Millions of car accidents occur throughout the United States every year. Thankfully, many of these accidents are considered minor, although even crashes in slow-moving traffic can result in injuries.
A driver or passenger who has suffered an injury in a car accident may be entitled to financial compensation when they can prove negligence. You stand the best chance of both getting compensation in general, and the maximum possible compensation, when you retain the services of an experienced car accident attorney lawyer.
Here are the four most common types of car accidents on U.S. roadways.
Head-on Crashes
A head-on car accident is the most dangerous type of car crash for both drivers involved. A tremendous amount of force is unleashed in the crash. There is a reason why head-on crashes have the highest fatality rate of any kind of accident. Roughly two percent of car accidents are head-on crashes, but ten percent of crash fatalities are the result of these traffic incidents. Even drivers who survive the crash will likely suffer serious injuries.
Head-on crashes occur when one driver is not where they should be in traffic. One common cause of head-on crashes is when a driver is drunk. They may not see and perceive traffic signs to know they are in the proper lane. Distracted driving can also cause these accidents because the motorist can drift out of their lane into oncoming traffic, or they may also not see a traffic sign.
Sideswipe Accidents
Sideswipe accidents often happen due to careless or distracted driving. A motorist may not fully check their blind spots before changing lanes or making a turn. The driver already established in a traffic lane has the right of way, so the driver who moved out of their lane will be the one who is presumed to be at fault for the accident.
However, you should always have a skilled car accident attorney review what happened to confirm liability.
Intersection Accidents
When there is a stop sign or red light, drivers must follow the signs and signals. Additionally, when turning at an intersection, one driver must often yield the right of way to another.
Unfortunately, whether it is due to reckless or distracted driving, one driver may fail to yield. The front of one car may strike the broad side of another, causing an accident that can severely injure both drivers. Both drivers might accuse the other of doing something wrong and causing the crash, and liability might be unclear.
Intersection car accidents can be challenging because each driver may tell a different version of the story. These so-called truth contests are common following this type of collision. You may need extensive evidence or the help of an accident reconstruction expert to break the deadlock and prove the liability of the other driver.
Your lawyer can obtain any available video footage from intersection cameras, which can often clear up the matter.
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Rear-end Car Accidents
Rear-end car accidents are the most common types of car crashes. Drivers are often careless and do not see a car slowing or stopped in front of them in time to prevent an accident. They may follow too closely behind the car in front of them, and the tailgating can cause a crash. The driver could be texting, or looking down at their phone, and they may not apply the brakes.
Rear-end car accidents have a lower fatality rate, but they can still cause serious injuries. Whiplash is the most common injury associated with a rear-end car accident. Paradoxically, whiplash injuries can be the most severe when the accident occurs at a lower speed. Drivers and their passengers might sustain traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and permanent conditions in their neck and back. These accidents can result in a settlement check that is much larger than you otherwise might have expected.
You Must Prove Negligence to Win a Car Accident Case
A car accident lawyer can investigate the accident and assemble this evidence for the strongest possible case. You likely do not have the time, energy, or other resources to do this task on your own in the wake of a serious car crash.
Even when you can prove liability in your case, it is not necessarily a win for you. The win comes when you get a settlement check that accurately reflects and compensates you for your injuries. The insurance company rarely willingly gives you enough compensation voluntarily, and you must often fight for it. You stand the best chance of winning this fight with help from an experienced personal injury lawyer.
Call a Car Accident Lawyer Immediately
Since liability for the accident can hang in the balance in the days afterward, you need to contact a personal injury attorney immediately after you learn you have injuries. The other driver’s insurance company may look to protect themselves from liability at your expense, and you need someone to stand up for your legal rights.
A car accident lawyer can communicate with the insurance company on your behalf, and they can push back when there is any attempt to shortchange you. Along the way, the car accident attorney charges you nothing out of pocket for their time and services. The only time you ever need to pay a car accident lawyer is out of the proceeds of any settlement or financial award you receive for your injuries. Otherwise, you owe nothing for the legal representation.