Common Types of Car Accidents
Posted on 17. Feb, 2010 by Admin in Uncategorized
Road accidents can be classified in several ways, from the type of vehicle involved to the severity of the crash. For most purposes, however, accidents are classified according to cause and mechanism. This gives rise to literally dozens of car accident types. Most of them fall under five main types: head-on collisions, run-off-road collisions, rear-end collisions, side collisions, and rollovers.
Head-on collisions
A head-on collision occurs when two vehicles hit each other at the front ends. The vehicles involved are usually traveling at high speeds, and as the collision doubles the force of the crash, head-on collisions are often fatal. However, they are also among the least common on U.S. roads: in 2005, they accounted for a mere 2% of all road accidents but caused over 10% of resulting deaths.
Run-off-road collisions
A run-off-road collision involves a single vehicle that deviates from the road and either rolls over or hits a fixed object. These collisions often result from drivers misjudging curves, losing control of the wheel, or swerving to avoid another collision. Striking a solid object, such as a pole or a tree, increases the severity of the crash. In 2005, run-off-road collisions accounted for 31% of fatal crashes and 16% of all road accidents.
Rear-end collisions
In a rear-end collision, one vehicle hits another from the back. This often occurs when the vehicle in front suddenly slows down (usually to give way to pedestrians) and leaves little or no time for the other vehicle to brake. While not as fatal as the previous two, rear-end collisions commonly cause whiplash, a neck injury caused by sudden acceleration-deceleration without any external force.
Side collisions
Side collisions occur when one or more vehicles are hit by another from the side. They usually happen wherever vehicles move in different directions, such as intersections and parking lots. A sub-type, called a broadside or T-bone collision, occurs when the front or rear of one vehicle hits the side of another. In this case, injuries tend to be more severe, although it largely depends on the speed of the vehicles involved.
Rollovers
Relatively uncommon but often severe, rollovers occur when a vehicle turns over sideways or upside down. This often happens when a vehicle is hit by another or turns sharply while moving at high speed. Rollovers often result in severe head injuries to the passengers and are among the most fatal of crashes.
This article is not intended as legal advice.
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