Accidents Caused by Faulty or Missing Taillights in Pennsylvania
All drivers owe a solemn duty of care to everyone else on the road. This amounts to having a responsibility to their safety, and a big part of this is keeping the vehicles they drive well-maintained. When a motorist’s car lacks taillights, they fail to signal when slowing down or coming to a stop, putting rear traffic at considerable risk. Suppose you’ve been injured in an accident that was caused by a driver’s lack of working taillights. In that case, it’s time to consult with an experienced Pennsylvania car accident attorney at Fanelli, Evans & Patel.
The Legal Consequences of Faulty Taillights
To begin with, it is against the law to operate a vehicle without working taillights. When a driver’s taillights are faulty, it significantly increases the chances that a rear-end accident will happen.
While the rear driver is often held liable in a rear-end accident, the fact that the front driver had broken taillights can alter this. Injured in a car accident that was caused by a forward driver’s malfunctioning taillights? You can seek compensation for your losses in a car accident claim filed with their insurance provider, and a knowledgeable car accident lawyer can help.
The Risk Factors Involved
When drivers don’t have working taillights, our roadways are less safe in two primary ways.
Reduced Visibility
Taillights play a crucial role in terms of visibility, which is especially important at night and in poor weather conditions. As the rear driver, you are responsible for leaving an adequate distance between your own vehicle and the forward driver’s. The fact that they don’t have the taillights required by law, however, limits your ability to do so.
Ineffective Signaling
A forward driver’s taillights signal when they are slowing down, preparing to stop, and stopping. Without this warning, it is far more difficult for you to follow them safely, and accidents become far more likely.
If you were injured in a rear-end accident in which you hit a forward driver who did not have working taillights, you shouldn’t wait to discuss the matter with a skilled car accident lawyer. The other driver’s negligence is established, and it could support a solid claim in which you can recover your complete physical, financial, and emotional losses.
Your Duty of Care as the Rear Driver
As the rear driver, you have a responsibility to leave an adequate distance between your own vehicle and forward traffic. This does not, however, mean that you must stay so far back that the forward driver’s taillights play no role. As long as you weren’t distracted, tailgating, speeding, or otherwise negligent, the forward driver could be held entirely liable in the event of an accident.
Reach Out to an Experienced Pennsylvania Car Accident Attorney Today
The resourceful car accident attorneys at Fanelli, Evans & Patel have reserves of experience successfully handling complex rear-end accident claims, including those involving faulty taillights. We will spare no effort in pursuing the compensation you deserve and welcome the opportunity to assist you. Contact us online or call us at 484-869-2113 in Reading, 570-286-6500 in Sunbury, or 570-622-2455 in Pottsville.