What causes rear-end crashes and how to prevent them

You might be making your way around a rotary in Florida, slowing down because of traffic or getting on an exit ramp. Then, without warning, you hear the alarming sound of another vehicle’s front bumper striking your rear bumper with enough force to damage your car and perhaps injure you.

Rear-end collisions occur frequently and can be extremely hazardous. They usually take place when one car is standing still or moving slowly and another rams into it while traveling fast. You can’t get out of the way. One study found that rear-end accidents comprise almost one-third of the traffic collisions that result in major injuries.

How do rear-end crashes happen and who is typically at fault?

• Traffic on a highway is slowing. The driver behind you does not notice and hits your car.
• You put on your turn signal and slow down to make a turn. The other driver is oblivious and hits your vehicle.
• A driver in back of you intends to hurry through an intersection before the light changes. You slow down and the two cars collide.
• You are at an intersection and the light turns green. You don’t start moving immediately. The driver behind you does and a rear-end accident results.

Sometimes you may also be partly responsible for a rear-end collision. Stopping abruptly or failing to activate your turn signal are two ways that your own actions might contribute to a rear-end accident. However, there are ways you can prevent a rear-end crash.

Tips for avoiding rear-end accidents

• Glance in your rear-view mirror often
• Stay away from tailgaters
• Don’t brake suddenly
• Keep your rear-tail lights in good working order
• Look into the distance frequently to see if there is any reason you might need to stop

Exercising caution isn’t always enough to prevent rear-end accidents. They can happen anyway and leave your vehicle damaged. You can also sustain serious injuries. If you feel you were the victim of an inattentive or impatient driver, an experienced attorney can tell you if you have reasonable grounds for seeking compensation.