Drivers in Kentucky and throughout the country can reduce their chances of being in an automobile accident by maintaining a safe following distance. By following too closely, a driver might not be able to slow down, stop or take other actions to avoid a collision. A driver will need roughly three seconds to react to an action taken by another driver. Therefore, each person should take reasonable steps to maintain a following distance of at least three seconds.
It is generally a good idea for individuals to increase their following distances by an additional three seconds during periods of inclement weather. This is because rain, snow or fog can reduce visibility and make it harder to react to what others are doing on the roads. Furthermore, snow, ice and rain can make roads slippery, which increases the amount of time and distance needed to come to a stop.
Maintaining an adequate following distance can also be helpful in reducing the chances of being involved in a road rage accident. This is because following too closely could cause another driver to become angry or frustrated with a tailgating individual’s behavior. It is not uncommon for road rage incidents to result in both bodily injury as well as damage to property.
Those who are hurt in a car accident may benefit from hiring a personal injury attorney. An attorney may be able to help an individual obtain compensation for medical bills, lost wages and other damages. Evidence such as witness statements or photos from the crash scene may be used to establish that another person was negligent in causing it to occur. Legal counsel may be able to negotiate a settlement outside of court or obtain a favorable jury verdict after a formal personal injury trial.