Types of Car Accidents in New London
Accidents can happen anytime, anywhere. They can happen when you are sitting at a stoplight, waiting for the light to turn or when you’re driving down the freeway on your way to work. In 2017 there were 278 traffic fatalities in Connecticut. While this is a drop from the year prior, hundreds of car accident injuries occur on Connecticut roads every day. The type of accident you are in will often determine the type and severity of your injuries. Here’s a look at some of the most common injuries on the road.
T-Bone Accidents
T-bone accidents, also known as broadside or side-impact accidents, most often happen at intersections. They are frequently caused by a driver running a stop sign or stoplight. T-bone accidents happen when the front of one car collides with the side of another car, forming the shape of a T. This type of accident is especially dangerous for the driver of the car hit on the side, especially if the collision occurs on the side where there is a vehicle occupant.
Compared to the front or rear of a vehicle, the side of a car or truck is relatively unprotected in a collision. While new advances in vehicle safety have added side airbags and greater side stability to new cars, the barrier between the driver and the other car is still only the width of a door. Because of this, t-bone accidents cause some of the most catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries.
Rear-End Accidents
Rear-end accidents happen all the time. According to the
National Traffic Safety Board, approximately 50 percent of all accidents between 2012 and 2014 were rear-end accidents. Thankfully, many times these accidents only involve minor injuries. A rear-end accident occurs when one driver hits the rear-end of the car in front of him. One of the top causes of rear-end accidents is driver inattention. When a driver becomes distracted, she may not see the vehicle in front of her come to a stop.
Whiplash is one of the most common injuries after a rear-end accident. Whiplash occurs when the head quickly slams back and then forward, putting strain on the neck and back muscles. Whiplash can be very painful. In serious cases, the force of the collision may cause herniated or bulging discs.
Head-On Accidents
Head-on collisions are some of the most dangerous types of accidents. According to the
Insurance Information Institute, there were 3,511 traffic fatalities in 2016 caused by head-on collisions, accounting for over 10 percent of all
traffic fatalities. As the name implies, a head-on collision occurs when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide head-on, or front to front. The energy expelled in these types of accidents makes them very dangerous.
A head-on accident can occur when a driver drives the wrong way on a street or an interstate or when one driver swerves into oncoming traffic to avoid a hazard. Alcohol use is often a contributing cause of these accidents as well. Common injuries after head-on accidents include traumatic brain injuries, broken bones (particularly to the face and chest), and neck and back injuries.
Single Car Accidents
Single car accidents only involve one car. They do not involve a collision with a moving car, but they may include a collision with a stationary object including a parked car, an animal, or a highway median. While these accidents only involve one car, they can be just as serious as any other type of accident.
The type of compensation a driver may recover in a single-car accident typically depends on the
cause of the accident. If the actions of another driver led to the accident, even if there was no collision, that other driver may have legal liability for injuries the accident caused. For example, if another driver drives into your lane and you swerve and end up hitting a tree, the other driver may face legal liability to you. If the accident was caused by an animal or an act of nature, such as a fallen tree, your comprehensive insurance may come into play, but it is unlikely (though not impossible) that someone else will have liability to you for damages.
Multi-Car Accidents
Multi-car accidents involve more than two vehicles. They often happen when the force of an initial accident propels one or both of the vehicles into the path of other vehicles. Alternatively, after an accident, nearby drivers may be unable to see the accident or unable to stop in time. Multi-car accidents often involve serious injuries, especially when high speed is involved. For drivers pinned between more than one car, the results can be catastrophic.
Sideswipe Accidents
A sideswipe accident happens when the side of one vehicle contacts the side of another vehicle at a very low angle. These accidents most often happen when drivers attempt to change lanes without first clearing their blind spots, or when they merge onto a highway without yielding to traffic in the travel lane. These accidents may also occur when a driver drifts into the adjacent lane, which can happen when drivers are distracted or drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Many times, these accidents lead to follow-on accidents involving one or both of the side-swiped vehicles, or other vehicles trying to avoid them.
Hit and Run Accidents
Hit and run accidents happen when one driver fails to remain at the scene after an accident.
Connecticut law requires any driver involved in a motor vehicle accident to stay at the scene and render assistance. A driver who fails to do so can be charged with evading responsibility and can face between one and ten years in jail if the accident results in a serious injury or death.
If you are involved in a hit and run accident, the police will investigate the accident to try to find the at-fault party. If the police cannot find the responsible driver, your uninsured motorist insurance can help cover your expenses.
Every accident victim deserves aggressive legal representation to compensate them for the pain a car accident can cause. Injuries from an accident can interfere with your life and make it difficult to participate in day-to-day activities. If you or a loved one were
injured in a recent car accident, contact a car accident attorney to learn more about how you can recover compensation.