Driver Claims You Braked Too Suddenly After a Rear-End Crash? Here's What Texas Law Says

No, if a driver who rear-ends you says that you braked too suddenly, it does not kill your case here in Texas.

What Texas Law Requires of Following Drivers

In the state of Texas, Texas transportation codes prescribe what other drivers must do. It is the Texas law and the Texas transportation code states that an individual who is operating in our community must pay close attention to the speed of the vehicle they are following. Under the circumstances, for example, if the roads are wet and the weather is raining, they must provide for extra space that is above what they would ordinarily follow at.

The Three-to-Four-Second Rule

Have you heard of the three to four-second rule? Vehicles in Texas must follow the vehicles in front of them at a distance greater than three to four seconds, meaning if they pass a light poll, they have to be following you at a distance of one, two, three, four, five at that moment. They also pass the light poll, type of formula. If they are following too closely, that means that they cannot reasonably react in an amount of time to changes in circumstances such as traffic coming to a stop, suddenly. So if they were to be following at a three to four-second distance and traffic stops suddenly, they have ample amount of time to adjust their speed and bring their vehicle to a safe stop.

Safe Speed Requirements

Texas Transportation Code also states that they must be following at a safe speed. If they are following at a greater than safe speed, then that reduces their reaction time if the circumstances change like traffic coming to a stop.

Why You Need a Lawyer

Many of these violations amount to negligence. So it is important to hire a lawyer, like those at Fernandez Moore Injury Law, to protect your rights against accusations like stopping too suddenly.