What Are Common Types of Car Accidents?
Louisiana Car Accident Lawyers Here to Serve You
There were almost 170,000 auto accidents in 2015 in Louisiana, nearly a third of which resulted in injuries, according to the Highway Safety Research Group. But not all accidents are alike; each case is unique, with varying degrees of severity and resulting in different types of injuries.
For over a decade, Lee Hoffoss Injury Lawyers has been helping people with personal injury and wrongful death claims stemming from car accidents in Louisiana. Below, we share some of the most common types of car accidents we have come across and what you should do if you are injured in one. For more specific information or for help with a car accident claim in Louisiana, call Lee Hoffoss Injury Lawyers at 337-433-2053 for a free consult.
What are some common types of car accidents?
Rear-end collisions: Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of crashes, usually occurring because of tailgating or distracted driving.
This type of accident tends to result in injuries such as whiplash and chest and knee injuries. If the driver was traveling at a high rate of speed when s/he hit the other car, back seat passengers can also sustain knee injuries and crush injuries.
Rollovers: Vehicles with a high center of gravity, such as SUVs and pickup trucks, are more susceptible to rollovers than others. Hitting the shoulder, taking a turn too fast, or making a sharp maneuver are all factors that can contribute to a rollover.
Victims usually sustain serious if not fatal injuries. In fact, an estimated 33 percent of all traffic fatalities involve rollovers, killing about 10,000 people a year, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Side impact crashes: Side impact crashes, such as T-bone or broadside collisions, usually occur when a driver runs a red light or does not look carefully before entering a highway or making a turn.
Even at low speeds, side impact crashes can cause serious injuries. The passengers of the car being struck can sustain crush injuries, head and neck injuries from twisting and colliding with the side of the vehicle, and hip and leg injuries.
Head-on collisions: Head-on collisions can occur for various reasons, e.g., the driver fell asleep, driving under the influence, texting while driving, passing unsafely, and traveling too fast in a curve. Given the forceful nature of these types of accidents, fatalities, and catastrophic injuries are quite common.
Drunk driving accidents: Despite national campaigns to educate people on the dangers of drunk driving and harsh DUI penalties, accidents involving alcohol are still a public safety concern.
A whopping 121 million people self-report that they have driven while under the influence in the last year, reports the CDC. It is the perfect recipe for disaster. One person dies in an alcohol-related accident every 53 minutes (28 people per day) in the United States — an extremely sad statistic considering every DUI-related death is 100 percent preventable.
Distracted driving accidents: It takes a person’s full attention to drive safely. This means eyes on the road, mind on driving, and hands on the wheel at all times.
But drivers are subject to various distractions such as their cell phones, talking with passengers, looking at things on the roadside, or simply daydreaming. And all it takes is a second of inattention to cause a life-changing accident.
Defective car or roadway accidents: Some accidents are not the result of a driver error, but rather a defect with the car or with the roadway itself.
Defective tires, brakes, and airbags are common, as are defective roadway designs and poor roadway maintenance. Victims of these kinds of cases may have several options for compensation and should speak to an attorney about how to identify liability and maximize their settlement.
What do I do if I have been injured in a car accident?
If you were injured in a car accident, you have the right to pursue compensation from the at-fault party. After you have tended to your immediate medical needs, the first step you should take is to have a local car accident attorney briefly review your case. Most lawyers — like ours at Lee Hoffoss Injury Lawyers — will do this free of charge for you.
Your lawyer will offer advice for when you speak to the insurance company so that you do not do anything to jeopardize your case, as well as explain what your rights and responsibilities are during the claims process.
We can also help you collect the evidence you will need to support your claim, calculate the total value of your case, and advise you on any settlement offers you have received. If the settlement is too low, we will negotiate with the insurer or take it to court, if it refuses to offer you a fair settlement.
Call our office in Lake Charles today for a free consultation with a car accident lawyer and learn how we can help you get the compensation you deserve: 337-433-2053.