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When a driver causes a tailgating car accident

On Behalf of | Apr 22, 2017 | Car Accidents |

In West Virginia, motorists who cause a car accident after tailgating the vehicle in front of them may be held liable for any resulting injuries or damages. This is because drivers are responsible for maintaining a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of them so that they can avoid an accident if the other vehicle suddenly stops. However, it can be still be difficult to prove that the tailgating driver was liable.

Liability for a car accident is strictly tied to whether a driver was negligent. As such, there are four main elements that an injured person will have to prove before the tailgating driver can be found liable. For example, the injured person must prove that the tailgating driver had a duty to drive responsibly. The injured person must prove that the driver breached this duty and caused the crash as a direct result. Finally, the injured person must prove that the damages that were sustained were caused by the accident.

Even if it is proven that the other driver was responsible for causing the accident, injured victims may have to prove that they had no part in causing it. This means that they may have to prove that they were not driving too slowly and that their brake lights were working at the time.

People who are involved in a car accident that was caused by the negligent driving of another motorist could suffer serious injuries that may have an impact on their ability to return to work for prolonged periods of time while they are recovering. They might want to have the help of a lawyer in obtaining compensation for lost wages and medical expenses.