In the aftermath of a car accident, victims or their loved ones should consult with a car accident lawyer to help them make informed decisions and, more importantly, to make sure that they receive the compensation they deserve.
Whether a high-speed impact accident or a fender bender, severe or minor injuries can have lasting and even tragic consequences. Some car accidents are more dangerous than others: head-on collisions, rollovers, and T-bones—being the most serious. Though all can result in severe injury and irreparable damage to the vehicles involved, each accident has its own set of distinct characteristics. Let’s take a closer look:
3 Dangerous Types of Vehicle Accidents
Head-on Car Accidents
Head-on collisions are a unique type of car accident because it’s limited in scope to only two vehicles; each has to be traveling at each other from the opposite direction at the point of contact. This type of crash is undoubtedly or at least has the potential to be, the most dangerous type of car accident. For example, a car traveling 65 mph will have the force of 130 mph on impact.
Perhaps the only “good” news about head-on collisions is that they occur infrequently. They involve only 2% of car accidents. Even so, they account for over 10% of fatalities on the road and can result in catastrophic injuries. The force of impact is usually immense, leading to permanent or severe injuries such as spinal or head injuries, assorted broken bones, and sometimes even paralysis.
Rollover Car Accident
The second dangerous type of car accident is the car flip or rollover. Between the weight and speed, a sudden shift of gravity can force the vehicle to roll on its side or roof. With enough force, cars can spin on the pavement or even flip over several times. These crashes can be severe, as they are violent by definition, causing severe injuries or fatalities due to the concussive force to the vehicle’s occupants.
In most cases, —85% according to NHTSA statistics—rollover crashes involve only a single vehicle. Single vehicle accidents result from the combination of environmental conditions, vehicle type, speed, and driver’s actions. A tire blowing out at 70 mph or a sharp turn on an icy road can result in a rollover accident.
Certain types of vehicles are more prone than others to rollover accidents, as well. Tall or narrower vehicles are more susceptible to rollover accidents due to their higher center of gravity. Think SUVs, pickup trucks, and passenger and cargo vans.
T-Bone Accidents
The third most dangerous type of car accident is called a T-bone accident. As the name suggests, a T-bone accident is a broadside collision: when one vehicle strikes another vehicle’s side resulting in a “T-like” collision between cars. The majority of these accidents occur due to one driver failing to legally stop or yield to the vehicle with the right of way.
Examples of T-bone collisions vary. A driver may rush a left turn at an intersection, thinking that they have enough time to execute the turn or racing through a yellow traffic light before it turns red. Other times, drivers may run a red light or fail to stop at a stop sign and crash into another car. A driver may have a directional on to turn right at an intersection or in a parking lot but continue forward and strike the side of a vehicle pulled out in anticipation of the turn.
Because of the nature of T-bone accidents, it’s straightforward to determine fault in these kinds of collisions. Negligence is either caused by a poor decision, like trying to beat an oncoming car through an intersection or driving with turn signals on. In large part, though, it’s merely a distraction. Distraction’s role in T-bone accidents is significant, a prime example being texting or looking up directions on a smartphone, or even changing the radio station. Lack of sleep or general fatigue also contributes to broadside collisions, such as eating and drinking while driving.
When You Need a Car Accident Lawyer
Staying alert, anticipating the other driver, being aware, and limiting risks is the safest bet in preventing car accidents. Nevertheless, car accidents do happen, and if you or a loved one has been involved in one, consider a free consultation with a car accident attorney at the law firm of Hardy, Wolf & Downing. Approaching four decades of service to Mainers, Hardy, Wolf & Downing continues to offer the best legal assistance for their clients to ensure they receive the just compensation they deserve for their injuries.