Eight Common Types of Car Accident

Most Common Types of Car Accidents

That there are around 6 million motor vehicle collisions each year in the United States? There are many different types of car accidents. Each type of motor vehicle accident presents its own variety of complications and injuries.

Different types of car accidents can result in different types of damage to your vehicle and person, some much more serious than others. This article will dive deep into some of the most common types of car accidents, how to avoid them, and what the average car accident settlement amount for each accident is worth.

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Rear End Collisions

One of the most common types of car accidents is when one car hits another from behind. This is usually known as getting rear ended or rear ending someone. This type of accident is often caused by distracted driving, and occurs when the front vehicle is at a stop and the car behind it doesn’t stop in time.

Cell phone usage, eating while driving, and making adjustments to your radio all attribute to distracted driving. According to the NHTSA, roughly 87% of rear end crashes are the result of distracted driving. These cases have been on the rise with the common habit of texting while driving. Poor driving conditions can also contribute to rear end collisions, such as wet or icy roads.

You can help avoid rear end collisions by following these tips:

• Do not drive distracted. It only takes a moment to shift your focus and strike a vehicle in front of you.
• Maintain safe speeds. Driving too fast and not maintaining a safe stopping distance with the car in front of you is a recipe for disaster.
• Avoid applying your brakes suddenly. If you stop rapidly and the car behind you is not driving safely, there is potential for them to strike you from behind.
• Stay aware of your surroundings and environment. This is especially important when road conditions or visibility are poor.

Even though they are one of the most common types of car accidents, these types of crashes tend to be the least severe. This is because they generally happen at lower speeds. Protect yourself and other drivers by always staying alert while behind the wheel.

Related: I was rear ended, how much money will I get? 

Settlement amounts for rear end collisions can vary widely. While many rear end crashes are minor, high speed rear end collisions can result in chronic whiplash and traumatic brain injuries such as concussions.

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T-Bone Car Accidents

A t-bone car accident is also referred to as a side impact crash or a broadside collision. This is when another vehicle strikes the side of your car at an angle. The name t-bone comes from the shape made when the two vehicles collide. T Bone accidents are among the 2-3 most common types of car accidents.

T-bone crashes are often very serious and can result in major injuries. Even with the use of seatbelts, airbags, and modern car designs meant to protect occupants in the event of a crash, severe injuries and death do occur in these types of side impact collisions. There are a few different ways in which a broadside accident may occur.

• Failure to stop. One car running a red light or stop sign and hitting the other vehicle from the side. This is also sometimes referred to as a failure to yield.
• Improper turning. If you attempt to make a right turn but are not in the appropriate lane, you may pass in front of another vehicle, causing them to hit you.
• Loss of forward motion. A side impact can also occur when a car strikes an immobile object such as a tree, guard rail, or fire hydrant. An example of this would be a car losing traction due to ice and turning sideways. Vehicle rollovers can also happen in T Bone car accidents.

T-bone, or side impact accidents, are most common in intersections. This is why it is always important to check all directions when crossing through or turning in an intersection, even if you have right-of-way. You can avoid many types of car accidents by simply paying attention to your surrounding.

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Head On Collisions

Head on collisions are less common types of car accidents, but far more deadly. Head on car accidents account for over 10% of all car crash fatalities, despite being only 2% of total car accidents in the US, according to the NHTSA. When two vehicles collide while travelling in opposite directions, serious injury and death are often the unfortunate result.

Most head on crashes are due to drunk driving, driving in the wrong lane (or in some cases unsafe passing), distracted driving, or less than ideal driving conditions, such as wet roads that can cause hydroplaning. A head on crash can also occur when a vehicle collides with a stationary object. It is an unfortunate reality that many head on car accidents can result in death. But in less severe cases they can result in other bodily harm such as:

• Spinal cord injuries – a head on collision at a high speed may cause damage to your spine and even paralysis. Sometimes spine injuries and paralysis are permanent.
• Traumatic brain injuries – if your head strikes your steering wheel or another part of your vehicle, it can bruise your brain. Swelling of the brain can also occur. This is a very serious injury that needs immediate medical attention.
• Internal organ damage – your body being forcefully slammed into a part of your vehicle can cause terrible unseen injuries. Rupturing or tearing of organs is very serious and potentially life threatening.

It is reassuring to know that head on collisions are not very common types of car accidents. However, you should always wear your seatbelt and drive defensively to avoid serious harm.

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Sideswipe Car Accidents

Sideswiping is when two vehicles driving next to each other make contact. This type of car accident is different than a broadside, because both vehicles involved are parallel to each other. Sideswiping can occur when one or both cars drift to one side of their lane, potentially crossing over. Another common cause of sideswiping is when a car changes lanes and does not see the other vehicle in their blind spot.

This type of car accident can range from a minor bump to a more serious collision. Sometimes when struck on the side, a driver of a vehicle may jerk the steering wheel. This has the potential to cause their car to spin out or even rollover.

In most cases, the damage and bodily injuries are minimal in a sideswipe. The risk and damages increase if a driver loses control of their vehicle due to a sideswipe.

A sideswipe can also occur when a vehicle makes contact with another parked vehicle. Always remember to be aware of other cars or motor vehicles in your blind spot. It is also important to be situationally aware of your vehicle around others, moving or parked.

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Multi-Car Accidents

In a large number of car accidents, the force of one car hitting another can cause a chain reaction. This type of car accident causes damage to multiple vehicles and many people. Also sometimes referred to as a pileup, they can range from as few as three cars to massive numbers of vehicles, and are among one of the most common types of car accidents seen today.

Being involved in a multi-car collision is a scary and confusing experience. There are a few different ways in which this type of car accident can occur.

• One car rear ends another. The struck car then rear ends the car in front of it. While you cannot always avoid being rear ended, you can avoid rear ending someone else by always maintaining safe speeds and stopping distances.
• A driver changes lanes without checking their blind spot. Trying to avoid being struck, the other driver may swerve or apply the brakes, causing them to hit or be hit by a separate car.
• A collision happens between vehicles and one or both flies into traffic. Other vehicles are then included in the collision by cars still moving from the force of impact.

All of these situations can be very dangerous. Multi-car accidents commonly occur due to drunk or distracted driving. It is also not uncommon to hear about multi-car pile ups and rollover accidents when these accidents involve poor weather conditions, such as icy roads or lack of visibility.

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Passengers Injured In Car Accidents

Although they have a lot less control over the situation, passengers who have been injured in car accidents are at least as likely to need to file a car accident claim to cover their medical bills and lost income. In fact, because there are often more passengers than there are drivers, the majority of people who die in auto accidents are passengers.

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Hit and Run Car Accidents

Roughly 11% of all reported traffic accidents in the US, and nearly 20% of all pedestrian deaths caused by a car accident, end up with at least one party fleeing the scene. Sadly, the number of hit & run fatalities is on the rise according to the NHTSA.

A hit and run is as it sounds – a vehicle hits another vehicle or a person, and then leaves the scene. Many times people leave the scene of the accident because of intoxication, prior legal trouble, or they do not have insurance.

If you are a victim of a hit and run, be sure to follow these steps.

• Call the police. You will want to have a report of the accident to provide to your insurance company. This is also helpful if you end up finding the at-fault driver and end up taking them to court.
• Collect evidence. If necessary, seek immediate medical attention. If not, collect as many pictures and document as many details of the accident as possible.
• Get medical attention. Even if you do not have any obvious injuries, there are problems that may not present themselves right away. Always see a doctor right after any car crash.
• Reach out to your insurance company. Many states and companies require that you have coverage for uninsured drivers. This coverage also covers you in the event of a hit and run.

If you are ever involved in a collision, no matter the type of car accident, it is vital that you stay on the scene. Even if the incident is minor, all parties involved should discuss the next steps.

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Parking Lot Accidents

The majority of parking lot accidents are minor, resulting in nothing more than a dent and an inconvenience, and often being nothing more than a single car accident. But sometimes parking lot accidents can be devastating. If a car strikes a pedestrian or crashes into another vehicle while traveling at unsafe speeds, the consequences can be steep.

Some of the types of car accidents that occur in parking lots are:

• A car backing out of a parking spot and hitting another parked vehicle or a person.
• The driver of a car backs out of a parking spot into oncoming traffic.
• A car pulling forward from a parking spot and struck by an oncoming car.
• Two cars colliding while trying to take the same parking spot.
• Rear ending a stopped car at a stop sign or who is waiting for a spot.

Situational awareness plays a big part in parking lot accidents. Stay aware of the cars and people moving around you. Always remember to maintain safe speeds when traveling through a parking lot.

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