Most Common Types of Car Crashes

Car crashes in Virginia can take many different forms. Sometimes collisions occur at low speeds on two-way streets in downtown Richmond, while others happen at high speeds on highways such as I-64. In some cases, auto accidents result in only minor property damage, while in other circumstances, vehicle occupants or pedestrians can be seriously injured or killed in a crash. There are also many different ways in which vehicles collide, and types of motor vehicles involved in crashes. Yet are some types of accidents more common than others? Our Richmond injury attorneys can provide you with more information about the most common kinds of car crashes in Virginia based on data from the National Safety Council (NSC) and the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles.

Rear-End Collisions 

Rear-end collisions occur more frequently than any other type of crash on roads across the United States, as well as in Virginia specifically. A rear-end accident happens when a lead vehicle (a car in front of another one) is hit from behind by the trailing vehicle (a car traveling behind the lead vehicle). In some cases, rear-end collisions involve pileup, multi-vehicle accidents in which several cars or more are involved in a chain of rear-end collisions. At other times, only two cars will be involved.

Rear-end crashes often happen because the rear driver was driving negligently by following too closely, speeding, or engaging in distracted driving. However, other causes of rear-end accidents can exist, too, such as defective brakes.

Collisions Occurring At Angles 

There are many different kinds of crashes that occur at angles, most notably “T-bone” collisions that often happen at intersections due to running a stop sign or a red light. The driver who runs a stop sign or red light can be liable in these kinds of collisions. Angle crashes are the second most common type of crash but the deadliest. These types of accidents result in the highest number of road fatalities annually.

Sideswipe Accidents 

Sideswipe accidents are the third most common type of car crash. These collisions occur when one vehicle sideswipes another — not a perpendicular or “T-bone” collision, but a swipe in which both vehicles are traveling alongside one another in the same direction. These crashes often occur when a motorist attempts to change lanes without checking a blind spot properly.

Head-On Crashes 

Head-on crashes are the least common of the four most common types of crashes according to the NSC, but they are among the deadliest types of accident on American roadways. These types of crashes occur when one vehicle is traveling the wrong way down a road, in the opposite direction of oncoming traffic such that the vehicle strikes another car head-on. Head-on collisions frequently result from intoxicated driving and drowsy driving.

 Contact Our Richmond Car Accident Lawyers Today

Motor vehicle collisions in Virginia typically result from another driver’s negligence. While there are certainly other causes of traffic crashes, from roadway hazards to vehicle defects, accidents usually occur because another motorist behaved in a careless or reckless manner. If you were injured in any of the types of car crashes discussed above, or in another type of collision, it is important to seek more information about your options for filing a claim.

An experienced Richmond car accident attorney at Latham & Martin can assess your case for you and provide you with details about insurance claims and civil lawsuits in the aftermath of motor vehicle crashes. When you are ready to file a claim, we can represent you and help you to seek compensation for the losses you have experienced. Contact us today for more information.

Sources:

injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/overview/type-of-crash/

dmv.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/documents/crash_facts_22.pdf