What Makes Sideswipe Collisions So Dangerous?
We hope you are never in a car accident in Alabama, but there is a one-in-three chance you will be at some point in your life. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), Alabama ranks second in traffic deaths per 100,000 people, topped only by Mississippi. The Alabama Department of Transportation reports almost 900 lives were lost on Alabama roads in 2020, resulting in 38,000 injuries.
Auto accidents may involve one vehicle that drifts off the road and overturns. Two vehicles may collide in a head-on or a rear-end collision, but there is another, a less common type of auto accident.
Sideswipe accidents occur when one vehicle hits another on the door side. The cars can travel in the same or opposite directions, and one vehicle may even be stopped, the other in motion, or both vehicles may be in motion.
Sideswipe collisions account for 2.7% of fatal crashes. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) reports 242,000 sideswipe accidents yearly that kill more than 2,500 individuals.
Common Causes of a Sideswipe Collision
- Merging – Imagine trying to merge onto the road from a ramp. This can happen whether it’s another passenger vehicle, a large truck, or a motorcycle. The merging car may decide you should make way for him, and he may fail to yield to the traffic, sideswiping your vehicle. Roundabouts also can present a merging hazard.
- Lane Change – When a vehicle decides to change lanes but does not check its mirrors and the blind spot, a sideswipe can result.
- Cuts you off – A vehicle makes a sudden lane change and cuts in front of you but misjudges the distance to make the lane change safely.
- Narrow Roads – If the roadway you are on is narrow and an oncoming vehicle misjudges the width of the road, a sideswipe collision can occur.
- Distracted Driver – Whether they are not paying attention, tired, intoxicated, sick, or on the phone, sometimes drivers can drift out of the lane and into the side of your vehicle.
- Aggressive Driver – Unfortunately, some people take out their anger behind the wheel, and an aggressive driver may speed, cut you off, illegally pass or try and run you off the road, which can cause a sideswipe collision.
- Road Conditions – Rain, snow, and ice, combined with excessive speed, may render a driver unable to control his vehicle, and he can easily slide into another car. Under the right conditions, a sideswipe collision can cause a chain reaction of vehicle collisions.
These types of accidents resulted in 27,000 injuries during a year, according to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).
Dangers of a Sideswipe Collision
Any car accident can cause serious injuries or death. A sideswipe collision occurring under certain conditions is particularly dangerous. If a big rig travels into the lane of a passenger vehicle, causing a sideswipe collision, the size differential usually results in passenger injuries.
Whether a lane change or traveling next to a large truck weighing anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 pounds, with a passenger vehicle at 5,000 pounds, the passengers face more potential for injury.
Also, children often sit near the side door panel and would be the first to suffer serious injury, especially if the passenger vehicle has no side airbags or curtains.
No matter what kind of vehicle, the liable party owes you a duty to take care while sharing the road, and if he failed to be safe and that led to your harm, he should be held accountable for your injuries. Your attorney will also determine if other parties, such as an employer, or government entity, may have contributed to the accident’s cause.
Your Montgomery, Alabama, Auto Accident Attorney
Once Chip Nix, Attorney at Law, determines the cause of the accident and accounts for the losses, the at-fault party will be responsible for compensating you. This may include:
- *The cost of medical treatment, including doctors, follow-up therapy, the E.R., and medication, among other expenses
- *Other expenses while you recover, may involve transportation, daily living tasks, transportation, and childcare.
- *Job loss and lost wages may result from the auto accident, and you deserve to recover your past and future wages. If you cannot return to your previous position due to a traumatic head injury or loss of a limb, that loss will also need to be included.
During a complimentary first consultation, Mr. Nix will discuss your options and give you a clear path forward. He has decades of experience, and he will work hard to secure a favorable outcome in your case.
Contact our office at 334-203-6669 for a free consultation to begin the discussion.
Sources:
NSC
https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/state-data/motor-vehicle-deaths-by-state/
ALFOT
https://www.caps.ua.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/ALDOT-CrashFacts-2020.pdf
J.D. Power
https://www.jdpower.com/cars/shopping-guides/how-much-does-a-semi-truck-weigh
