Following too closely is one of the most common causes of car accidents, and accidents caused by drivers that are following too closely can results in serious – even fatal – injuries in some cases. It is most often the case that accidents caused by drivers following too closely occur in combination with other negligent and reckless actions such as texting while driving, distracted driving, or driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Important Practical Guidance in Accidents Caused by Drivers Following Too Closely:
It is critical that your lawyer seek to act quickly in order to preserve and discover evidence that the other driver was following too closely and caused a car accident as a result of being districted by cell phone usage or any other such activity. Use of a spoliation letter may be important to preserve this type of evidence.
What Is Following Too Closely Under Georgia Law?
This the Georgia traffic law prohibiting following too closely:
(a) 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 vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.
(b) The driver of any motor vehicle which is drawing another vehicle when traveling upon a roadway outside of a business or residential district and which is following another motor truck or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle shall, whenever conditions permit, leave sufficient space so that an overtaking vehicle may enter and occupy such space without danger, except that this shall not prevent a motor truck or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle from overtaking and passing any like vehicle or other vehicle.
(c) Motor vehicles being driven upon any roadway outside of a business or residential district in a caravan or motorcade whether or not towing other vehicles shall be so operated as to allow sufficient space between each such vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to enter and occupy such space without danger. This subsection shall not apply to funeral processions, parades, or other groups of vehicles if such groups of vehicles are under the supervision and control of a law enforcement agency.
(d) Vehicles which approach from the rear any other vehicle or vehicles stopped or slowed to make a lawful turn shall be deemed to be following for purposes of this Code section. (e) This Code section shall not apply to the operator of any non-leading vehicle traveling in a coordinated platoon. For purposes of this subsection, the term “coordinated platoon” means a group of motor vehicles traveling in the same lane utilizing vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology to automatically coordinate the movement of such vehicles.
O.C.G.A. § 40-6-49.
It is important for your injury lawyer to know what the statute prohibits, but in most cases involving serious accidents where a vehicle is struck from behind, it is clear that the at-fault driver that caused the accident and injuries as a result of following too closely.