Car accidents are among the leading causes of death in the United States. The probability of roadside crashes increases with the growing population and a greater number of vehicles on the road. On average, 90 people die in car crashes every day, and even more incur fatal injuries. The county police investigate serious traffic incidents and the report is available to all stakeholders. The evidence collected by the police and people involved in the accident is used to determine fault. In most states, neither party can demand compensation from the other if both are equally liable. The driver who bears a greater burden of fault is required to make up for the other’s damages.
If you were hurt in a car crash due to another driver’s negligence, you may have the right to claim monetary reimbursement for your personal injuries. Car accident injuries can have long-term physical and psychological impacts, which deprive the victim of living a normal life. If you were hurt in a hit and run accident or the other driver’s insurer refuses to compensate for your loss, you should hire a car accident attorney to fight your case. Accidents involving rideshare cars and rentals tend to be complex due to the presence of multiple stakeholders. Below are descriptions of different kinds of auto accidents and the injuries they might cause to victims:
Rear-end Collision
Rear-end collisions are the most frequently occurring roadside accident. They are a common sight on metropolitan highways and busy city streets. Rear-end hits largely owe to tailgating, which occurs during heavy traffic flow. Traffic jams during rush hours compel drivers to drive dangerously close to the vehicle ahead. A sudden deceleration or halting the vehicle can come as a surprise to the driver behind; he/she may fail to apply the brakes in time and stop if it looms closer than a distance that equals the length of an average-sized car.
The impact of the rear-end collision depends upon the speed of both cars. If the vehicles are literally crawling like snails on a crowded street, the extent of damage is minimized. If the car behind was going over the speed limit and the front driver pauses abruptly, one should expect a powerful blow. Florida Personal Injury Attorney reveals that rear-end collisions are often associated with whiplash injuries caused by a violent jerk to the head and neck. This injury mainly affects the neck, shoulders, and upper back, which may hurt for weeks. The pain may spread to the limbs, making you feel weak, numb, and tingly. If symptoms include muscle spasms, dizziness, and headaches, you may require intensive medical care.
Head-on Collision
Head-on collisions are less common but more devastating than most other types of car crashes. These accidents occur when two vehicles moving in opposite directions hit head to head. The greater the speed of both cars, the stronger is the impact. Head-on collisions normally occur on narrow two-way streets during dark hours. They can be the result of low visibility, speeding, and reckless driving altogether. The majority of head-on collisions result in head injuries due to smashing with the front windshield. The driver may also break or fracture their ribs by forceful contact of the chest with the inflated airbag. Serious head injuries may cause brain damage or sudden death due to excessive bleeding.
Single Car Collision
Single car accidents involve the collision of an automobile with a stationary object (tree, wall, pole, parked vehicle, etc.), pedestrian, animal, or innocent bystanders. In most cases, the driver swerves the car in order to sidestep an obstacle in the way but ends up hitting something or someone else instead. Single car collisions may be related to fatigued/drunk drivers and adverse road or weather conditions. Injuries from single-car collisions vary greatly, depending on what the vehicle drives into and from what angle.
Claiming compensation in a single-car accident is tricky, as there is no other driver directly involved. You may have driven off-road to avoid collision with another speeding car, yet it could be impossible to hold them liable. Many single-car accidents lead to rolled-over cars, especially if they skid off-road or lose balance on a slippery highway. Bulky cars like SUVs having a low center of gravity are more prone to tipping over.
Side Impact & Sideswipe
Side impact and sideswipe collisions are rarely known to cause fatal auto accidents, yet have the potential to produce severe injuries and considerable property damage. Side impacts are commonly referred to as T-bone collisions as they comprise the front or back of one vehicle bumping into the side of another. The vehicle impacted from the side is always the one that incurs greater damage. As there are no airbags to protect the passenger or driver from the side, they might suffer a deadly impact. Head, neck, shoulder, and wrist injuries are commonplace in this situation.
Sideswipes occur when two cars scrape against each other’s sides while driving parallel to each other, without maintaining sufficient distance. Cars weaving through traffic also frequently sideswipe. These types of collisions cause damage to a vehicle, but seldom hurt any person inside the vehicle.