Any collision where one of the cars is directly struck from the side is considered to be a “side-impact” collision. The injuries from these types of car accidents can vary wildly, however they can be extremely dangerous if occurred with speed. While the front and rear of a vehicle offer a substantial amount of protection and metal between the impact and the occupants of the vehicle, side-impact accidents have much less protection, which means they could potentially become more dangerous at much lower speeds as compared to other types of collisions.
Sideswipe car accidents are less common than other types of accidents, but this doesn’t mean they can’t cause serious injuries. The most common causes of sideswipe accidents are:
- Distracted driving
- Driving while intoxicated
- Failing to yield at an intersection
- Failing to yield when changing lanes
- When a driver attempts to avoid a pothole or other road hazard
There are two primary types of side-impact collisions:
- Side-Swipe Collisions
A side-swipe collision is usually the less-dangerous of the two types of side-impact accidents. These occur when the sides of two cars collide, such as when one driver doesn’t look before merging lanes and runs directly into the side of another motorist. In many instances, the risk of injury from the collision itself is actually fairly low in side-impact collisions, usually because the impact occurs at a lower-speed. However, these accidents are known for causing cars to lose control, spin out, or collide in other ways, which also further increases the chances of an injury.
- T-Bone Collisions
Unlike side-swipe collisions, T-bone accidents are extremely dangerous. These involve the front or rear of a vehicle striking the side of another car at speed.
A T–bone accident occurs when the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another, forming the shape of a “T” at the point of impact. They can happen at intersections when one driver disregards a stop sign or red light and drives through the intersection at the same time another vehicle traverses the intersection.
These usually involve the transfer of a substantial amount of force, which often crumbles the side of the struck car and risks seriously injuring an occupant of the vehicle.
T-bone collisions frequently lead to a number of serious injuries, including broken ribs, neck injuries, concussions, and more due to the lack of support and adequate protection around the sides of passengers. It’s not uncommon for passengers to get launched across the cabin of a car and into the body on the other side, resulting in even more chance of injury.
When you or a loved one is injured in a sideswipe collision in the Inland Empire or driving around Southern California, you deserve to have an aggressive personal injury law firm on your side guiding you toward a suitable outcome. When you work with Harsh Law, we evaluate your claim, investigate the accident, speak with witnesses, retain experts to validate evidence and claims, negotiate with insurance companies, and protect your rights.
Contact Harsh Law today to discuss your case by calling our legal team at (909) 793-6261.