4 Serious Types of Auto Accidents and How to Avoid Them

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, approximately 30,000 people die in auto accidents every year. While this number has been declining in recent years, it is still far too high. In addition, many more people are injured or experience costly damage to their vehicles. While there is no possibility of preventing all accidents from happening, understanding some of the most common causes can help in taking steps to avoid them.

There are four main types of auto accidents: rear-end collisions, sideswipes, head-on collisions, and T-bones. 

Rear-end accidents

The most common type of vehicle accident is a rear-end collision. These accidents account for about 24% or one in four car crashes. According to a study by AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, there were more than 1.5 million rear-end crashes in 2016 alone. Rear-end collisions are usually caused by following too closely, distracted driving, driver error, and poor lighting conditions. The damages can be significant depending on the speed of impact and the size of the vehicles involved.

How to avoid

• Drive slowly on a clogged traffic
• Focus on the vehicle in front of you if you’re driving too close to it
• Do not speed through a heavy traffic 
• Avoid assuming that the car in front of you will drive as soon as the traffic light turns green

Sideswipe

Sideswipe car accidents happen when a driver of one vehicle moves into the lane on the side of another vehicle and collides with it. This typically occurs when the driver moves too quickly to the other lane.

There is a common belief that side-swipe car accidents are less serious than other types of accidents. But when we take into consideration the number of deaths and injuries from these crashes, it is clear that they can be just as dangerous as any other type of crash.

How to avoid

• Stay on your lane as much as possible
• Check for all the blind spots before changing lanes
• Avoid rushing when changing lanes
• Make sure to turn your signal on when changing lanes
• Drive safely on an icy or wet road to avoid slipping

Head-on crashes 

The most common type of car accident is a head-on collision. This is a collision between two vehicles going in opposite directions and hitting each other straight forward. In this type of car accident, the passenger compartment of both cars is impacted by the other vehicle. The force of this impact can cause serious injury or even death for occupants of either car, especially if the impact is too strong. 

Head-on collisions most commonly result from speeding. The speed of the vehicle makes it too difficult for the driver to maneuver when another vehicle is approaching. 

How to avoid:

• Do not go over the speed limit
• Avoid driving when under the influence
• Avoid driving when you’re too sleepy or when you take medications that cause lightheadedness
• Drive slowly if there is low visibility

T-bone accident 

A T-bone car accident is a type of car crash that happens when one vehicle collides with the side of another. This collision usually occurs at an angle, which means there are two points of impact. It’s also called a broadside collision because it’s as if you crashed into someone from the front and their side simultaneously. The most common cause for this type of crash is driver distraction or being inattentive to what’s happening on the road ahead. These accidents can be devastating, especially if they involve injuries to passengers who may have been thrown around inside the vehicle during the crash.

How to avoid:

• Look at all angles when crossing an intersection
• Drive slowly at intersections
• Honk before crossing a junction or intersection to warn other vehicles
• Look at all the blind spots when driving

Driving is one of the most dangerous things that we tend to overlook most of the time. Car accidents can be fatal and should be avoided at all costs. Safety is very important when driving, so make sure to pay attention, avoid distractions, wear your seatbelt, stay within the speed limit, don’t drink alcohol or use drugs before you drive – these are just some basic tips for staying safe while behind the wheel and avoiding any major auto accident.

If you have experienced auto accidents recently, we can help with recovery and rehabilitation. Contact us at N8 Family Chiropractic so we can begin the assessment.

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References:

https://www.travelers.com/

https://www.geico.com/

https://www.nolo.com/

https://www.scmitchell.com/