No matter how careful you are, getting in your car is literally taking your life, and that of those around you, in your hands. In fact, for those who get their license at the age of 16 as is the norm, the odds are that by the time they are 34 they will have been in at least two car accidents. Luckily, most of these accidents will not be serious, but it is quite common to be injured in a motor vehicle collision.
While driving a car, there are many ways that you can end up in an accident, but some are more common than others. Here are five types of accidents that you may end up in while you are driving.
5 Types of Common Car Accidents
1. Rear-Ending Crashes – Probably the most common type of car accident is a rear-end collision. This was once comparable to other types of crashes, but distracted driving has increased over the last few years. Distractions such as cell-phone use and texting are thought to contribute to this rise.
Rear-end collisions often result in injuries like whiplash or neck strain or sprain. They also commonly cause lower back injuries. However, these types of impacts are usually at a slow speed, often at stop lights, so vehicle damage is minor.
That does not mean that the injuries you may sustain are automatically minor, though. Many people in these types of crashes end up filing lawsuits against the other driver mainly because they need to obtain treatment for their injuries that go beyond their insurance policy’s medical limits.
2. Rollover Accidents – These happen because a driver somehow loses control of the vehicle. It can be caused by taking turns too quickly, over correcting, or distracted driving, among other things, but when it occurs the vehicle turns onto its side or rolls upside down.
These are considered to be one of the most dangerous types of accidents. Top-heavy vehicles such as SUVs or minivans are the most commonly found vehicles statistically, but they can happen no matter what car you are driving.
Sometimes these accidents are caused by defective car parts. If your brakes don’t work or your tires lose their tread unexpectedly, that can be the result of a defective product. In that case, you should call an expert such as this accident attorney to discuss how you may be able to receive compensation for the damages incurred.
3. High-speed Collisions. Another common cause of accidents is when someone is speeding. Often, these accidents also occur because the driver that is speeding is also driving recklessly, under the influence, or distracted.
High-speed collisions can be dangerous and even fatal because of the velocity of the vehicles moving and the force of the impact. Even if you walk away relatively uninjured, the trauma of being in such an accident can last for years.
4. Hit and Run Accidents – Sadly, these types of accidents are more common than one would like to think. A “hit and run” accident occurs when someone is hit by a driver – either in a vehicle, as a pedestrian, or as a bicyclist – and the offending driver does not stop.
These were once difficult to pursue, but with just about everyone having access to a camera on their phones and social media coverage, it is becoming easier to track down a hit and run driver and hold them accountable for their actions.
5. Head-On Collisions – Another dangerous and deadly type of accident, head-on collisions occur when two vehicles – or more – crash into each other front first. The force of this collision is usually very strong, resulting in severe, life-threatening and life-altering injuries.
Usually, these collisions are the result of someone’s reckless or negligent driving. Those who are lucky to survive a head-on collision almost always end up filing a lawsuit against the other driver to compensate for the damages and injuries sustained in the accident.
Injured in a Motor Vehicle Accident? Get Help Today
Regardless of the type of accident you were in, if you sustained damages as a result of another driver’s negligence or recklessness, you may be entitled to compensation and payment of your medical treatment or car repairs.
Call a knowledgeable attorney today to see how you can get the compensation you deserve for your pain, loss of income, and other damages.
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