Most car crashes occur because drivers make mistakes. They fail to use appropriate care in traffic or flagrantly violate traffic statutes. The poor choices of motorists can have major consequences for others. Those involved in collisions often aspire to show that the other party was at fault for the incident.
In some cases, that may be easier to prove than in others. People frequently rush to make assumptions about fault when rear-end collisions occur. Frequently, the assumption is that the driver in the rear vehicle must be the party at fault. While that is often true, it is not always the case.
How can people determine who was at fault for a rear-end crash?
Analyzing the moments before the wreck
To establish who was at fault for a collision, people have to determine what decisions or traffic violations triggered the collision. In rear-end crash scenarios, tailgating is often a factor.
Drivers do not follow best practices that require them to maintain a reasonable following distance. They get too close to others in traffic, possibly out of irritation related to slower speeds. They may then cause collisions that have devastating consequences.
Other times, distraction might actually be the underlying cause of a rear-end crash. Drivers who look down at their phones may not notice that the driver in front of them had to hit the brakes. They may then rear-end a slower-moving or stopped vehicle because they didn’t pay attention to their surroundings.
Occasionally, the driver in the front vehicle might actually be at fault. Overly-aggressive maneuvering could lead to a rear-end crash. If a driver merges into a lane of traffic without leaving enough space or if they turn in front of approaching vehicles, they could cause a rear-end crash. Their aggressive conduct prevents the person in the other vehicle from effectively responding to the situation.
Drivers choosing not to use their turn signals could also cause rear-end crashes, as others cannot adjust their behavior appropriately when they do not understand another driver’s intentions. Maintenance issues could also cause rear-end crashes, as burned-out lights may fail to convey a driver’s intention to others.
Ensuring that police officers or insurance professionals have the full story can be critical for those hoping to hold a driver accountable for a rear-end crash. Those seeking compensation after preventable car crashes may need help proving that the other driver was at fault, and that’s okay. Learning about what might cause a rear-end collision can help people handle the aftermath of a wreck effectively.