The Most Fatal Types of Car Accidents

By Clinton Courier | September 6, 2021 |

by: Jason M. Ferguson

Car accidents that result in death are more prevalent than you might believe. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 33,244 persons died in car accidents in 2019.

Ferguson Law Group Injury Lawyers has taken thousand of car accident cases and the following are Most Common Fatal Car Accident Types

This isn’t to argue that other types of car accidents aren’t dangerous. Any of the following high-impact accident scenarios listed below could result in injuries and fatalities for drivers and commercial vehicles alike if they occur at the wrong time and in the wrong place.

1. Distracted Driving

Distracted driving is a growing pandemic on American roadways, and it is arguably one of the most hazardous types of car accidents.

For you and others, a split second of your focus away from the road could mean the difference between life and death. Driver distraction is responsible for an average of 3,000 deaths and 40,000 injuries per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This collision is usually caused by common activities that divert the driver’s attention away from the road ahead of them:

Using a cellphone
Eating and drinking
Wearing hats or sunglasses so you can’t see what’s going on in front of you
Distractions from technology in other ways (such as adjusting the stereo)

You can easily recognize distracted drivers because they will halt at green lights or turn around without rotating the steering wheel to glance behind them.

2. T-Bone Accidents

T-bone collisions happen when one car collides with the side of another. The most typical cause is when a driver cuts in front of oncoming traffic, but it can also occur when a vehicle drifts onto the wrong side of an interstate or highway lane to pass slower-moving vehicles.

The severity of the car accident is determined by the speed of the car that collided with the other vehicle. Furthermore, if the car collides with the side of the passenger seat, the damage is increased.

Whiplash and concussion are the most common injuries connected with this car accident. Broken bones and spinal cord injuries are more serious injuries that impede blood flow in organs such the lungs, kidneys, intestines, and spleen.

Always follow the following guidelines to avoid a T-bone collision.

Always in the center of your lane to prevent being sideswiped by another car.
Before changing lanes or turning at a junction, always use your turn signals.
Maintain a safe gap between you and the automobile in front of you so that it may safely pass and do not accelerate if you are going slower than other vehicles. Faster cars will be able to pass on either side of you without colliding with your vehicle.
When approaching junctions or traveling around corners or curves with limited sight, slow down. This allows drivers approaching from an intersecting street to see you and respond if necessary.

3. Multi-Vehicle Pileups

Multi-vehicle pile ups are a deadly form of traffic collision for other vehicles in the same lane. What starts as a two-car collision could turn into a chain of catastrophic collisions involving multiple automobiles.

Multi-vehicle pile ups are mainly caused by two factors.

During rush hour, when traffic is heavy and drivers are irritable. As a result, they collide with other vehicles while attempting to overtake them, leaving other drivers stranded. f you and, if required, react.
When the weather is bad and people can’t see the road. As a result, the injuries sustained in these car accidents are far more serious.

Because they are slow-moving, cars delayed in traffic may pose a lesser risk of serious injury to passengers and victims. Cars travelling in the rain, on the other hand, are traveling at a moderate speed, increasing the risk of fatal injury.

To avoid a vehicular pileup when driving in these conditions, keep the following tips in mind:

When driving in inclement weather, take it slowly.
Always wear a seatbelt in case a vehicle hits you by accident.
Avoid tailgating or approaching the car in front of you too closely. That way, if they abruptly apply the brakes for any reason, you’ll have a higher probability of colliding with them.
Get a handle on your emotions. If you’re late for an appointment, driving carelessly won’t get you there any faster because you’ll be caught in traffic with everyone else.

4. Vehicle Rollover

Rollover collisions, unlike the other car accidents in this list, usually involve only one vehicle and occur as a result of the driver’s maneuvers or handling while driving. It happens when a vehicle overturns on the road when travelling too fast and loses control at tight corners.

The car may roll over multiple times depending on the turn and its speed. Rollover incidents expose the drivers and passengers to the force of the vehicle’s various sides as it slams into the ground, causing serious spinal, brain, and head injuries.

The following steps can help you avoid a vehicle rollover:

When approaching a turn, take it slowly.
Avoid swerving and stay in your lane.
Heavy braking will cause the car to become unstable.

5. Rear-End Collisions

When the front of one car collides with the back of another, it is called a rear-end collision.

Stop-and-go traffic is the most typical cause of this type of collision. Highways, on the other hand, make this accident more likely because drivers can’t see what’s approaching from behind if their view is blocked by other vehicles or a concrete barrier.

The severity is determined by the speed at which both drivers are traveling. Even at high speeds (usually up to 200 km/h), most modern automobiles include crumple zones and bumper systems that protect occupants.

The issue with rear-end collisions is that occupants may still suffer injuries like whiplash and spinal cord damage as a result of the shock of slamming into another vehicle (or getting hit). In cases where negligence is involved, consulting an attorney for rear-end collision accident claims can help victims understand their legal options and pursue fair compensation.

To avoid rear-end collisions, it’s a good idea to avoid the following:

Keep an eye out for traffic signals. Do not tailgate or attempt to pass through intersections in a hurry.
Make sure your brakes are in good working order so you can come to a halt swiftly if necessary.

6. Head-on collision

A head-on collision occurs when two automobiles hit in a straight driving lane, and is widely regarded as the most deadly of all fatal car accidents.

Running red lights, speeding or swerving to avoid an object in the road, and misjudging the distance between your automobile and the other vehicle are the most typical causes of high-impact incidents.

Broken necks, spinal cord damage, trauma to vital organs like the heart, and brain stem injury are all possible outcomes. Amputations of limbs and paralysis from being crushed by debris in the collision are among the other serious injuries.

Here are a few strategies for avoiding head-on collisions:

Always maintain a safe speed. If there isn’t any traffic in the area, resist the desire to shift up a gear.
Make sure to come to a complete stop at all red lights.
Stay in your lane and avoid following too closely or tailgating other vehicles.

Conclusion

Driving conservatively is the most effective approach to help you avoid the various and dangerous forms of car accidents outlined above.

After all, your goal is to get where you’re going safely without jeopardizing your own or others’ lives. Worse, you want to avoid higher insurance premiums and the legal ramifications of personal injury lawsuits filed against you.

About the Author

Jason M. Ferguson, the founder of Ferguson Law Group, started his career working for an automobile insurance company as a trial attorney before owning his injury law firm for over 20 years. Attorney Ferguson has a unique experience, having tried cases on both sides of the court system in personal injury trials, unlike many other lawyers. Mr. Ferguson also served over 14 years as an Army Reserve officer and the Georgia Air National Guard. The Albany Herald recognized him as one of southwest Georgia’s “40 under 40” in 2010.