Every day, car accidents occur in a variety of ways, and you may not pay much attention to them until you’re in one. Even though these accidents happen differently, there are more common kinds of scenarios that unfold on the road.
Understanding common crashes may help you avoid becoming a victim. In the event that you’ve recently been hurt in an auto accident, this insight may help you in recovering the financial losses that a negligent driver caused you to incur.
What Are the Most Common Car Accident Types?
Take a look at these common types of accidents:
Low-Speed Collisions
You may frequently pass by the aftermath of a low-speed collision and continue on your way. This common accident type is one that is less likely to cause serious injuries and more likely to lead to serious inconveniences. Low-speed crashes usually occur in residential areas and parking lots, generally when a driver is backing up or distracted by something else.
Rear-End Accidents
Rear-end collisions are sometimes at low speeds, but many times, they are not. These types of accidents occur when the driver in the rear follows too closely or fails to pay attention. Depending on how fast they were going at the time they crashed into your car, you may be subjected to serious injuries. It’s almost always the fault of the tailgating driver in these accident scenarios.
Head-On Crashes
Head-on crashes are among the most deadly types of accidents, and those who survive them are often left with life-altering injuries. These accidents happen when another driver crosses the center line or goes the wrong way on a road.
T-Bone Accidents
They’re called “T-bone” accidents because of the shape the vehicles make on impact. Also known as a side-impact crash, they generally occur at intersections. When another driver runs a red light or stop sign, or makes a left turn without paying attention to the right of way, a T-bone accident is the unfortunate result.
Side Swipe Accidents
Side swipe crashes happen when drivers merge without properly checking their blind spots. You can do your part to avoid these types of accidents by either speeding up or slowing down to allow merging traffic into the flow of the lane.
What Are the Common Causes for Common Types of Car Accidents?
After an auto accident, determining the cause is important for assigning fault. In Tennessee, the at-fault driver will be held responsible for the injuries and other damages a victim sustains. These are the most common reasons why these types of common car crashes occur.
Distracted Driving
With technology at our fingertips, it’s little wonder why drivers are more distracted than they’ve ever been on the road. While it’s easy to point the finger at texting and using devices behind the wheel, there are other things that cause visual, manual, and cognitive distractions. Eating, applying makeup, shaving, talking to passengers, looking up directions on GPS, reaching for something in the backseat, or simply zoning out on one’s thoughts are all the kinds of distractions that lead to serious accidents.
Impaired Driving
While law enforcement agencies have tried to raise awareness for drunk and drugged driving, it’s still happening at alarming rates. Even though rideshare services are readily available to provide a sober ride home, negligent and careless drivers will get in the driver’s seat after having one too many. Since alcohol and drugs can cause a person to make risky decisions and slow their reaction times, accidents that involve an impaired driver usually have catastrophic outcomes.
Reckless Driving
Some drivers speed with reckless abandon while others tailgate or weave in and out of traffic. These aggressive behaviors put everyone at risk, and more often than not, cause major collisions.
Failure to Obey Traffic Laws
Every driver has an obligation to other drivers on the road to drive safely and abide by the rules of the road. When drivers run red lights, blow through stop signs, and fail to yield the right of way, innocent victims are the ones who pay the price.
Improper Turns
Drivers that don’t take the right precautions when making turns can cause crashes. Some drivers pull out to make a right turn without making sure the way is clear while an alarming number of others make left turns into oncoming traffic.
Drowsy Driving
Fatigued driving is just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated since it results in slower reaction times. Drivers may also fall asleep on long road trips or after working long hours. A drowsy driver can cause a horrific crash by not being prepared to make split-second decisions, or by making decisions that they normally wouldn’t have if they’d just gotten enough rest.
Road Hazards
Sometimes, it’s not how a person drives but what they are faced with on the roads. When construction zones aren’t properly maintained or there is a lack of signage, it can lead to confusion. In some cases, the lines on the road may have shifted the traffic patterns from one day to the next. In other cases, there may be debris from the road work in the middle of traffic lanes.
Foul Weather
All drivers should know how to navigate the roads in any kind of weather. Since the weather can change at a moment’s notice, drivers need to be prepared for these changes. While the weather can’t be controlled, driving behaviors must be adjusted accordingly to fit the current conditions. The posted speed limit may be 50 mph but during heavy rains, drivers may need to go much slower than that limit to drive safely, otherwise they could be liable for a crash.
What to Do After You Have a Car Accident of Any Kind
If you’ve been in a car accident, don’t make the mistake of thinking you can handle your injury claim on your own. Tennessee’s comparative fault laws may mean that you will be assigned partial blame, which can reduce your compensation.
When another driver has not driven with the proper duty of care and left you injured, you should discuss what happened with a lawyer to find out your legal options.
