Car Accidents Are More Common Than You think
Did you know that there are over six million people are victims of car accidents each year? This may come as a shock, but a car provides little protection to its passengers when it comes to a collision or accident. As car crashes are a major cause of death in the United States, knowing more about vehicular road accidents is essential to avoid one.
Accidents can happen anywhere, be it near your home or on the highway, or even while taking a casual stroll. Studies show that most accidents take place in a 25-mile radius around a person’s home.
Causes of Car Accidents
Common causes of accidents include fatigue, distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, not wearing seat belts, rain, fog, reckless driving, breaking traffic rules, etc.
Did you know that there are over six million people in car accidents each year?
Most Common Types of Car Accidents
Some of the major types of accidents are as follows:
1. Head-on collisions
Head-on car crashes are the deadliest. This mostly happens because of reduced visibility; usually caused by rain, snow, or fog which increases the chances of colliding head-on with an unsuspecting animal, tree, person, another vehicle, or an obstacle.
The extent of damage also depends on the speed of the colliding vehicles. While higher speed often results in a stronger impact, a head-on collision at a lower speed can also be catastrophic.
A head-on collision can result in internal bleeding, disfiguring facial injuries, traumatic brain injuries, dislocation, concussions, and severe lacerations. Head-on crashes are the number one cause of fatalities in road accidents.
2. Rear-end collisions
Rear-end car crashes are one of the most common types of vehicle accidents. It is the responsibility of the person driving the car to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of them. That being said, it is difficult to judge any sudden change of speed of a vehicle in front of us, so prudent calculation is a must.
Any error in judgment may result in a vehicle collision. Tailgating often results in rear-end collision as one is following the vehicle in front too closely to be prepared for any sudden breaks.
Rear-end collision can result in broken ribs, neck injuries, or traumatic brain injuries.
3. Multi-vehicle collisions
Multi-vehicle car crashes include multiple cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc., where more than two vehicles are are involved in the accident. It usually happens on high capacity and high-speed routes like freeways. The most disastrous pileup in the United States on record involved 216 vehicles.
Getting medical help can be challenging in such collisions because multiple victims need attention at the same time. There’s also the danger of the fire spreading quickly because of spilled gasoline.
It can also be more damaging as the impact can come from various places and angles. This type of collision can lead to quadriplegia, broken bones, and even amputation at times.
4. Side-impact collisions
Side-impact car crashes take place when the side of one or more vehicles is impacted. Common sites of this kind of collision include intersections and parking lots. The individuals on the side are affected more than the people in the center or on the opposite side.
Side-impact collisions are also known as T-bone accidents. About 25% of the collisions fall under this category.
Side impact can cause whiplash as the neck moves forcefully after the impact.
Conclusion
As per the CDC, 1.35 million people are killed each year in accidents around the globe. The people who survive have a difficult time getting back to normal life. A split-second error can leave a person paralyzed for life. If you need any legal help, find a lawyer that knows the ins and outs of car crash laws as they can vary substantially by state. The right lawyer can be not only a tremendous legal source but also a therapeutic guide to help you deal with this traumatic experience.
