No two car accidents are exactly alike, but there are types of accidents that occur on a near-daily basis. Some tend to be more serious than others, but each of them can cause life-altering injuries and significant damages.
Car accidents can happen for a variety of reasons, from negligence on the part of the driver to automotive defects. Regardless of the type of collision, it is important for accident victims to understand that they have a right to pursue compensation if the crash was caused by another party.
Here we take a look at some of the most common types of car accidents while also highlighting how specific types of negligence can cause each of these collisions. If you have recently been involved in a crash and are researching your legal options, we encourage you to reach out to an experienced car accident attorney at Colombo Law for a FREE case review.
Rear-End Collisions
Read-end collisions can lead to a host of severe injuries even at slow speeds. Trauma to the neck and back is common in these accidents, potentially resulting in everything from whiplash to spinal cord injuries.
Unfortunately, rear-end accidents are often caused by distracted drivers who are not paying enough attention to the road. Distracted driving can include behaviors such as:
- Texting
- Eating
- Talking on the phone
- Using GPS
- Grooming
For many drivers, the temptation of using their phones on the road is too great. Beyond texting, distracted drivers may be searching the Internet, browsing social media, and even watching videos.
And yet, there is a good reason drivers should never give in to this temptation. We can be surprised by our surroundings, such as drivers unexpectedly braking in front of us, construction zones, and lane shifts. We must each be alert and attentive when these situations arise.
When drivers fail to do so and their carelessness leads to rear-end collisions, they may be held liable for the subsequent damages.
Head-On Crashes
Head-on collisions are among the most serious types of car accidents due to the speed at which the vehicles typically travel. In the worst cases, they can even lead to the wrongful death of one or more people involved in the crash.
Oftentimes, head-on accidents happen because a driver veers or swerves out of their lane or because they are driving in the wrong direction. While these issues can happen due to distracted or drowsy driving, it is unfortunately commonplace for driving under the influence to be at the heart of many head-on crashes.
When drivers are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it can greatly affect their cognitive and motor functions. This can make it difficult for drivers to stay in their lane and obey the rules of the road, potentially resulting in tragic accidents.
T-Bone Accidents
T-bone accidents are most common at intersections. They can be especially dangerous for drivers and passengers on the side of the vehicle that gets struck.
In many cases, T-bones are caused by drivers failing to obey traffic laws. Common factors in these crashes include running a red light or stop sign or turning onto a street and not yielding to oncoming traffic.
While we all want to get to where we are going faster, when drivers treat traffic signals and signs as optional it can lead to serious and even deadly accidents. While a driver guilty of this type of negligence may be in legal trouble, that does not pay for the injured victim’s medical expenses or compensate them for other damages. You will need to file a personal injury claim to recover these losses.
Sideswipe Crashes
When drivers are not paying attention or are driving aggressively, it increases the chance they will sideswipe another car on the road. These crashes often occur when a careless driver is merging into traffic.
Because these accidents frequently occur on highways, sideswipe collisions can cause dangerous chain reactions. Secondary collisions and multi-car accidents may occur, potentially resulting in serious injuries for multiple victims.
Aggressive driving – from tailgating to intentionally cutting other drivers off – is dangerous and inexcusable. Drivers who do so should be held accountable for the damages they cause.
Rollover Accidents
Unlike the other accidents we have covered, rollovers tend to be single-car accidents. And yet, the cause is not always driver error.
In some cases, a vehicle defect can lead to a driver losing control, leading to a rollover. Defects could lead to tire blow-outs, malfunctioning braking systems, airbags deploying when they should not, or issues with the steering.
In some cases, these defects exist because of the negligence of an automaker that knew or should have known about the defect and did nothing to fix it. If this is the case, you may be able to recover compensation from the negligent company or companies that designed, manufactured, and/or sold the defective vehicle or part.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been injured in a car accident, the most important thing about your situation is not the type of accident in which you were involved. Rather, the most important factor is whether or not you can prove the other driver’s negligence and recover the compensation you need and deserve.
Building a car accident claim on your own is challenging. For more than 20 years, Colombo Law has been helping accident victims hold careless drivers and other parties accountable for serious injuries and fatalities. If you have been hurt in an accident, we have the experience, resources, and winning results to handle your claim effectively.
Please call Colombo Law at (614) 362-7000 today for a FREE consultation. Our car accident attorneys serve clients in Columbus and other areas of Ohio.
