Car accidents happen every day and can happen to anyone in pretty much any situation. A driver only takes a few seconds to cause an accident, but the consequences can be lifelong. Knowing the different classifications of car accidents can help you understand how to prevent them and what to do in the event of such a car accident. It can also affect the process of your personal injury claim.
If you or someone you love has been involved in a car accident, talk to a Philadelphia car accident attorney today and get the legal help you deserve.
What causes car accidents?
There can be several causes for a car accident, many of which can be a factor at play in a single car accident.
- Driving while distracted
Driving a vehicle while distracted in any way can easily cause accidents.
- Texting and driving
Using your phone while driving is something you should avoid as much as possible. If your attention is on anything besides the road and the vehicle you are operating, that can easily lead to a car accident.
- Driving while exhausted
The human body requires proper rest to function correctly, be alert, and have adequate reaction times. It is common for drivers to drive while running low on sleep, but this can be very dangerous.
- Driving under influence
Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is a common cause of car accidents. Drugs and alcohol decrease the proper intellectual functioning of the driver and can cause accidents.
- Overspeeding
When a car goes too fast, it does not have enough time to stop when it needs to. This is why drivers who speed often end up in car accidents.
- Reckless driving
When a driver is driving carelessly and putting others at risk, it is called reckless driving. This can include speeding, ignoring the traffic signals, tailgating, etc. reckless driving is a significant cause of car accidents.
What are the types of car accidents?
There can be many different types of car accidents. Every case is different, yet some types of accidents are more common.
- Head-on collisions: when a vehicle hits another head on
- Rear-end collisions: When a car hits the rear end of another vehicle
- Side impact collisions: when a car collides into another vehicle at a perpendicular angle, making a ‘T’ shape
- Sideswipe accidents: when two or more vehicles are driving parallel to one another, and they collide
- Single vehicle accidents: when the accident involves only a single vehicle
- Multi-vehicle accidents: when the accident involves two or more vehicles
- Rollover accidents: when the accident causes the car to flip over
- Blind spot accidents: accidents that occur when a driver fails to check their blind spot before changing lanes
Do not suffer in silence if you have been involved in a car accident. Talk to a lawyer today and protect your rights.
