Sideswipe Crashes

Injuries Caused by Sideswipe Crashes in Delaware

Common Causes of Auto Accidents: Injuries Caused by Sideswipe Crashes

Trusted injury lawyers representing clients in Delaware auto accident lawsuits

Side swipe accident occurs when two vehicles that are traveling in the same direction crash into one another. It can also happen when vehicles are traveling in opposite directions in adjoining lanes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that side swipe crashes account for about a quarter of vehicle occupant deaths in the United States in 2013. A side swipe crash typically occurs when a vehicle is changing lanes without realizing that there is already a vehicle beside them in the lane that they are trying to merge in to. Vehicles that get hit from the side can be knocked off of the road into other traffic, guard rails or into an embankment or a ditch. Occupants in a vehicle that has had a side-swipe crash can sustain a variety of serious injuries.

At the Delaware law firm of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we know how to deal with insurance companies on your behalf. We know that their primary goal is to pay you as little as they can get away with. Our goal is to protect your rights to the best settlement possible when you have been injured in a side swipe auto accident.

Common injuries that can result from side swipe car crashes

When two vehicles collide, the rate of speed that each vehicle is traveling will have an impact on the amount of damage and the severity of the injuries suffered by the occupants. In the case of a side-impact crash, there is no bumper present to absorb and deflect some of the force of the collision, so the occupants’ bodies absorb a lot more of the force of the crash than they would had they been hit from the front or the rear. Some of the types of injuries that people sustain in side swipe collisions include:

The IIHS reports that there were 629,000 side swipe crashes, which accounted for about 11 percent of crashes in 2013 with 757 fatalities and 89,000 injuries.

Common causes of side swipe crashes

The majority of side swipe collisions occur when vehicles are traveling in opposite directions. For those side wipe crashes that occur when both vehicles are traveling side-by-side in the same direction, they are commonly caused by the following:

  • Distracted driving. The driver was either typing a text message or dialing a mobile phone and was not paying attention to the road at the time of the crash.
  • Drowsy driving. When a driver gets sleepy their car can begin to wander in and out of their lane allowing it to crash into the side of another vehicle when the driver was drifting off to sleep.
  • Drunk driving. Too much alcohol decreases a driver’s reaction time, and if the intoxicated driver loses consciousness behind the wheel it can result in a tragic accident.
  • Aggressive driving. Making erratic, improper lane changes and darting in and out of traffic can result in a side swipe crash when another vehicle unexpectedly accelerates and occupies the space in the lane the aggressive driver was driving towards.
  • Speeding. Driving too fast for the road conditions can result in a side swipe crash.

Damages for injuries from a side swipe collision

If you sustain a serious injury in a side swipe crash, you may be able to collect damages in a settlement or from a verdict in a personal injury lawsuit that may include the following:

  • Medical expenses (current and future) related to the accident
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost wages
  • Diminished future earning capacity for permanent injuries

When you have suffered a serious injury after a side swipe auto accident, you may want to contact one of the experienced Delaware auto accident attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman right away. There is a time limit on when you can file a lawsuit, and any delay in pursuing legal action for your injuries will inhibit our ability to collect vital evidence in support of your claim. We handle auto accident injury cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you do not pay any legal fees until we obtain compensation on your behalf.

Schedule a free consultation to discuss your sideswipe auto accident today

When you have been injured in a car crash where another driver sideswiped your car and caused you to be injured. At the law firm of Silverman, McDonald & Friedman, we protect the rights of those who have been injured in a car crash. You may call us at 312.314.5553 or fill out our quick contact form to schedule a free consultation to get legal advice about your case. From our offices in Wilmington, Newark and Seaford, we proudly serve injured clients throughout Delaware.