Brooklyn Rear-end Collision

A Brooklyn rear-end hit motor vehicle accident is the most frequent type of car accident in the Borough. Over 450 motorists were injured in Brooklyn motor vehicle accidents and 227 vehicles were involved in accidents where following too closely was a contributing cause of the accident. And this was just in the month of November 2011.

Overall, it has been reported that over 29% of all accidents are rear-end collisions. Virtual all -about 94% – of rear-enders occur on straight roads. Every 17 seconds a “reported” rear-end collision occurs.

The combination of Brooklyn’s population density and congested roads makes for a high total of rear-end auto accidents in the Borough.

Rear-end automobile accidents can cause serious injury or even death.  Each year, there are over 400,000 injuries and 2,000 fatal accidents resulting from rear-end collisions.

A common cause for a rear-end hit is following too closely. Following too closely or tailing is a form of aggressive driving and creates a dangerous driving condition. When the car ahead is forced to stop suddenly, the car behind does not have enough time to come to a safe stop before colliding into the motor vehicle ahead.

In addition to following too closely or tailgating, some other common causes of rear-end hit auto accidents are as follows:

• Speeding
• Fatigue
• Aggressive Driving
• Drunk Driving (DWI DUI)
• Distraction
• False Starts while Merging
• Weather Conditions
• Visual Obstruction such as glare, or dirty windshield
• Rubber-necking
• Failing to anticipate a Sudden Stop

A driver who tailgates or follows too closely and thereby causes a rear-end collision is negligent and careless in the operation of the motor vehicle. He or she may be found responsible under the law for the injuries and other damage they cause.