No one anticipates being in a car accident; however, understanding how to navigate the situation if you find yourself involved in a collision is crucial. As such, the following blog details some of the most common types of car accidents that occur. You’ll also discover how a Rochester car accident attorney can assist you if you wish to pursue legal action against the negligent driver responsible for the crash.
What Types of Car Accidents Occur Most Frequently?
Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident. They typically occur when the following driver trails too closely behind another vehicle, making it hard to avoid colliding when the car in front breaks quickly. Importantly, even a low-speed rear-end collision can cause serious injury because of the way the body moves upon impact. When a vehicle is struck from behind, the body is affected in three phases. First, it is thrown backward toward the seat. Then, due to the deceleration of the vehicle, the body is thrown forward. Finally, the forward-moving occupant is caught by the seatbelt. Depending on impact speed, each of these movements can be violent and each can cause serious neck or back injuries.
Another common type of accident is a side collision; also referred to as “t-boning.” These occur when the front end of one vehicle collides with the side of another. These most commonly happen at intersections, as one car may disregard traffic signs or lights, colliding with another vehicle with the right-of-way. Often a left-turning vehicle will fail to yield to oncoming traffic and cuts off another driver. Many factors can influence the severity of these collisions, such as which part of the vehicles collided, how fast the cars were going, and the proximity of occupants to the impact zone on the vehicle. Injury can be caused by abnormal movement of the body or impact with the vehicle interior or even the offending vehicle.
Head-on collisions are less common but often result in the most severe, even fatal, injuries. These accidents happen because of drivers drifting into oncoming traffic due to distracted or drunk driving, driver inattention, failure to obey road signs, attempts to avoid wildlife, or swerving around other vehicles or obstructions on the road.
If I’m Struck by Another Driver, Can I Seek Compensation?
When you are injured due to the negligence of another driver, you may be able to pursue compensation for your injuries and damages.
If possible, you should always call the police immediately when involved in an accident. This allows law enforcement to investigate the cause of the accident and file a report. This step is required by many auto insurance companies before they will honor a claim. Also, the police report is often a valuable piece of evidence if you decide to pursue a personal injury claim.
However, you should not leave every detail to the investigating officer. If possible, take photographs of the scene and the vehicles involved. Gather names and contact information for any witnesses. Busy police officers may not gather all of the evidence your attorney would like to have.
Seek medical attention right away if you believe you are injured. Often people delay treatment, thinking they are not injured or their injuries are not serious. The adrenaline after a crash may mask pain. It is a good idea to get checked out.
Contact an experienced lawyer from Lacy Katzen as soon as possible. Your attorney may need to gather physical evidence while it is still fresh. There are also short filing deadlines that apply to some aspects of a motor vehicle claim. Reach out to Lacy Katzen for a free initial consultation.
