Top 5 Most Common Types Of Car Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents continue to be among the most common causes of debilitating and life-threatening injuries across Alabama. However, some occur more frequently than others. Here are the most common car crash types:
1. Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions is a type of car collision, most frequently happen when the rear driver collides with the vehicle in front of them from behind.
Generally, these occur during times of high traffic volume, at red traffic lights, or at stop signs. Although rear-end collisions typically happen at low speeds, they may occur at faster speeds on highways and other roads with higher-than-average speed limits.
However, other common causes of rear-end collisions include distracted driving and driving while fatigued. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 29% of all accidents are rear-end collisions.
2. Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions, is one of the most common types of car accidents, most commonly occur when two motor vehicles are traveling in opposite directions and collide head-on. Head-on collisions are some of the most frequently seen motor vehicle accidents. In many head-on collisions, victims will later succumb to fatal injuries.
Although head-on collisions occur in several ways, some common causes include motorists driving on the wrong side of the road or highway, distracted driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and drowsy driving.
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), approximately 10.2% of all motor vehicle accidents are caused by head-on collisions.
3. T-bone Accidents
T-bone accidents typically happen at intersections where one motorist fails to adhere to the right of way and other traffic laws.
The liable motorist will drive through the intersection without regard to traffic signals and collide with a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. These accidents are so named because they form the letter “T” when colliding.
The III states that T-bone accidents account for 10.5% of all motor vehicle crashes. T-bone accidents are almost always caused by driver negligence, such as distracted driving.
However, if the intersection was missing a traffic light or sign or these traffic devices were defective, other individuals or entities could share liability, such as government agencies, executives, and other third parties.
4. Single Car Accidents with Fixed Objects
According to the III, single car accidents involving fixed objects account for approximately 5.6% of all U.S. car accidents. Generally, fixed object collisions are caused by impaired, distracted, drowsy, or aggressive driving.
The negligent driver may swerve into opposing or oncoming traffic and subsequently crash into a fixed object, such as:
- Guard rails
- Curbs
- Ditches
- Polls
- Bridges
- Trees or other shrubbery
- Embankments
- Posts
5. Sideswipe Accidents
According to the III, sideswipe accidents account for approximately 2.7% of all car accidents. They occur when one motorist crashes into the side of another vehicle.
Driver negligence, including making unsafe lane changes, failure to use a turn signal, failure to stop, and speeding are some of the most common causes of sideswipe accidents.
Contact the Alabama Car Accident Attorneys at Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers. Call us at (205) 206-5088
Contact an experienced car accident lawyer at Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today. We serve Shelby County, Madison County, Montgomery County in Alabama, and its surrounding areas.
We are located in Birmingham, Huntsville & Montgomery.
Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers – Birmingham Office
880 Montclair Road, Ste 300,
Birmingham, AL 35213
(205) 206-5088
Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers – Huntsville Office
116 Jefferson St. Suite 209
Hunstville, AL, 35801
(256) 666-4660
Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers – Montgomery Office
7 Clayton St, Suite 200,
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 513-2110