Car accidents are a top cause of hospitalizations, serious injuries and deaths in the State of New York. Identifying the most often reported types of automobile accidents in New York can help increase your awareness of common causes and stay safe as a driver, bicyclist or pedestrian.
Rear-End Collision
A rear-end collision occurs when the front of one car crashes into the back of the vehicle it is following. These accidents often result in whiplash, soft-tissue and back injuries due to the rapid forward and backward motion of a victim’s neck and spine.
Rear-end collisions can be caused by tailgating (following too closely), distracted driving, cell phone use behind the wheel and unsafe lane changes. They are often the fault of the rear driver, although the front driver can also be responsible for cutting off another driver, or for maintenance issues such as broken taillights.
Head-On Collision
A head-on collision is a crash between two vehicles traveling toward each other from opposite directions. It is a severe type of collision that occurs at the combined speeds of both vehicles, often leading to serious injuries. Head-on collisions can occur when a driver engages in dangerous practices such as unsafe passing, drowsy driving, drunk driving and wrong-way driving.
T-Bone Accident
A T-bone accident, also known as a side-impact crash, occurs when the broadside of a vehicle is struck by another car. The point of impact in a T-bone collision can occur on the struck vehicle’s driver or passenger side.
If an occupant is seated on the side of impact, he or she can absorb most of the force of the collision and suffer catastrophic injuries. Those in the other vehicle can also suffer serious injuries from a head-on impact.
T-bone accidents occur most often in New York intersections. If a driver runs a red light, makes an unsafe left-hand turn or fails to yield the right-of-way, he or she can cause a side-impact crash. Drunk driving, drowsy driving and reckless driving are also common causes.
Lane-Change Accident
Drivers need to keep to a single lane and only change lanes when it is safe to do so. When making a lane change, a driver must use turn signals to show their intent to move lanes at least 100 feet in advance.
Drivers must yield to existing traffic in the destination lane, move over at a safe speed and only change lanes when it’s safe to do so. Breaking these rules can lead to collisions between vehicles during lane changes and merges, including sideswipe accidents.
Rollover
A rollover accident is a type of single-vehicle crash where a car turns onto its side or rolls over. They can be caused by vehicle defects, such as a center of gravity that’s too high or a sudden tire blowout. In commercial vehicles, rollovers can also happen when cargo isn’t balanced or secured properly.
The Importance of Contacting a Car Accident Attorney
If you get injured due to any type of automobile accident in New York, it is important to review your rights with a local car accident attorney. If you only trust what an insurance provider says about your settlement and recovery options, you are at risk of accepting an amount that underpays you for your losses. Unlike an insurance company, a personal injury lawyer wants you to maximize your payout for a car accident.
Contact Abaev Law Firm, PLLC to request a free consultation to discuss your specific situation in more detail with an attorney. Our lawyers have years of experience handling a wide range of car accident cases in New York.