Car accidents are incredibly common and cause severe injuries and deaths each year. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), there were 12,800,000 motor vehicle crashes in 2022 alone, with 5.2 million people injured and just over 46 thousand people killed. Furthermore, the dangers of car accidents should not be undermined. While there are countless types of ways that car accidents arise, there are a few types of accidents that are most commonly seen that we will further explore in this article.
Rear-end Accidents
Of all accident types, rear-end collisions, often referred to as “rear-ending,” are the most common type of car accident. Of the 12.8 million car accidents that occurred in 2022, 40.8% of them were rear-end accidents and resulted in 3,400 deaths. A rear-end collision happens when a vehicle crashes into the back of the vehicle in front of them. These accidents occur for a number of reasons including tailgating, faulty brake lights, distracted driving, drowsy driving, and drunk driving. Additionally, rear-end crashes often occur when drivers fail to follow the three-second rule, which helps keep drivers at a safe following distance.
Head-on Accidents
Head-on collisions are another type of common accident and are one of the most dangerous types. Just like the name states, these types of accidents occur when two vehicles collide head-on. These accidents result for a number of reasons including distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, reckless driving, swerving to avoid an object, and driving the wrong way on the road. While head-on collisions do not encompass the greatest number of car accidents, they are at the top of the list for being the most deadly due to the direct impact that these vehicles have on the driver, as well as any passengers. The other types of accidents have a more indirect impact, oftentimes making them less deadly.
Sideswipe Accidents
Sideswipe accidents are another type of commonly seen car accident. These accidents occur when two vehicles that are driving parallel to one another and one vehicle makes contact and “sideswipes” the other. One of the biggest reasons that these accidents happen is when individuals fail to check their blind spots, fail to use a turn signal or make an unsafe lane change.
Angle Accidents
According to the 2022 study conducted by the NSC, angle collisions were the second most common type of vehicle accident, making up 32.5% of all crashes during that year. An angle accident occurs when one vehicle strikes another at an angle between 90 and 180 degrees. These accidents. often referred to as side-impact or t-bone accidents, usually occur when a driver fails to stop at a stop sign or signal. This results in the driver who failed to stop crashing into the side of the other vehicle at an angle. This is particularly dangerous when traveling at high speeds.
Single Vehicle Accidents
The last type of car accident that is commonly seen only involves one vehicle. Known as a “single-vehicle crash,” these accidents are typically caused by unexpected obstacles in the road such as animals, debris, curbs, dropped cargo, trees, posts, and ditches. Additionally, these car accidents can occur due to distracted driving, speeding, poor road conditions, or adverse weather conditions.
What to Do After a Car Accident
As you know, car accidents are incredibly dangerous and the causes of them are widespread. If you are in a car accident, it is crucial that you are aware of the steps to take. First, if any individuals are injured, you will want to contact emergency services immediately. Especially in serious crashes, the timeliness of calling 911 can make the world of a difference. Even if no one is injured, you will still want to call the local police so that a police report can be made and the road can be blocked off, if necessary. Then, if possible, you will want to gather the personal information of any individuals who were directly involved in the accident, as well as any individuals who may have witnessed the accident occur. Next, you will want to do your best to document the accident scene by taking pictures and videos of the area and the vehicle(s) involved. This evidence will be very valuable when filing a car accident claim. Finally, you will want to reach out to an experienced Tacoma car accident attorney who can help you file a claim. An attorney will help ensure that your rights are protected and that you recover maximum compensation for the injuries and damages that you sustained. Having the help of an attorney can alleviate stress caused by the legal process, allowing you to focus on your recovery.
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