Unfortunately, vehicle accidents happen on our roadways every day. Some are more dangerous than others, but no matter what, it’s important to be prepared so you can stay aware while on the road. Here are common types of car, motorcycle, and truck accidents and how to protect yourself while driving.
Car Accidents
Car accidents happen frequently because there are so many drivers on the road. It’s important to always be alert while driving and pay attention to your surroundings because you can’t control other drivers and how attentive they are while they’re around you. Learn about a few common types of car accidents and how you can help protect yourself as a driver.
Rear-End Accidents
Rear-end collisions are a common type of crash among all vehicles and happen when a car crashes into the back-end of another. Distracted driving is usually the culprit when it comes to this type of collision and can lead to a multiple car pile-up if drivers don’t stop in time. The best way to prevent rear-end accidents is by turning your blinkers on in advance, frequently checking your mirrors, and avoiding slamming on your brakes. In order to be prepared for sudden stops, it’s best to always be aware of how traffic is behaving ahead of you.
Head-On Collisions
A head-on collision happens when a vehicle leaves its lane and hits the front-end of another vehicle. These are common between all vehicle types and are one of the most dangerous auto collisions because they often happen at high speeds. These speeds make it difficult for the seat belt, airbag, and other safety features of the car to absorb the sudden impact. Therefore, head-on crashes may cause severe injuries to everyone involved. Avoiding this type of accident can be difficult because you can’t control other drivers, but you can try to eliminate driving distractions and reckless driving in your own car.
T-Bone Accidents
A T-bone accident, or side-impact crash, occurs when a vehicle crashes into the side of another. If a driver doesn’t stop at a traffic light or fails to yield to the right-of-way of another driver, it often results in a T-bone collision. These can often cause severe injuries, so it’s important to always look both ways in oncoming traffic. When at the intersection of two large highways where people tend to speed, check the crossroad multiple times just to be sure.
Crashes From Merging
Another common car accident happens when people fail to successfully merge onto a highway or interstate. These collisions are usually caused when drivers only check their side mirrors without checking their blind spots completely It’s important to always turn your head to the side to check your blind spot when merging to ensure a safe trip for yourself, your passenger, and other drivers on the road.
Motorcycle Accidents
Motorcycles pose a certain type of danger because they are smaller and offer much less protection than cars and trucks. Whether you drive a motorcycle or car, it’s important to understand common types of motorcycle accidents, so you can work to make the roads safe for everyone.
Lane Splitting Collisions
When a motorcyclist drives in between two lanes—commonly known as lane splitting—accidents can easily occur. These are most common in slow-moving or stalled traffic. Other drivers don’t typically anticipate a motorcycle passing their vehicle, causing them to crash into each other. It’s important for both motorcyclists and drivers to be aware of their surroundings at all times to try and avoid these accidents. If you’re a motorcyclist, it’s best to avoid lane splitting for your own safety. Plus, it’s only fully legal in California.
Left-Turn Accidents
Most motorcycle accidents happen when a vehicle turning left hits the cyclist in the lane. Many times the driver isn’t aware of the motorcycle or doesn’t turn fast enough, causing the collision. These accidents can be extremely dangerous, so anyone operating a motorcycle should be extra aware of their surroundings while on the road.
Hitting a Fixed Object
Motorcycles can sometimes be prone to skidding, tipping, and sliding, which causes drivers to crash into fixed objects like a tree, traffic pole, or other hazards. These are dangerous because the crash often occurs at a high speed, which can throw the driver from the motorcycle and make them seriously injured. You should always wear your helmet when riding a motorcycle and follow speed-limit laws to help avoid serious injury if these types of accidents occur.
Truck Accidents
Commercial trucks are some of the largest vehicles on the road, and their size alone puts them at risk of a vehicle accident. Here are the most common types of truck accidents and what you can do to try and avoid them.
Jackknifing
When a large semi-truck brakes abruptly, it can cause the trailer to fold into the cab, forming a 90-degree angle on the road, resembling a jackknife. In turn, this can cause other vehicles to crash into the trailer, sometimes resulting in a multi-vehicle pileup. While these are sometimes hard to avoid because you can’t always control what a semi-truck will do, you should always remember to avoid braking too quickly and following too closely behind large vehicles—especially in inclement weather.
Underride Accidents
An underride accident is a type of rear-end crash that commonly involves commercial trucks. This happens when a smaller vehicle rear-ends a truck and slides under the trailer and gets lodged. Underride accidents are extremely dangerous and can cause many serious or fatal injuries. Avoid underride accidents by keeping a distance from semi-trucks with large trailers and being aware of what’s happening ahead of you at all times.
Blind Spot Crashes
A commercial truck usually has significant blind spots, making it difficult to see other vehicles around them. Sometimes, a truck will change lanes and crash into an adjacent vehicle. Truck drivers should take extra caution when changing lanes on the road and be hyper-aware of their surroundings to help avoid a blind spot crash. Drivers of smaller vehicles should avoid staying in a truck’s blind spot for too long to avoid these crashes. If a truck begins to merge into your lane while you’re in a blind spot, alert them of your presence with your horn and gently merge onto the shoulder or median of the road if you are able.
If you’ve been in an accident and don’t know what to do, visit our blog to learn what to do after a car crash. Have you recently been in an accident and are experiencing lasting trauma or injuries? Reach out to Dyer Law if you need any type of legal representation or a commitment-free consultation. Our team will be here for you 24/7! Contact us today.