CAR, TRUCK, AND MOTORCYCLE CRASHES Chris Stolmeier
Different Types Of Car Accidents
There are many different types of car accidents that are only limited by the direction of the vehicles when they collide. Almost all car accidents are avoidable and fault can be attributed to the negligence of a driver. These are some of the most common types of car accidents.
Rear End Collisions
Rear end collisions are among the most common types of car accidents. Rear end collisions account for roughly 29% of all car accidents in the United States. Rear end collisions occur because drivers speed, tailgate, are intoxicated, drowsy, or distracted. A common way rear end collisions occur is when a car is at a stop sign or a traffic light and a negligent driver collides with the stationary car.
Side Impact Collisions
Side Impacts are some of the most deadly types of car accidents. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), side impact collisions account for 23% of all car accident deaths in 2018. Side impact collisions are so deadly because the car accident victim is closer to the site of impact than other collisions sites, such as a rear end collision or head on collision. Additionally, a car does not have as many safety features to protect against a side impact collision as it does for a rear end or head on collision. A rear end or head on collision will get the most effective use out of a seat belt as the victim’s forward momentum will be stopped. A rear end or head on collision will also get the most effective use out of the front facing airbag because the victim will make contact with this airbag and have his momentum slowed. Additionally, rear end and head on collisions may be safer because the front and back of cars are designed to crumple, extending the period of time of a collision. The longer a collision takes the less severe it will be. However, seat belts, front facing air bags, and vehicle crumple zones have limited effectiveness in a side impact collision. Thus making side impact collisions very deadly.
Side Swipes
A side swipe occurs when the offending driver swipes against the side of a car. Generally, a side swipe will only cause property damage, rather than serious or any injury to a victim.
Roll Overs
A roll over occurs when a vehicle loses stability and begins to roll over on its side. Roll overs typically occur because a driver is speeding and loses control of the vehicle. The most common types of cars that roll over are cars with high centers of gravity like tractor trailers, or even vans and SUVs.
However, a vehicle can also roll over as a result of a collision. Collision related roll overs can result when a high speed side impact collision occurs on a vehicle with a high center of gravity. Roll overs can be very deadly as the momentum of the car will toss a driver or passenger around.
The most common types of roll over injuries include:
- Head and neck injures
- Chest injuries
- Abdomen injuries
- Arm injures
- Leg injuries
Head On Collisions
Head on collisions occur when one car collides head on with another car. A vehicle’s safety features such as airbags, a seatbelt, and the vehicle’s crumple zone can only decrease the severity of the collision so much. As a result, head on collisions can be very deadly because they often are caused by drivers who drive the opposite way into head on traffic.
Contact Stolmeier Law
Stolmeier law is a family owned and operated law firm. Stolmeier Law has over 35 years of experience serving car accident and other personal injury victims in San Antonio and South Texas. We have the knowledge and experience to take on the high priced defense lawyers, and have the record to prove it. We will stand shoulder to shoulder with you during your personal injury claim to get you the most compensation possible. So if you or a loved one has suffered life changing injuries in a car accident, contact Stolmeier Law. Let this family fight for you.