California injury laws
Vehicle Code § 21703: following too closely
A driver must not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, considering speed, traffic and road conditions. This is the rule most often applied in rear-end collisions. The following driver usually has to explain why they could not stop safely.
What the law says
A driver must not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, considering speed, traffic and road conditions.
Official text (excerpt)
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 vehicle and the traffic upon, and the condition of, the roadway.
Read the full section on the official site
Why it matters in an injury claim
This is the rule most often applied in rear-end collisions. The following driver usually has to explain why they could not stop safely.
Related pages
- Car accidentsCollisions on Riverside County freeways and streets.
- Truck accidentsFreight and delivery-truck crashes on Inland Empire corridors.
- Motorcycle accidentsRider injuries and the rules that shape fault.
- Crash explorerInteractive map and charts of every injury crash since 2016.
- Printable crash checklistWhat to do at the scene and in the days after, with legal duties.
Hurt in Riverside County?
Talk with our Riverside team about what happened. Consultations are free, in English or Spanish.