Did you know that more than 6 million car accidents take place in the U.S. every year? This results in more than 3 million people suffering personal injuries, with about 2 million of these people sustaining injuries that are considered to be permanent.
If you spend your fair share of time out on the road each day, you should be aware of the most common road accidents. It might help you avoid getting into these types of accidents on a regular basis.
You should also know how to file a claim for any injuries you might sustain in a car accident. It’ll help you recover quicker if you’re ever involved in an auto accident.
We’ve put together a road accident guide that breaks down five of the most common road accidents. It also touches on how you should go about filing a claim for any personal injuries you suffer during a car accident.
Take a look at this guide below.
1. Head-On Accidents
Of all the different common road accidents, head-on accidents tend to be the worst of the bunch. They can cause the most serious personal injuries in most cases and can even lead to deaths in some instances.
Head-on accidents can occur for any number of reasons. In some cases, a driver will swerve to avoid something in the road and drive right into oncoming traffic. In others, a driver will get distracted by something in their own car and inadvertently drift into another lane and get into an accident with a car that’s coming right at them.
Whatever the case, head-on accidents can be catastrophic and should be avoided at all costs. They can do a ton of damage to vehicles and endanger the lives of those involved in them.
2. Rear-End Accidents
While head-on accidents can be some of the worst kinds of road accidents, rear-end ones are often the ones that take place the most. These accidents involve one car running right into the back of a vehicle in front of them.
Rear-end accidents occur for many reasons. They sometimes happen because a driver hasn’t left enough room in between their car and a car in front of them, which can make it impossible for them to avoid running into this car if it makes a sudden stop. They also sometimes happen because a driver isn’t paying close enough attention to the road and isn’t able to brake fast enough when a car in front of them stops.
Most rear-end accidents won’t result in any major personal injuries. But they can lead to people suffering from nagging injuries like whiplash that can stick around for a long time.
3. T-Bone Accidents
Every year, there are more than 100,000 people injured in car accidents that involve drivers going through red lights at intersections. Oftentimes, these people will get into what are commonly called T-bone accidents.
T-bone accidents occur when one driver slams their car into the side of another driver’s car. These kinds of accidents usually take place at intersections, though they can also happen when one driver is trying to make a turn out of a parking lot.
Some T-bone accidents can be especially bad and can lead to deaths. Almost 1,000 people die each year in accidents involving people speeding through red lights.
4. Rollover Accidents
As their name would suggest, rollover accidents are car accidents that lead to one or more vehicles rolling over and landing on either their sides or tops. They can be some of the most devastating car accidents in many cases.
Some rollover accidents will occur when one car hits another with enough force to turn it onto its side. Others occur when a driver takes a sharp turn while driving too fast and rolls their own car over.
In both of these cases, there will be a ton of damage done to a car that’s flipped over, and it’ll also put the driver of that car at risk. They may sustain a multitude of injuries that range from concussions to broken bones.
5. Single-Car Accidents
When you picture common road accidents in your head, you more than likely imagine one car hitting another car. But it’s worth noting that there are also many single-car accidents that take place.
During a single-car accident, a driver might take their eyes off the road for a split second and end up running into a guardrail or another object. They might also fall asleep at the wheel and wind up driving head-on into a tree on the side of the road.
Single-car accidents can be every bit as dangerous as accidents involving more than one car. You should try to steer clear of getting into one by maintaining your focus on the road at all times and watching how fast you’re driving.
Filing a Personal Injury Claim After a Car Accident
If you’re ever injured in a car accident and you believe that someone else was to blame for this accident, you should explore the idea of filing a personal injury claim. You can do this by:
- Contacting the best personal injury lawyer in your area to handle your case
- Providing a personal injury lawyer with all the details related to your case
- Allowing a personal injury lawyer to try to work out a settlement with the drivers involved in your accident and/or their auto insurance companies
- Taking your case to court with the help of your personal injury lawyer if you aren’t able to iron out a settlement
You will be able to use any compensation you’re able to get from a personal injury claim to pay medical bills, get your car fixed, cover lost wages, etc.
Call Us If You’re Ever in Any of These Common Road Accidents
If you’re ever involved in one of the common road accidents that we just talked about, Heard Merman Accident & Injury Trial Lawyers can help you recover. We can file a personal injury case on your behalf and assist you as you work your way through the legal process.
Contact us today for all your personal injury needs.