There is always the possibility of an accident happening to anyone at any time. When determining who is liable for an accident, understanding the cause is essential, but the type of accident can also be relevant.
It can affect the severity of the victim’s injuries, determining the claim or settlement amount. Considering the inferences and assumptions associated with certain accidents can be important if you file a lawsuit.
Car accidents are classified depending on the driver scenario and the type of impact involved. As per the National Safety Council, angle collisions are some of the deadliest accidents.
Meanwhile, rear-end collisions are usually minor accidents but can still cause significant damage to people and properties. In this article, we’ll give you a breakdown of the different types of car accidents, possible injuries, and how to seek compensation if you are a victim.
Common Types of Car Accidents
There are patterns to how crashes occur, even though every collision is unique. It might help you avoid an accident if you are aware of them. A car accident can be classified into the following types:
Accidents Involving Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions happen when drivers are not paying attention to the road or drive too close to other vehicles. A driver may have difficulty avoiding a collision if they do not maintain enough space from the vehicles in front of them. Several factors contribute to rear-end collisions, including sleepiness, impairment, and distraction while driving.
While it’s typical for the rear driver to cause a crash by driving too near the vehicle in front, the fault does not always lie with them. The driver at the front may be at fault if he or she stopped all of a sudden in an active traffic lane or reversed without reason.
Accidents Involving Head-On Collisions
Though less common than other auto accidents, head-on collisions are among the most dangerous road crashes. A collision between two moving vehicles is much more powerful since the impact forces are multiplied. This makes head-on collisions much more likely to cause serious injuries or fatalities than other types of vehicle accidents. Head-on collisions are caused by speeding, distracted driving, driver fatigue, driving under the influence, and reckless driving.
Accidents Caused by Side-Impact Collisions
Also known as angle or T-bone collisions, side impact collisions happen when a moving vehicle crashes into another vehicle at a perpendicular angle. This auto accident poses more risk to passengers on the impact side. This is because car sides usually have less mass to absorb an impact than the rear or front.
Failure to yield, stop at intersections, or follow traffic signs and signals are common causes of side-impact collisions. When distracted, impaired, or driving recklessly, a driver may cause a side-impact collision and be financially responsible for other people’s injuries.
Accidents Involving Sideswipes
Accidents involving sideswipes occur when two or more vehicles are traveling parallel to one another when one vehicle strikes the side of the other. Many side-impact collisions occur when motorists merge or change lanes without checking their blind spots.
During a sideswipe accident, one or both vehicles can lose control and careen off the road or into other lanes of traffic due to the initial impact. The cars may also collide with other vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists by the roadside.
Accidents Involving One Vehicle
Surprisingly, many accidents involve a single vehicle. Generally, single-vehicle crashes occur when the driver strikes something in their path, such as an animal, cargo dropped from another vehicle, or debris in the road. Occasionally, cars can be involved in single-vehicle accidents when a hazard forces them off the road and into light poles, guard rails, or other objects.
There are many causes of single-vehicle crashes, including abuse of drugs or alcohol, overexertion, speeding, poor weather conditions, and animals on the road. Accidents involving a single vehicle are sometimes caused by the negligence of another party, such as an improperly designed road work zone or reckless driving.
Accidents Involving Multiple Vehicles
A multi-vehicle accident can be catastrophic. Having multiple vehicles involved means more people may be injured. Multi-vehicle accidents commonly result from rear-end collisions that cause chain reactions. Vehicles sandwiched between other vehicles may lead to catastrophic injuries for their occupants.
In multi-vehicle collisions, determining fault can be difficult. It is not uncommon for more than one driver to be at fault, and insurance companies often try to shift the blame to the other driver. Getting legal help after a multi-vehicle accident is crucial if you have been injured.
Common Car Accident Injuries
Accidents involving motor vehicles often result in injuries such as:
- TBIs (traumatic brain injuries): These injuries often result from a blow to the head or even a piercing wound. According to estimates, 50,000 people die from TBIs every year, and 80,000 to 90,000 suffer long-term disabilities as a result.
- Injuries to the spinal cord: Long-term disability can result from spinal cord injuries sustained as a result of a crash or torque. Depending on the level of damage to the spinal cord, a person can suffer partial or total paralysis.
- Injuries to the back: Human bodies and spines are not designed for heavy impact, so back injuries are common after car accidents. Injuries to the back can take a long time to manifest after an accident. However, serious back injuries can cause long-term pain and disability.
- Burns: Burns can occur if occupants are exposed to hot liquids, surfaces, steam, or chemicals or if a vehicle catches fire following a crash. Surgery and skin grafting may be required for very severe burns.
- Whiplash and neck injuries: In car accidents, whiplash injuries can occur to the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and soft tissue of the neck, resulting in neck pain. Whiplash can occur even at low speeds, whether or not a seatbelt is worn. Car accidents can also result in severe disk injuries and cervical dislocations.
- Internal injuries: An internal organ may be damaged when the body collides with an object or is hit by flying debris during a crash. You should seek emergency medical attention if you suffer internal bleeding after such an injury.
- Broken bones and fractures: It is common for people to suffer broken arms, legs, ribs, wrists, and ankles in car accidents. Some car accident victims suffer a fractured pelvis. Breaks can range in severity from simple fractures that require simple casts to serious fractures that may require surgery.
Seeking Compensation After a Car Accident
When you file a car accident lawsuit, the first step is to assess your damages. An injured party may seek financial and non-financial damages after suffering a wrongful injury. Economic damages claims can recover medical expenses. Compensation may also be sought for non-economic damages, such as emotional distress, pain and suffering, or loss of enjoyment of life. Consulting a knowledgeable accident attorney increases your chances of getting fair compensation.
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