Find A Lawyer Legal Articles Attorney Login

Types of Car Accidents

Types of Car Accidents

Any car accident can cause significant injuries, but the way an accident happens can affect both the injuries caused and the legal implications that follow.

Rear-End Accidents

Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car crashes: the front of one vehicle strikes the rear of another. These accidents are common at stop signs, intersections, crosswalks and numerous other locations.

Liability typically isn’t disputed in a rear-end case, as there is a very strong presumption that the driver in the rear vehicle is at fault.  (Exceptions may apply if the driver in the front vehicle stopped short or reversed.) However, the extent of the injuries and thus the amount of damages (financial compensation) awarded is often disputed, especially if the crash happened at a low speed.

T-bone/Broadside Accidents

Also known as side-impact crashes, these collisions involve the front of one vehicle striking the side of another. A broadside accident can cause severe injuries because the side of a vehicle does not provide as much protection as the front or rear.

T-bone accidents usually happen at intersections, which means fault for the accident is often disputed. Witnesses may disagree about which vehicle had the right of way or whether a traffic light was red or green at the time of the crash. Camera footage, if available, may help reveal what happened, and accident reconstruction experts may be retained to determine the sequence of events.

Head-On Collisions

While fortunately rare, head-on crashes can cause severe injuries when they occur because of the amount of force involved. When two vehicles traveling at highway speeds collide head-on, the occupants are hit with the combined force of both vehicles.

Liability is often disputed in head-on crashes because witnesses may disagree about which car was going the wrong way. Accident reconstruction can shed light on what may have happened. In addition, attorneys and investigators may look for evidence that shows a driver was intoxicated, distracted, or asleep at the wheel.

No-Contact Accidents

Not all accidents involve a physical collision between vehicles. If one car changes lanes without looking, pulls into traffic suddenly or otherwise creates a hazard, another vehicle may be forced off the road, which can cause severe injuries.

No-contact accidents can be tough to prove, especially if the driver that caused the accident flees the scene (a “phantom vehicle”). In those circumstances, the injured person may need to make an uninsured motorist claim, since a driver who cannot be found is considered uninsured by default.

Know your legal rights after a car crash

While every type of accident has different implications, the common thread across all of them is the potential for legal complications. Remember, most car accident attorneys offer a free consultation, so it’s in your interest to talk to a lawyer in your area about your accident and your potential legal options.

Attorneys

Premium
About

Coby L. Wooten, Attorney at Law, P.C. is a personal injury law firm dedicated to fighting for the rights of personal injury victims in Fort Worth, Dallas, and throughout the state...

Premium
About

The Whaley Law Firm was founded in 2004 to help injury victims in Louisville and throughout Kentucky get the compensation they deserve for accidents, truck accidents, motorcycle w...

Premium
About

Since 1974, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has proudly represented more than 25,000 Mainers in personal injury claims including car, truck, motorcycle, pedestrian, and bicycle a...