Anyone who has been involved in a car accident knows the challenges of working with insurance carriers, police, and physicians while trying to recover from their injuries, which can be a result of any type of car accident, such as a fender-bender, a T-bone, or a head-on collision. This is why it is so important to work with an experienced and compassionate car accident lawyer who can help you navigate the legal process and determine fault.
The most common types of car and motor vehicle accidents are rear-end collisions, T-bone crashes, getting sideswiped, head-on crashes, and single-vehicle incidents. According to the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), the critical or most common cause of car accidents have been identified as human error, vehicle problems, and environmental issues. Their report states, “The critical reason is the immediate reason for the critical pre-crash event and is often the last failure in the causal chain of events leading up to the crash.”
Descriptions of Most Common Types of Car Crashes:
- Rear end collisions, also known as fender-benders, happen when one car crashes into the back of another. These accidents are often the result of tailgating, brake-checking, and sudden changes in speed.
- A T-bone crash happens when one car is perpendicular to the other in an accident. These accidents often result from vehicles running a red light or turning into the path of another car.
- Sideswipe accidents occur when two vehicles are driving next to one another in the same direction and the sides of the two vehicles come into contact while moving. These most often happen when one of the two drivers is changing lanes or merging onto another road without first looking to make sure there is no car already in the other lane or without thoroughly checking their blind spots.
- Head-on collisions happen when two vehicles are going opposite directions and hit each other front end to front end with another vehicle. These accidents are extremely scary and happen most often at intersections, if a vehicle crosses the center line of a two-lane road, or when a driver goes the wrong way down a one-way street.
- Single-vehicle accidents are exactly what they sound like: a car accident involving one car and driver and no other vehicles. However, it is not always the driver’s fault in these cases, as some reasons a driver may have crashed includes swerving to avoid an accident with another vehicle, vehicle malfunction, swerving to avoid debris in the road or an animal, or a sudden tight turn in the road which was not signaled.
All of these types of car accidents can cause serious injuries, and it is incredibly important to document the scene of the crash and your injuries, get immediate medical attention, file a police report, and contact an experienced NYC car accident attorney to help you.
Common Injuries from Car Accidents:
- Neck pain and whiplash
- Fractures and broken bones
- Back and spinal cord injuries
- Chest and abdominal injuries
- Concussions and other head injuries
- Bruises, contusions, lacerations, and more
- Psychological repercussions, such as post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), insomnia, nightmares, anxiety, depression, and more.
The critical reason for each car crash is generally described as human/operator error, vehicle-based, or environmental. Unfortunately, human error or behavior is the leading critical reason for motor vehicle accidents, accounting for 94% of the crashes studied in the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey, which covered critical reasons behind 2,189,000 car accidents.
Driver-related critical reasons have broad classifications and include recognition errors, decision errors, performance errors, and non-performance errors.
- Recognition Error include driver’s inattention, internal and external distractions, and inadequate surveillance.
- Decision Error covers such things as driving too fast for conditions, too fast for the curve, false assumption of others’ actions, illegal maneuver and misjudgment of gap or others’ speed. This also covers intoxicated drivers.
- Performance Error is noted as overcompensation, poor directional control, etc.
- Sleep was the most common critical reason among Non-Performance Errors.
Vehicle problems which cause accidents are generally things which can be easily visible, like bad tires, brakes, steering column, etc., and also includes manufacture errors or defective parts in a vehicle. This means steering issues, suspension, and transmission-related problems which are not easily visible can also be a critical reason for a crash. Poor maintenance by the vehicle’s owner can be a huge factor in car accidents in New York City.
Environmental issues can include visibility problems, roadway and atmospheric conditions, glare, view obstructions, and general weather issues like fog or snow.
Many times, it is a combination of factors which cause the accident. For example, if a driver is speeding and the roadway is wet and slick, there is more likely to be an accident.
The best thing you can do as a driver is to maintain control over yourself and your actions, keep your vehicle maintained, and be as safe as possible when behind the wheel. You cannot control environmental errors, but you can take every precaution to keep yourself safe.
Ways to Stay Safe:
- Always wear your seatbelt
- Never, ever drive while intoxicated
- Pay close attention to signs and signals on the roadway
- Stay at the speed limit
- Do not follow too closely behind the driver in front of you (tailgating)
- Keep your vehicle properly maintained, including checking your tire pressure, getting your oil changed regularly, and in New York, getting your vehicle inspected on time.
- Pay attention to the weather conditions. Drive slower if the roads are wet, or if it is snowing or raining.
- Never assume other drivers are as safe as you are. Maintain vigilance and watch what the drivers around you do to make sure you are aware of them and anything they might do.
- Do not suddenly slow down when getting on a highway or merging, or at any time when all traffic is going faster than you. This is dangerous.
If you or anyone you know has been injured or even killed in a motor vehicle accident, even if they were not in the vehicle, get medical attention and then call The Ashley Law Firm. We will fight for your rights and for compensation for all of your lost wages, medical expenses, physical therapy, pain and suffering, and more. At The Ashley Law Firm, you are our most important client.
