The Seven Types of Car Accidents

The type of car accident you are involved in can affect the tactics used to gather evidence as investigators work to piece together the event’s details. In turn, it will also affect the insurance claims process of your accident injury case. With some types of accidents, proving who is at-fault is more straightforward than other types of accidents. 

For example, a head-on collision where the driver crossed over into your lane is much easier to prove than a sideswipe accident where it will take more time to investigate each driver and witnesses’ claims. Knowing the seven types of accidents gives you invaluable knowledge for defensive driving tactics and helps you better understand the processes your case will go through.

1. Head-On Collision

Head-on collisions happen when two vehicles are traveling in opposite directions, and one veers out of their lane, crossing into opposing traffic. Head-on collisions are much more common on rural roads due to the narrow streets and lack of barriers between opposing traffic lanes. The best defensive driving technique to try to avoid a head-on collision is to make an evasive maneuver, such as gently swerving to the left or right, if possible. 

2. T-Bone 

The term ‘T-Bone’ is used when a vehicle collides straight into the driver’s side of another car. The resulting crash leaves the two cars in the shape of “T.” The most common reason for T-Bone collisions is running a red light or stop sign. This type of crash happens so quickly, there is usually no time to evade it, but you can be cautious when approaching intersections and see if there is traffic coming that is not slowing down.

3. Vehicle Rollover

A vehicle rollover happens when a vehicle loses control and rolls onto the side or roof. Depending on the speed at the time of the rollover, the vehicle may roll several times. The most common vehicles involved in rollovers are SUVs, trucks, and vans. However, smaller sedans have also been known to rollover due to soft soil or high-impact T-bone collisions. This type of accident happens very quickly. There is no way to stop the vehicle once it has started to roll, but always wearing a seatbelt can help dramatically reduce the chances of serious injury in this type of accident.

4. Sideswipe

A sideswipe impact is usually the result of two vehicles driving parallel to each other at similar rates of speed. Blindspots are the leading cause of sideswipes as drivers try to merge lanes without recognizing there is a vehicle right next to them. This type of collision is also the most common accident involving motorcycles since motorcycles are much smaller than cars and easier to miss in blindspots. The best defensive driving technique to avoid sideswipes is always to monitor both your and the other driver’s blind spots and to slow down to get out of their blindspot.

5. Side-Impact

Similar to ‘T-Bone,’ a side-impact collision happens when one vehicle broadsides another vehicle. The most common place for this type of accident is at intersections, and it often occurs when a driver fails to stop for a red light or stop sign. A side-impact crash usually happens so quickly, and it is difficult to evade. But, you can help avoid a side-impact collision by slowing down a little when approaching an intersection and looking both ways to make sure all traffic is stopped.

6. Single-Car Accident

A single-car accident involves only one vehicle and can be caused by many things, such as weather conditions, road conditions, or swerving to avoid an obstacle. Only one car is involved, and the collision usually happens with fixed objects like telephone poles, guardrails, trees, or buildings. To help avoid this type of accident, slow down as you approach curves and corners to give yourself a better reaction time.

7. Multiple-Car Accident

Multiple-car accidents involve numerous vehicles (also known as a pile-up) and are most often caused by bad weather and road conditions. A chain reaction usually occurs after a single event, such as one or two vehicles colliding, and the subsequent drivers don’t have enough time to avoid crashing into those vehicles. The best defensive driving action to avoid being involved in a pile-up is to maintain a good distance between yourself and the vehicles in front of you. 

Darrigo and Diaz Accident Attorneys 

The most important thing to understand after an accident is to know your rights as an injured victim of someone else’s negligence. At Darrigo and Diaz, our Tampa injury attorneys are dedicated to providing you with the information you need to make informed decisions and give you greater peace of mind after an accident. Our Tampa car accident lawyers encourage you to reach out to us online or call (813) 734-7397 immediately for a free, no-obligation, confidential phone consultation.