These Are The Most Common Kinds Of Car Accidents

According to numbers from the Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., the number of car accidents rose between the years of 2013-2015. In 2013, there were 19,456 collisions. By 2015, that number had risen to 24,265, representing a 24% increase in accidents. Though the number of fatalities dropped, the number of injuries rose from 5,358 to 6,215, representing nearly a 16% increase.

Matthew Landau, the founding partner for the Landau Law Group, is familiar with car accidents and the kinds of injuries they can cause. “The severity often depends on the type of crash. Some crashes occur more often than others as well.”

Rear-End Collisions

These are the most common type of car accidents. They occur when the vehicle in front may have to stop suddenly or slows down unexpectedly. They can also occur when the driver behind the first vehicle fails to notice that a traffic light has changed or is distracted. The speed at which the accident occurs can determine the severity of the injuries. Injuries can happen to both the lead vehicle and the following vehicle.

T-Bone Crashes

These crashes most commonly occur at intersections between two cars that are traveling in different directions. Most often, one person has run a traffic light or failed to stop at a traffic sign. Depending on the speeds involved and where the impact occurs, T-bone crashes can end in severe injury and fatality.

Head-On Collisions

Front-end, or head-on, collisions are often one of the deadliest kinds of collisions. They occur when one vehicle strikes the front of another vehicle. They can also involve a vehicle striking a building, tree, or another object. Because of the speeds involved, head-on collisions result in the most fatalities, despite being one of the most uncommon types of accidents.

Lane-Changing Collisions

These types of collisions occur when a vehicle veers out of their lane and strikes another vehicle. They can also happen when one driver overestimates the space available, moves over into the other lane, and hits a vehicle. Many of these accidents generally occur on highways and freeways at high speeds, increasing the amount of damage and severity of injuries.

Low-Speed Contact Collisions

These accidents, often called fender benders, typically take place in areas such as parking lots where drivers must negotiate cars, pedestrians, shopping carts, and other hazards. Although they usually occur at speeds of less than 10 MPH, they can cause property damage and injury.

Single-Vehicle Accidents

While rear-end collisions may be the most common type of car accident, single-vehicle accidents are the most common kind of high-speed accidents. These accidents can occur when a person takes a curve too fast or loses control of their car due to high speeds. These are another of the most dangerous types of crashes due to the speed.

These are the six most common kinds of car accidents. Being vigilant and paying attention to your surroundings is key to staying safe when driving.