More than 6 million car accidents occur every year in the United States. Some of the common causes include distracted driving, speeding, driving under the influence, and bad weather, all of which can result in injury or even death.
In fact, car crashes are responsible for nearly 3,700 deaths every day worldwide.
Interested in learning more? Want to familiarize yourself with the different types of car accidents? If so, you’re on the right page. We’ll be going over some of the most common scenarios below.
Keep reading to learn more!
1. Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions occur when a car crashes into the one in front of it. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it makes up 29% of all accidents.
Aside from tailgating, which is the most common cause, it can also be caused by driver fatigue, or texting and driving.
2. T-Bone Accidents
T-bone accidents occur when a vehicle smashes into the side of another vehicle, creating the shape of a “T”. They usually happen when a driver fails to stop at a stop sign or traffic light.
Also known as a broadside collision, they can cause severe injuries to an individual’s neck. This is especially true if the accident causes the car to roll.
3. Head-On Crashes
Head-on collisions are extremely dangerous, especially at high speeds. In fact, they’re often fatal. Even if you’re lucky enough to survive, you’ll probably have severe injuries.
While these types of accidents usually involve other vehicles, they can also involve trees, animals, or other fixed objects (this typically happens with wrong-way drivers).
4. Multi-Vehicle Collisions
Multi-vehicle collisions are accidents that involve many vehicles. They typically occur on high-speed routes such as highways and freeways.
Depending on how the cars crash, they can be even more dangerous than head-on collisions. Fire can also spread quickly from one part of the crash to another via spilled gasoline.
5. Side Swipe Collisions
Sideswipe collisions occur when the side of a vehicle collides into the side of another. They typically occur when two cars are driving next to each other in the same direction.
For example, they can happen when you’re merging or changing lanes.
What to Do If You’ve Been in an Auto Accident
Get to safety if you can (e.g. move to the side of the road). Call 911 and wait for help to arrive. In the meantime, exchange information with the other party (assuming that they’re also uninjured).
Next, document the accident. Take pictures, talk to witnesses, and write down names. Once you’ve done that, you can start the claims process.
You can then have your car fixed at a repair shop such as CSI Collision Specialist.
Understanding the Different Types of Car Accidents
And there you have it—five types of car accidents. As you can see, a number of things can happen when you’re out on the road. That’s why it’s so important to drive safely!
Looking for more car-related posts? If so, make sure to check out the rest of our blog!
