Every day, different things lead to car accidents. Some of them are simple mistakes, while others involve reckless or careless behavior. No matter the cause, knowing how these crashes happen can help people stay safe on the road. You should also know what kinds of accidents are the most common.
That’s where TopDog Law’s car accident lawyers can offer insight. A lot of accidents don’t just happen randomly; they follow patterns that can be prevented. It’s easy for drivers to know what to look out for when they understand these patterns. To better understand why these types of car accidents happen, let us look at them one by one.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end crashes are the most common type of car accident. They happen when one car hits the back of another. This often takes place in traffic or at stop signs.
Drivers might be distracted by their phones or too close behind the car in front of them. There is no time to brake when the front car stops quickly. Rear-end collisions can cause injuries like whiplash, even at low speeds.
Side-Impact (T-Bone) Accidents
When one car hits the side of another, this is called a T-bone accident. People normally encounter this at intersections when they run a red light or don’t yield. Since the sides of the cars don’t have much protection, these accidents are quite dangerous.
A lot of the time, speeding and bad visibility are to blame. Drivers may misjudge the gap or believe they can beat the light. People who are on the side of impact are the most at risk.
Multi-Vehicle Pileups
When three or more cars crash into each other, this is called a pileup. A lot of the time, they begin with one accident on a busy highway or road. Then, other cars hit the ones that had already stopped.
These crashes usually happen during fog, rain, or snow. As a result, the drivers can’t see very far ahead or stop in time. With each car involved, the damage and injuries get worse.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions happen less often but are very dangerous. They happen when cars at high speeds hit each other in the front. People often get into these kinds of crashes by going the wrong way or drifting into the wrong lane.
Some people do this when they are tired, distracted, or under the influence. An accident can also happen when the weather is bad, like when there is snow or heavy rain. Because of the strong force of impact, these crashes can be very severe.
Sideswipe Accidents
When two cars going the same way touch sides, a sideswipe accident happens. Most of the time, it happens when the driver changes lanes. The driver might not see the other car in their blind spot.
Sometimes, people don’t signal or drift from their lane. Sideswipes can also be caused by road rage. At high speeds, these crashes can lead to major accidents even if they seem minor.
Single-Vehicle Accidents
Not every accident has more than one car involved. Accidents involving only one car also happen a lot. These happen when a car goes off the road, hits a tree, or hits a fence.
They often happen when roads are wet, people are going too fast, or people are not paying attention. They can also be caused by swerving to dodge animals or rocks. Sometimes, medical emergencies or falling asleep at the wheel are to blame.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
When a driver hits and then leaves the scene, this is called a hit-and-run. It’s against the law, but people still do it. It could be because the driver is scared or doesn’t have insurance.
These kinds of accidents can happen on the road or in a parking lot. It can be hard for victims to find the person who hurt them. Hit-and-runs should be reported to the police immediately.
