Each year, millions of people die in car accidents. Every accident involves different circumstances, but there are some common types of accidents. Learn more about the common accident types in West Palm Beach and what you should do if you are a victim of an accident.
1. T-BONE ACCIDENTS
A T-bone accident is aptly named for the “T” shape of the vehicles at the time of impact. When this type of collision occurs, the front of one vehicle hits the side of another.
Most commonly, these accidents happen at intersections. The cars are traveling in two different directions and are perpendicular to one another. In many cases, this accident occurs when one vehicle goes through a red light. It also occurs when someone turns left into oncoming traffic or drives through a stop sign.
The injuries associated with T-bones are usually serious. This is particularly true when it occurs at high speeds. The faster the speed, the harder the impact.
T-bone accidents aren’t always preventable; another driver could be to blame. Typically, these accidents are caused by reckless or negligent driving. For example, they can be caused by distracted drivers. One driver might not look at the road and notice a traffic light turn red.
2. REAR-END ACCIDENTS
If someone hits your vehicle from behind, you are a rear-end accident victim. Like many other types of accidents, this type is usually a result of negligence. Often, it happens when someone isn’t watching the road or is following you too closely. Sometimes, it’s a combination of the two.
In any case, rear-end accidents can do some damage. Although they usually don’t involve fatalities, they can involve serious injuries. For instance, neck pain is a common complaint among victims of rear-end accidents. The pain could leave a victim out of work for weeks.
These accidents are frequent in high-traffic areas with a lot of dead stops. If a driver isn’t vigilant, they might not notice your vehicle stopping.
3. SIDESWIPE ACCIDENTS
If you’re on a busy two-lane road, you might have another car driving adjacent to you. The actions of the other vehicle’s driver directly impact you. With one wrong move, the other driver could move into your lane and hit you.
This type of accident is a sideswipe. Usually, it occurs when one driver changes lanes without looking. However, it can also happen when a driver drifts into the lane next to them. If the driver is not focused on the road or is driving drunk, they will find it difficult to stay in their lane.
Unfortunately, sideswipe accidents tend to involve significant injuries. When automakers design cars for safety, they focus on the front and back. Bumpers limit the damage of a head-on or rear-end collision. But there are no bumpers on the side of your car.
There’s another reason sideswipe accidents are so dangerous. In most situations, the accident involves another vehicle or object. This amplifies the damage and could cause long-term health effects.
4. HEAD-ON COLLISIONS
One of the most dangerous types of collisions is the head-on collision. As you might expect, this occurs when one vehicle hits another head-on. This can happen when one vehicle drifts into an adjacent lane of oncoming traffic.
Sometimes, head-on collisions are caused by drunk driving. When people are drunk, they have impaired vision. They are less likely to stay in their lane, and more likely to hit oncoming traffic.
Although cars have protection on their front ends, they can’t handle the impact of high-speed, head-on collisions. When these accidents occur on highways and other roads with high-speed limits, the stakes are high. Neck injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and other physical harm can occur.
HELP FROM A CAR ACCIDENT LAWYER IN WEST PALM BEACH
In 2017, there were 15 fatal accidents in West Palm Beach. There were hundreds of non-fatal accidents. If you were a victim of an accident, you could seek help from a car accident lawyer in West Palm Beach.
Many of the common accident types are caused by negligence. Here at 1800-Injured, we believe that the victims of accidents deserve justice. We are an attorney and medical referral service who can help you locate a personal injury attorney in West Palm Beach. With a lawyer’s help, you may be able to get compensation for your injuries, missed wages, and more.