Even if you’re a cautious driver who tries not to put a foot wrong, accidents can still happen. Sometimes, they can be caused by you and at other times by other road users.
Whether it’s a slip, trip or fall accident, you need to be prepared in case of any eventuality and seek legal assistance if required. Firstly, you should know what types of accidents are the most common so you can take appropriate measures to guard against them. Secondly, you should also understand how to manage the situation if you’re involved in an accident.
That being said, if you’re wondering how to get useful information on car crashes, keep reading this article. It covers all you need to know about the most prevalent types of car accidents and how to handle them.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on or front end collisions occur when cars moving in opposite directions crash into each other headfirst. The results of such crashes are usually devastating and sometimes fatal.
These front end crashes can result from varying factors, including drunk or distracted drivers losing control of their vehicles, tired drivers falling asleep at the wheel, and even bad weather. As you can see, some of these causative factors are avoidable if motorists show more discipline while driving.
To prevent these crashes, make sure that you don’t drive when your consciousness is compromised.
Rear-End Accidents
Like front-end collisions, rear-end crashes are also prevalent. They’re reportedly the most pervasive type of crashes occurring on roads in the United States.
These collisions result from one car crashing into another from behind. Unlike head-on collisions, rear-end crashes are usually less catastrophic or fatal. They often occur in heavy traffic where vehicles are tightly packed. Sometimes, they occur when a moving car stops abruptly, and the cars behind it don’t have sufficient time to slow down.
These crashes can be prevented if drivers pay more attention to the road, obey traffic rules, and leave sufficient space between their cars and the vehicles in front.
Side-Impact Collisions
These crashes are often referred to as T-bone collisions in some quarters. They involve situations where a car crashes into the side of another vehicle with its front or rear-end, thereby forming a T-shape (hence the T-bone tag).
These crashes often leave vehicles in terrible conditions and could even be life-threatening, depending on the speed of the cars that hit each other. T-bone collisions often occur at intersections. They can be prevented through careful driving, showing obedience to stop signs, and other traffic rules.
Vehicle Roll-Overs
Vehicle roll-overs usually involve one car, but sometimes, they can result in collisions between multiple vehicles. They often occur when a car moving at high speed attempts a sharp turn, causing the vehicle to flip on its side or its head.
The severity of such crashes can be hugely influenced by factors like the use or non-use of seatbelts, and the presence of oncoming vehicles.
You can prevent vehicle rollovers by driving at a reasonable speed and approaching bends carefully.
Multi-Vehicle Crashes
They are also referred to as pileups and often involve three vehicles or more. Due to the chaos that erupts from multiple vehicles coming together, you often see different types of crashes in a multi-vehicle accident. The results are usually far-reaching since the cars could be hit multiple times.
You can avoid getting involved in one by not over-speeding or entertaining distractions at the wheel.
How To Handle Common Vehicular Accidents
No one wants to be involved in a crash, but if you do get in one, here are some steps you can take to manage the situation:
- Keep your cool. It might be difficult, especially if you’re not at fault, but ranting might just make matters worse, so stay calm.
- Check to see if you or the passengers in your vehicle are injured. If anyone has sustained injuries, call for help immediately, and try not to move yourself or anyone with serious injuries.
- Even if no one is seriously injured, the damage done to your vehicle might require you to still call for help.
- Take note of the details of the accident and whether there are any eye-witnesses. Take pictures and collect evidence if you can.
- Exchange information with the other driver(s).
- Call your insurer and initiate the process of claiming your insurance
- Depending on the circumstances surrounding the accident, you might also need to notify your lawyer.
Takeaway: Stay Safe
Vehicular accidents are common but simple measures can often prevent them. Such measures include obedience to traffic rules, respect for other road users, and driving within the stipulated speed limit.
It’s true that even with these precautionary measures, you can still be a victim of road accidents. In such situations, follow the steps discussed in this article, and seek medical and legal services as needed.
