TYPES OF CAR ACCIDENTS

Car Accident Types That Lead to Personal Injury Claims

All car accidents are unique in some way, but most of them can be placed in a certain category based on the angle of impact and the cause of the accident. In the following sections, we list and define the most common types of car accidents.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions occur when the front of one car strikes the back of another car. Because many rear-end accidents happen because of negligence or inattention from the rear driver, they are usually held liable. However, the front driver can also be held responsible. For example, if they try to brake check the driver behind them, this could cause a crash.

T-Bone Accidents

A T-bone accident occurs when the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle. These are also known as side impact accidents. T-bone accidents are especially dangerous for those who are on the same side of the car that was struck. This is because there is significantly less protection on the sides of vehicles compared to the front and back.

Distracted driving is a major culprit of side impact accidents. For example, let’s say that someone is texting and driving as they approach an intersection. If they are not paying attention, they may run a red light and collide with the side of another vehicle. These types of car accidents are among the most dangerous.

Sideswipe Accidents

Sideswipe accidents occur when two vehicles traveling parallel to each other in the same direction, and one of the vehicles swipes against the side of the other vehicle. Many of these accidents happen as a result of inattentive driving, or from the at-fault driver failing to check their blind spots.

Head-On Collisions

A head-on collision occurs when the front ends of two vehicles collide. Although they are less common than other accident types, they are among the most dangerous. The force of impact is greatly increased in head-on collisions, as the force from both moving vehicles combines. Head-on collisions are also more likely to result in injuries or wrongful death than other accident types.

Driver inattention, speeding, and fatigued driving are some of the most common causes of head-on vehicle crashes. However, they can also happen as a result of a drunk driver swerving into oncoming traffic.

Multi-Car Collisions

When three or more vehicles collide, the resulting injuries can be catastrophic. Crashes involving multiple vehicles also involve more people and more insurance companies to deal with. Because multi-vehicle accidents often occur from a chain reaction, determining fault can be very difficult. We strongly recommend working with an attorney if you are involved in a crash with multiple vehicles.

Single Vehicle Accidents

Single vehicle crashes involve only one car – the driver’s. They can happen due to inattention or fatigue, but did you know that they can also occur due to negligence from another party? Maybe someone left debris in the road, or some sort of obstacle forced the vehicle off the road. In other cases, the road itself could be to blame. Poor planning and construction of roads can increase the chances of an accident, especially if those in charge fail to maintain them.

Rollover Accidents

A rollover accident occurs when a car flips after losing balance or colliding with other vehicles. The force exerted on occupants of vehicles when they flip is extraordinary, and these crashes often result in catastrophic injuries. Many different circumstances can cause these types of accidents, including fatigued driving, distracted driving, driving under the influence, or from accidentally veering onto the shoulder.

Blind Spot Accidents

Before a driver changes lanes, they are supposed to check their blind spots. Failing to do so is one way that negligent drivers end up causing accidents, especially on busy highways. Smaller vehicles and motorcycles are at an increased risk of blind spot accidents, as they are more difficult to see.

Merging Accidents

When one vehicle collides with another while merging, this is considered a merging accident. Some of the common types of car accidents we mentioned above can also be classified as merging accidents, depending on the location. For example, a rear-end collision or a side-impact collision could occur as one car attempts to merge or change lanes.

Low Speed Accidents

Car accidents can still happen at low speeds, and they can still cause injuries. Even if slow-moving vehicles don’t do much damage to another vehicle, they can greatly injure a cyclist or a pedestrian. Drivers can even suffer from whiplash after a low speed accident.

Common Car Accident Injuries

Depending on the severity of the accident itself, accident victims could potentially suffer from a wide array of injuries. Even though certain accidents tend to be more dangerous than others, you can still suffer serious injuries from any type of car accident. Below, we list some common injuries sustained in auto accidents.

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Spinal cord injuries
• Minor injuries, such as cuts and bruises
• Broken bones
• Burn injuries
• Crushing injuries
• Accidental amputations
• Whiplash
• Neck injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Soft tissue injuries
• Facial injuries

Many more injuries are possible in a car accident, and so is wrongful death. Motor vehicle fatalities can be devastating for families. That’s why we also handle wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of the loved ones of deceased accident victims. When you work with one of our attorneys, we will fight for the following types of compensation.

• Lost wages
• Medical expenses
• Property damage
• Loss of earning capacity
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Funeral and burial expenses
• Loss of consortium

Contact a Houston Car Accident Lawyer Today

At Reich & Binstock, we understand that someone else’s reckless driving has the potential to impact your life in significant ways. When other drivers are responsible for the injuries you suffered in a car accident, you have the right to seek compensation. Let the Houston personal injury attorneys at Reich & Binstock help you. Schedule a free consultation with us by calling 713-622-7271 or by filling out our online intake form.