Maryland Tailgating Ticket After an Accident

When a person is following too closely to the car in front of them, they may not have time to stop or move out of the way from an accident. In Maryland, the law takes drivers following too closely to another vehicle as a serious offense due to the possibility of harm to another driver. If you were just in an accident and receive a ticket for following too closely behind another vehicle, you can receive severe penalties on your driving privileges and license. 

If you are in a situation where you could face severe consequences due to a ticket after an accident, you should contact an motor vehicle traffic offense attorney. An experienced lawyer at the Law Office of Hillel Traub has the tools and resources you’ll need to help reduce the consequences you may be forced to face for a tailgating ticket after an accident. Receiving a ticket after an accident is stressful and frustrating, but we can help you through the process. 

What is Tailgating?

A driver who follows too closely to another vehicle in front of them is considered to be tailgating. This is very dangerous due to the unexpected situations that may occur on the road. If the car in front stops suddenly, the vehicle behind them won’t have enough time to avoid a collision. Sometimes these breaks can be unexpected or intentional depending on the situation. For drivers angry that the other person behind them is tailgating, they may conduct what is called a “break check.” 

When a driver in front suddenly slams on their brakes to “check” if the other driver is paying attention or at a safe distance from the car, they intend to startle the other driver into giving them some space. This is not legal and can have severe consequences to the driver in front of the other car. Either way, both tailgating and break-checking are types of driving that can severely harm others. 

Common Injuries after a Tailgating Accident in Maryland

Tailgating most often results in rear-end collisions. However, if the driver swerves out of the way to try and not hit the person in front of them, they may end up hitting someone’s side or being rear-ended themselves. The life-threatening injuries that come out of accidents because of tailgating can significantly change a person’s life. 

The following are some examples of potential injures you can face: 

• Broken bones
• Lacerations
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Cuts and scrapes
• Burn injuries
• Whiplash
• Concussion
• Internal injuries

The injuries above can require immediate medical attention and even long-term treatment. The costs of physical therapy and pain medication are both examples of ways an injury from a tailgating accident can alter your life and the activities you’re able to participate in. 

What Happens after You Receive a Ticket for Following Too Closely?

The Maryland Statute § 21-310 states that a driver cannot follow another vehicle more closely than is “reasonable and prudent.” 

Something to note is that without an accident, a ticket for following too closely can result in two points on your license. If you already have points on your license due to an accident or other traffic violation, you may be required to enroll in educational courses or can even have your license suspended. 

How to Keep a Reasonable Distance from Another Vehicle?

There are some cases where you don’t realize you’re driving too closely to another vehicle. Whether you’re unexpectedly stopped and end up too close to another driver or you’re late for work and trying to move through traffic, sometimes our minds wander and make it hard to tell how close we really are to another vehicle. 

However, the following are a few tips to keep in mind when trying to keep a reasonable distance from the car in front of you:

• You should always be able to see the other vehicle’s bottom tires when coming to a stop. 
• Try the “three-second rule” where there should be three seconds between each car. 
• Keep at least one car length behind the car in front of you. 
• Wait a few seconds after the car in front of you moves to start driving.

Unfortunately, keeping a reasonable and prudent distance is hard to identify and is open to argument. If you receive a ticket and wish to challenge the issue, you should contact an attorney. Not only do they have experience and knowledge of the process, but also what types of documents and evidence you need to challenge the ticket. 

Trust an Experienced Maryland MVA Attorney Today

Problems with the car and accidents always seem to happen all at once. After an accident, you want to focus on recovering and getting back to normal, so it’s frustrating when there are moments that put you back on the spot. When you work with an MVA attorney at the Law Office of Hillel Traub, you can feel confident that you have dependable legal representation you can trust. 

With years of experience working with clients across Maryland, Attorney Hillel Traub has the knowledge and connections to help you with a successful case. He is passionate about justice and helping those in need. When you are looking to reduce the penalties of a ticket, talk to Attorney Hillel Traub for information about how he can help you. 

Call (410) 580-1100 or fill out our contact form for more information about our services. 

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