Tupelo Tailgating Accidents

Tailgating often results in a rear-end collision. For example, let us say that you are driving along West Jackson Street in Lee County, and you notice in your rear-view mirror that a vehicle is speeding right towards you. Due to double yellow lines on the road and oncoming traffic, the driver behind you cannot pass you, so they decide to drive right within a couple of feet of your rear bumper. You brake as you approach the red light at the intersection with North Thomas Street, and the tailgating vehicle rear-ends your vehicle due to the lack of time to react, the driver behind you may be held liable for the collision.

You can be tailgated by another driver anywhere from the street on which you live to Interstate 22, and the other driver may be reckless, e.g., aggressive driving, or negligent. In order to recover economic and non-economic damages after a tailgating accident, you will likely have to establish the other driver’s negligence; this can be done by proving that the other driver owed you a duty of reasonable care, breached that duty, and caused you to sustain injuries. Retaining an experienced auto accident attorney in Tupelo, Mississippi, can aid you in substantiating your claim and defending you against accusations that may be made against you by the defendant driver.

What kind of accusations can a defendant make against a plaintiff following a car wreck? It is not uncommon for a defendant to assert comparative fault against a plaintiff, especially if the plaintiff’s injuries appear to be severe after a collision. Since the State of Mississippi operates under the doctrine of pure comparative negligence, your recovery can be reduced by the amount of blame attributed to you by a judge or jury. That is one of the reasons why it is important to hire legal representation and procure evidence that proves your claim. Without those two key elements, you may be more likely to have your recovery significantly reduced – leaving you unable to pay your medical bills and compensate for lost wages.