In the United States, car accidents are the leading cause of death between people ages 1 through 54.
If you want to avoid getting into a vehicle collision, you should know what types of car crashes to look out for.
Thankfully, we have you covered! Keep reading to find out what car accidents to be aware of.
Side Impact
A side-impact accident will happen when one car crashes into the side of another vehicle.
They’re dangerous because there isn’t as much space in between the two cars to shield the passenger and absorb some of the impacts of the crash. Whereas if you had a front collision, you’d at least have protection from the airbag.
One example of a side-impact collision is a T-bone. This happens when another vehicle perpendicularly hits the side of the other vehicle. Generally, these happen when a car runs a stoplight or stop sign, crashing into the driver who had the green light or right of way.
To avoid these, always make sure you check every possible direction before heading into the middle of the intersection. While you might want to accelerate as soon as the light turns green, wait a few seconds to make sure there is no one running a red light that could hit you.
Single Vehicle
These can happen when people slip on ice, spin out of control, run off the road, look at their phone or hit some other stationary object. This could also be something as small as breaking too hard or trying to overcorrect a mistake.
Because of the different types of causes of these accidents, it can be difficult to avoid them. However, you should make sure that you are always driving the speed limit, check the weather before you leave, and keep an eye out for any hazards that could be on the road.
And make sure that you silence your cell phone while you drive so that you aren’t tempted to look at it and become distracted
Multi-Vehicle
Multi-vehicle crashes happen when there are three or more cars involved. These normally happen on highways and freeways when people are going so fast that they don’t have time to stop.
These can be extremely dangerous because your car could be hit from multiple angles, which raises the likelihood that you’d be injured. They’re also harder for the vehicle to absorb, even if it has the newest, safe technology.
These can also be difficult to avoid because you may just be caught in a bad situation when other cars go off course. But, you can always make sure that you’re alert when you’re on a busy highway.
Rear End
Rear-end accidents happen when people behind you aren’t paying attention or follow you too closely. If you stop suddenly, they may not have enough time to slam on their breaks.
This will often happen in heavy, start/stop traffic. But it could also happen on a highway where you suddenly get to a point where a lot of cars are stopped.
Depending on the speed, these car accidents usually aren’t fatal, but they could leave you with some whiplash. To prevent them, make sure that you try and leave enough space between the car in front of you and the car behind you.
If someone is tailgating you, try and change lanes so that you get out of their way and reduce the chance of an accident. Try to resist the urge to be petty and break check them, because this will get you in trouble.
Head-On
Most head-on accidents do end up being fatal, mostly because they occur at high speeds.
These collisions normally involve another driver, usually when they are driving the wrong way. You should also make sure that you are paying attention to where you are and that you aren’t driving distractedly.
A lot of these crashes also don’t involve other cars. But they can be from hitting a tree, animal, or a road sign as well. These accidents normally happen when people drive while drunk, so make sure that you are always sober and alert before you get behind the wheel.
Low Speed
Low-speed accidents normally happen in places like parking lots or neighborhoods. They happen at low speeds, under 10 mph.
However, just because the speed is lower, doesn’t mean that they can’t still do damage. While injuries are rare, they could still leave damage to your car. This includes things like bumps, paint scraped off, or even problems with fender benders.
These often happen when people are backing up out of a parking spot. To avoid them, make sure that you always check your surroundings before you pull out of a spot.
When you’re driving through the parking lot, make note of all of the cars that are backing up and just assume that they don’t see you.
If you aren’t sure what to do after a car accident and think you need a car accident lawyer, click here to continue reading!
Discover More of the Different Types of Car Crashes
These are only a few of the different types of car crashes, but there are many more to be aware of!
We know that driving and dealing with car accidents can be stressful and overwhelming, but you don’t have to go through it alone. We’re here to help!
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