Types of Car Crashes

Types of Car Crashes in Delaware

Types of Car Crashes in Delaware

Experienced injury attorneys representing clients in Wilmington, Seaford and Newark, DE

Car crashes are the leading cause of personal injury in the U.S., and they cost billions of dollars to the economy each year. In 2013, about 90 people died every day in an auto accident and 6337 people were injured. That adds up to 32,719 fatalities, which is down 3.1 percent from the 33,782 that took place the previous year according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. There are several different types of car crashes that can cause anywhere from minor injuries such as mild whiplash, to serious accidents with fatalities and catastrophic injuries.

At the law firm of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we understand the unique needs of those who have suffered severe injuries caused by the negligence of another driver in Delaware. We are relentless in our pursuit of justice in the form of fair compensation for our clients’ injuries and losses.

Common types of car accidents

Car accidents are almost always caused by the driver’s error, which amounts to negligence in one form or another. Whether the driver was speeding, too sleepy to be behind the wheel, trying to text and drive, or maybe they were just being reckless, car crashes can happen any time of the day or night. Crashes can happen when there is heavy traffic at rush hour, in bad weather or on a clear, sunny day, on the highway, side streets and most often, not more than five miles from home. Some of the more common types of car accidents include:

  • Rear-end collisions. The NHTSA stats put rear-end collisions at the top of the list of the most common type of car crash at 29 percent of all auto accidents. Typically the driver at fault in a rear-end crash was not paying attention either because they were texting, shaving, applying mascara or changing the dial on the radio and they did not see the car in front of them come to a stop.
  • Broadside collisions. Also called a “T-bone” collision, a broadside crash occurs when one driver crashes into the side of another. Often these crashes are caused by one driver who fails to stop and ends up colliding into the side of the vehicle that has the right of way in an intersection.
  • Sideswipe crashes. Sideswipes occur when two vehicles traveling parallel to one another crash with one vehicle scraping the side of the other. These accidents are typically not very serious unless one of the cars is traveling at a high rate of speed.
  • Head-on crashes. A head-on collision can often be fatal, depending on how fast both vehicles are traveling at the moment of impact.
  • Wrong way crashes. These are sometimes caused by a drunk driver, or by drivers who enter an off-ramp to drive on to a highway and collide with oncoming traffic. This is another type of car crash that is often deadly.
  • Hitting a stationary object. Single car crashes where a driver hits a tree, a hydrant, or crashes into the side of a building or through the windows of a retail store.
  • Rollovers. A rollover accident can be caused by a driver overcorrecting too quickly or from taking a tight turn at a high rate of speed. These accidents can be frightening for those inside the vehicle and they can cause serious injuries depending on how many times the vehicle rolls and if it hits another vehicle or stationary object.
  • Multi-car accidents. “Pile-ups” can happen on busy highways and during times of bad weather with poor visibility and slick pavement.

Injuries sustained in auto accidents

Some people walk away from a car crash with a bump on the head and some scratches, while others are wheeled away on a stretcher. Here are some of the more common types of injures that people can suffer when they have been involved in an auto accident:

How a personal injury attorney can help when you have been hurt

When you or someone you care about has been injured in a car accident, you are in pain and unable to work and the medical bills have begun piling up, you may consider taking legal action against the person who caused the accident. A personal injury attorney can help by investigating the accident and finding out who caused the accident. Then they might file a lawsuit against the responsible party in order to recover compensation for the injuries and losses that you suffered in the accident. A good Delaware auto accident attorney will negotiate a far betel settlement than you would likely get on your own, and because they do this work all day long, they understand the law and they have experience dealing with insurance companies whose first priority is to pay out as little money as possible.

When you work with an experienced, local personal injury attorney at the law firm of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, you have an ally who will protect your rights and make sure that you get the best settlement possible. Our Delaware auto accident attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis, so you do not pay any legal fees until we win compensation for you.

Contact a trusted personal injury law firm today to schedule a free consultation

At Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we are here to advocate your interests and take on the legal burden so that you can focus on getting well and getting back to your life. Call us at 302.314.5533 or fill out our quick contact form to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case. We are proud to serve clients throughout Delaware from our offices in Seaford, Wilmington, and Newark.