Accidents happen – this we know. Among the kinds of accidents that happen daily, car accidents are one of the most common.
No matter how careful you are behind the wheel, there’s always a chance that you’ll get into an accident. In most cases, these accidents aren’t caused by anything you did, but rather by other drivers and circumstances beyond your control.
Fortunately, most car accidents do not result in serious injury. However, there are certain types of car accidents that are more likely to occur than others, as well as different levels of seriousness. It’s important to know what they are so that you can take precautions to reduce your risk of getting into one.
From minor fender benders, to totaling a car, we’ll outline which five car-related accidents are most prevalent among drivers.
- Rear-End Collision
Rear-enders are by far one of the most common types of car accident, and occur countless times a day in North America alone.
There are many different reasons that a car can rear-end another vehicle, including distraction, inattentiveness, and other factors such as poor visibility. Rear-end collisions are very common, especially on highways where there is heavy traffic.
If a person gets into a rear-end collision, whether they are the victim or responsible for the accident, they may want to call the police and a car accident lawyer. This will make sure that everyone involved in the accident gets taken care of appropriately.
- Hit-and-Run
Hit-and-runs, also known as “abandoned vehicle incidents,” are a major public safety issue. These occur when someone drives away from an accident scene before the police or other responders arrive.
There are many ways to deal with a hit-and-run situation. You can report it to the police, take pictures of the damage, file a report, or hire a car accident lawyer.
If you observe a hit-and-run situation taking place, try to get as close to the accident site as possible without getting into danger yourself. You could also try using your phone’s video camera to record what you’re seeing, which may help later.
- T-Bone Collision
Another common type of car accident is a T-bone collision. This is especially true when vehicles are traveling at high speeds. In these situations, the front of a car hits the side of another car, causing severe damage to both vehicles.
To avoid this type of collision, it’s important to adjust your speed and look out for other cars that might be on the road. Whenever possible, use a turn signal when you need to change lanes or make a turn. You should also check your blind spots before changing lanes. Another thing you can do is avoid tailgating, and never pass another car on a curve or hill.
- Accidents Involving Pedestrians
Car accidents are a leading cause of death for all age groups, but pedestrians are particularly vulnerable. Many pedestrian deaths are a result of distracted or impaired drivers who fail to see their victims.
To minimize the risks of getting into a car accident, it’s important to be always aware of your surroundings. Make sure that you’re paying attention to everything around you by looking both ways before crossing streets or making turns and keep your eyes on the road when you’re driving so you can avoid obstacles and other potential hazards.
- Rollover
Rolling your car is one of the most common, but also one of the most serious types of accidents that occur. Rolling your car may result in a bigger accident with those around you, or only involve yourself yet have serious repercussions. Regardless of this, there are a few ways to avoid rolling your car, and some best practices if you do.
Common scenarios that involve rolling a car are impaired or distracted drivers, speeding, or aggressive driving. It also depends on the make and model of a car, since some vehicle types are more prone to rolling than others.
As it is among one of the most damaging types of car accidents, rollovers can commonly involve broken bones, spinal injuries, or even death. It is important to involve the police, and car accident lawyers in any rollover scenario, so that the circumstance can be expertly dealt with.
While there are plenty of other types of car accidents, these are the 5 most common scenarios for car accidents. Whether you are the observer, the driver responsible, or the victim, it is almost always wise to involve authorities and car accident lawyers, so that the situation can be handled quickly and appropriately.