, and may be able to give you a general idea of how much compensation you may be able to receive. While we can’t promise you’ll obtain a certain amount of money, we can promise that we’ll fight to get you everything you deserve.
If you would like to schedule a free review of your case, please get in touch with us by contacting us online or calling 701-609-1510.
Why is Tailgating Dangerous?
While most drivers observe safety precautions while on the road, there are plenty of others who don’t. Whether they’re in a hurry to get someplace, or they simply don’t care, aggressive drivers tend to tailgate. However, this is very, very dangerous behavior, and could result in a devastating accident.
It really doesn’t matter what the weather conditions may be – tailgating is reckless. But when the road is wet, such as after the first snow of the season, the risks of a severe crash get even higher.
Following too closely is a recipe for disaster. When a car is traveling at 60 mph, it will need nearly 250 feet in order to come to a complete stop. Larger vehicles, such as semi-trucks, need much more distance. If the car in front has to stop suddenly for whatever reason, that could easily lead to a collision.
Types of Injuries Associated with Tailgating Accidents
The consequences of tailgating can be horrible. The injuries associated with tailgating accidents can change people’s lives for years. When tailgating causes a chain-reaction collision, drivers will not only be hit from behind, they’ll also slam into the vehicle in front of them.
These are just some of the injuries that can result:
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue damage
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Whiplash
- Herniated discs
- Chest injuries
- And many others
If you’ve been involved in any sort of car accident, whether or not it involved tailgating, it will be essential that you get medical attention as quickly as possible. If you wait, your condition could easily worsen. Also, delaying medical help could also damage your case, making it much harder for you to obtain fair compensation.
Proving that the Person Who Hit You Was Tailgating
Some people are honest – almost to a fault. They’ll immediately assume they were to blame for a car accident, even though they clearly weren’t. Never admit any sort of fault to anyone – not the other driver, not the police officer, not even your family or friends. If you do, your words will eventually be used against you.
But if you believe the other driver was to blame, you’ll need strong evidence in order to prove your case and have the best possible chance of winning. These are just a few of kinds of evidence you’ll need:
Damage to the Vehicles
If you can, take photos or videos of the accident scene using your smartphone. Our attorneys will use that evidence during our investigation of the collision, and possibly determine who was to blame. We could also bring in an accident reconstruction expert if necessary to provide the most accurate picture possible of what happened.
Skid Marks on the Road
Take photos of any skid marks you see as well. This will give us a good idea of how soon the driver who hit you applied your brakes – which could show that the driver was following you too closely.
One of the reasons why it will be so important to hire an attorney as soon as you can is that skid marks can quickly disappear due to traffic, rain and other reasons. The faster an investigation starts, the better the chances we’ll be able to gather the evidence needed to win your case.
Police and Witness Statements
If your accident resulted in injuries, a police officer likely appeared to conduct his or her own investigation into why the crash happened. Afterward, the officer filed a police report. There are typically a lot of possible causes of a car accident, and this report will go a long way toward determining fault.
Witnesses can also be key to proving your case. If you can, try to find anyone who saw the wreck, and will be willing to give their statements. Make sure you get their contact information and we’ll get in touch with them to find out more.
Traffic and Security Camera Footage
It’s definitely asking a lot to try to do all of the above. You could have not only been emotionally traumatized by the accident, you may have also been severely hurt.
If you can’t take photos or witness statements, there’s still a good chance a nearby security camera contains footage of the wreck. That camera could have been at a nearby gas station or some other kind of building. If that’s the case, your attorney will work to obtain that footage and strengthen your case.
What to Do After a Tailgating Accident
You’re probably going through a lot of pain and stress after your tailgating accident. The most important thing will be to seek medical attention immediately, and then contact your insurance company. You’ll also need the contact information of the other driver.
It will also be just as important to hire an attorney, because there’s a good chance either your insurer, or the insurer of the at-fault driver, will make it hard for you to get the money you deserve. Your legal representative will work to make sure you obtain fair compensation.
Contact Sand Law for Assistance With Your Claim
The attorneys with Sand Law will be ready to help if you’ve suffered an injury in a tailgating accident due to someone else’s negligence. We’ll work to obtain a fair settlement on your behalf, but we’ll also be ready to go to trial and prove your case if needed.
Schedule a free consultation by contacting us online or giving us a call at 701-609-1510.