Sideswipe collisions are a common occurrence. If you’ve been driving long enough, it’s likely that you’ve either seen a sideswipe collision or been involved in one. While a sideswipe collision doesn’t seem as dangerous as a rollover accident or truck accident, they can still lead to serious injury, property damage, and, in extreme circumstances, wrongful death.
If you were in a sideswipe collision, the legal team at Lerner and Rowe can help you obtain compensation for your injuries, property damage, and suffering. Contact us today by calling 844-977-1900, using our chat, or submit an online case review form for your free case consultation.
What Is a Sideswipe Collision?
A sideswipe collision occurs when two cars’ sides collide while moving in the same or the opposite direction. One of the contributing factors to sideswipe collisions is that one car is in the other’s “blind spot,” which prevents the other driver from seeing the one approaching from the side. Sideswipe collisions are sometimes referred to as “blind spot accidents.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSAP), sideswipe collisions only accounted for 2.7% of fatal car accidents in the United States in 2020. Like other types of car accidents, a sideswipe collision can be deadly, especially on the interstate. Sideswipe collisions cause many drivers to rapidly adjust the steering wheel or pull away from the other vehicle. This leads the driver to lose control of the vehicle, triggering an accident. Sideswipe collisions on the interstate often snowball into rear-end collisions or multi-car accidents.
What Causes Sideswipe Collisions?
Numerous factors might lead to side-swipe collisions. Unfortunately, negligent drivers are the main contributor. Sideswipe collisions have a number of common causes, including:
- Distracted driving: Many accidents are caused by distracted driving. These drivers trigger sideswipe collisions by texting, talking on the phone, chatting with passengers, or fiddling with the radio or GPS.
- Speeding: Speeding causes drivers to lose control of their vehicle. Additionally, it reduces driver reaction time, causing sideswipe collisions.
- Not yielding: Failing to yield and getting into another lane is a common cause of sideswipe accidents. Make sure to slow down and look both ways before merging.
- Reckless driving: Reckless driving is a negligent action that can cause sideswipe collisions. Frequent lane changes and driving aggressively are ways that reckless driving can cause a sideswipe collision.
- Driving under the influence (DUI): Driving while intoxicated may make it difficult for drivers to respond appropriately and see the road ahead of them, which might lead them to switch lanes without looking or inadvertently drift into other lanes.
No matter what caused your sideswipe collision, calling a personal injury attorney at Lerner and Rowe can help you obtain compensation for your injuries, pain and suffering, loss of income, and more.
Common Injuries After a Sideswipe Collision
Injuries from a sideswipe collision are often dependent on the size of the vehicles involved and the location of impact. For instance, the passengers of the passenger vehicle will probably sustain serious injuries if a truck sideswipes a small car because of the disparity in size and weight.
Common injuries after a sideswipe collision include:
- Spinal injuries
- Brain injuries
- Whiplash
- Catastrophic injuries
- Broken bones, lacerations, bruises, and internal injuries are also common
The lack of airbags or other safety equipment on the sides of cars is another factor contributing to the severity of injuries from sideswipe collisions. There aren’t many safety elements on a car’s sides, apart from the doors, to enhance protection and stop injuries. In a head-on collision, the engine and airbags help cushion the blow; in a rear-end collision, the trunk serves as a shield between the passengers and the car coming at them from behind.
The vehicle’s sides, however, are usually not covered. While some vehicles have side curtain airbags, many do not. As a result, passengers in cars without curtain airbags who are seated on the side of impact often receive the majority of the accident force in sideswipe collisions.
Injured in a Car Accident? Call Lerner and Rowe
If you’ve been injured in a sideswipe collision, you will need an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side. When you work with Lerner and Rowe, we will fight for your rights after an accident and defend you in court. Our team has helped victims of accidents receive compensation for their injuries. Don’t hesitate to call Lerner and Rowe.
To start your free case consultation, get in touch with us today. You can reach our team at 844-977-1900. We are also available via LiveChat or by case review form.