Types of Auto and Truck Accidents

Auto and Truck accidents can happen in a variety of ways. With certain types of accidents you may be more likely to suffer significant injuries. While rear end collisions are the most common type, head on and rollover accident often cause the most serious injuries.

If you have suffered an injury in a Georgia trucking accident, it is important to speak to an attorney with the experience and knowledge to help you obtain the maximum recovery to which you are entitled.

Head-on Collisions

Head on collisions, or frontal impacts, typically cause serious injuries and can often be fatal accidents for one or both drivers. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) reported that frontal impacts accounted for 56% of auto accident fatalities in 2017. Head on collisions happen when the front of one motor vehicle slams into the front of another vehicle, or a stationary object. The high amount of impact forces in a head on collision often occur when a vehicle going in one direction improperly enters a lane in the opposite direction, leading to a very serious accident. When head on collisions involve vehicles moving at high rates of speed it can cause catastrophic injuries.

Rear-end Collisions

The most common type of car accident is a rear end collision. The National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB) reports that nearly half of all two car collisions are rear end accidents. A rear end collision is when one car hits another from behind, usually known as getting “rear-ended.” Rear-end collisions occur with increasing frequency due to distracted driving. The NHTSA reported that rear ended collisions involve a distracted driver in 87% of accidents. The at-fault driver in a rear end collision is often texting while driving, following too closely or driving at excessive speeds. While rear end collisions do not cause as many fatalities as head on collisions, these auto accidents can still cause serious injuries. Rear end collisions can cause whiplash, spinal injuries, back injuries and more.

Side Impact Collisions

Side-impact collisions occur when one vehicle crashes into the side of another. Side-impact collisions accounted for 24 percent of all vehicle passenger deaths in the nation in 2017, according to the IIHS. These collisions are particularly dangerous, because there is less space on the side of a vehicle to absorb the impact of the crash and help shield passengers.

A common type of side-impact collision is a T-bone crash: One vehicle perpendicularly impacts the side of another vehicle. This typically occurs when a car fails to yield, runs a stop sign, or runs a stop light, then crashes into a car traveling through the intersection. Side impact collisions can cause catastrophic injuries including head trauma, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries

Rollover Collisions

Vehicle rollovers are extremely dangerous accidents. According to the NHTSA, rollovers have a higher fatality rate than other kinds of crashes. Rollovers accounted for nearly 35% of all deaths from passenger vehicle crashes. In 2010 alone, more than 7,600 people died in rollover crashes. While rollover accidents are not very common, injuries can catastrophic. Rollover accident are more common in vehicles with a higher center of gravity such as an SUV or truck. Rollover accidents are often caused by excessive loads, improperly inflated or worn tires, and excessive speed. Injuries can be compounded in older model vehicles that do not have modern safety features to help protect the driver and passengers.

Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrian accidents account for a significant percentage of total injury-causing traffic incidents. According to the NHTSA, in 2016, there were 5,987 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes in the United States. A variety of factors contribute to the problem of pedestrian accidents. Nearly half of pedestrian accidents involve alcohol and distracted driving. Other contributing factors can include poor designed or mark roadways and unmarked crosswalks.

Like all pedestrians, Metro-Atlanta pedestrians are extremely vulnerable to motor vehicle collisions. As a pedestrian there is no barrier or safety mechanism through which the vehicle impact forces can be minimized. A pedestrian victim must bear the full force of the collision, thus exposing them to serious risks of fatality.

Single v. Multi-Vehicle Accidents

Multi-vehicle collisions involve three or more cars and tend to occur on busy roads, freeways and highways. In 2018, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) reported that 43% of auto accident fatalities in Georgia occurred in multi-vehicle accidents. These accidents can be even more dangerous than head-on crashes, because cars may receive multiple impacts from multiple angles. Multiple impacts are difficult for any vehicle to absorb, no matter how large it is or how many safety features it has.

Multi-vehicle accidents can be difficult to avoid, as some victims are caught between two negligent drivers. When involved in a multi-vehicle accident, injuries can be devastating.

Nick Martin
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