Bakersfield drivers can make careless mistakes at any moment on busy routes like Highway 99 and Ming Avenue. But some mistakes can be intentional. This is the case for drivers who choose to tailgate.
Motorists may be in a rush or could be dealing with a bit of road rage. They can get bumper to bumper and not be able to stop when the car in front of them slows down. A scary collision occurs, and victims may suffer injuries.
The question of who’s at fault should be easy, but car insurance companies can try to confuse the issue. Victims seeking help with their medical bills may have to prove a driver was tailgaiting to get full compensation.
When accidents involve a serious injury and more medical expenses are involved, it’s a good sign that you need to go over your case with a skilled Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer. There’s an easy and FREE way to do that. Schedule a free, no-hassle or obligation case consultation with Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield.
Tailgating Dangers on Bakersfield Streets
Drivers are often in a hurry when they start to ride someone’s bumper. They may even be engaged in tailgating without being aware of how close they are to the edge of an accident. Other times, drivers can get frustrated in traffic and start to drive aggressively.
They may hope to make a slower driver go faster or to simply express their displeasure, but with the stop-and-go traffic around Bakersfield, these decisions can lead to powerful impacts and traumatic injuries.
- The California Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) found that there were 33 serious accidents involving a tailgating driver across Bakersfield and Kern County in 2024. Those accidents led to at least 42 injuries.
- Rear-end crashes are the most frequently occurring type of collision, accounting for approximately 29 percent of all crashes and resulting in a substantial number of injuries and fatalities each year. That’s according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) data.
Rear-end impacts might cause neck and spine injuries, whiplash, and chest injuries where the seatbelt tightens. Of course, other injuries are possible as well, such as broken bones.
Victims with major hospital bills and without the ability to sit or stand through a full shift at work will need help to recover physically and financially.
A Lawyer’s Help When Facing a Reckless Driver Who Won’t Accept the Blame
An experienced Bakersfield attorney fully examines the evidence and constructs a strong case that insurers will have a hard time questioning. Your attorney can secure witnesses’ testimony, and also use testimony from doctors to attest to the severity of your injuries and how much in support you’ll need to make a full recovery.
Your attorney would also round up any video showing the other driver tailgaiting, including dash cam footage, and video from nearby surveillance cameras and traffic cams. Our lawyers can also rely on data from accident reconstruction teams to show how a crash really unfolded.
What Are the Laws About Tailgating in California?
Bakersfield drivers who tailgate can end up with liability for a victim’s lost time at work and every medical invoice. But they might also face criminal charges.
California Vehicle Code CVC 21703. states:
The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicle and the traffic upon, and the condition of, the roadway.
The judgment on a reasonable space to follow a driver would fall to the investigator with the Bakersfield PD or the California Highway Patrol (CHP). This infraction can carry a fine of a couple of hundred dollars plus hefty court fees. When accidents are caused by tailgating, the penalties only grow.
Under CVC 23103, drivers could also face jail time if they are charged with “reckless driving.” This is a misdemeanor. If a tailgating incident resulted in bodily injury, victims could also face a “reckless driving causing bodily injury” under CVC 23104. Penalties can top out at a $1,000 fine and up to 6 months in jail.
We Back Your Case with Powerful Evidence and Fight to Earn You More
If you have a serious injury, and a tailgating driver caused your accident, contact Maison Law Accident & Injury Lawyers of Bakersfield to schedule a free consultation. It’s a confidential, no-obligation review of your case with a real Bakersfield car accident attorney.
Your full recovery becomes our number one mission. We don’t stop fighting until you are 100% healed and have the money you need to get back to your normal life.
If you end up needing our help to prove a driver was tailgating and caused your accident and injuries, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll afford a great lawyer. We don’t charge anything up front, and we only get paid if we win your case for you. Then our attorney’s fee comes out of the settlement check that an insurance company writes for you.