Sideswipe Car Accidents
According to data compiled by the Insurance Information Institute, there were 34,247 fatal collisions and 1.89 million injury collisions in America in 2017. Texas alone accounted for 3,732 auto accident fatalities that year. This is why it’s crucial to speak with a Longview, TX car accident attorney after you or a loved one has been in a crash.
While head-on and broadside collisions are the deadliest kinds of crashes based on sheer force of impact, sideswipe crashes can be just as serious. Attorneys Randy Akin and Greg Burton go over the dangers of sideswipe collisions and how they may impact you.
What Is a Sideswipe Accident?
Sideswipe accidents refer to collisions that involve the sides of two vehicles striking each other. This can happen on city streets as well as on highways. While it may seem like a minor type of collision that won’t lead to serious harm, these kinds of crashes can be extremely serious and even deadly.
The Insurance Information Institute noted that there were 940 fatal sideswipe accidents in 2016. While this accounts for a low percentage of total fatal collisions, the fact they can happen anywhere should give you pause.
Common Causes of Sideswipe Accidents
Some of the most common causes of sideswipe accidents include:
- Failure to Signal - Many sideswipe accidents occur when people are merging. If someone fails to signal while changing lanes, the likelihood of a sideswipe crash goes up.
- Driver Distraction - Whether it’s texting while driving or rubbernecking, diverted attention from the road makes accidents while merging or changing lanes more likely, even if turn signals are used.
- Speeding - Sometimes people who speed cut off other drivers and wind up scraping the side of the adjacent vehicle in the process, leading to crashes.
- Reckless Driving - Frequently changing lanes and being too aggressive behind the wheel greatly increases the potential for sideswipe auto collisions.
Why Sideswipe Accidents Are So Dangerous
As our Longview law firm pointed out earlier, the sheer force of impact is much greater in direct vehicle collisions. However, when a sideswipe crash occurs, other dangers have to be taken into account.
For one, being sideswiped could lead to the loss of vehicle control, sending a car off the road or causing a driver to spin out. In addition, a car forced out of its lane into an adjacent one could lead to a multi-car collision. This increases the risk of multiple injuries and even multiple fatalities.
Who Is at Fault in a Sideswipe Collision?
Determining fault in a sideswipe crash will involve a close examination of what transpired. A reckless driver or a driver who fails to signal before merging is often going to be the at-fault party in a crash. Other circumstances need to be taken into account as well, which may include vehicle defects and malfunctioning lights.
During a consultation with our attorneys, we can discuss what happened in your crash and determine if you have a case worth pursuing.
Contact Our Auto Accident Lawyers
If you or someone you love has been involved in a sideswipe auto accident, we encourage to you to contact our trusted team of car accident attorneys. You can reach our attorneys in Longview by phone at (903) 297-8929.