Out of the entire United States, California has the second-highest rate of motor vehicle accidents. This isn’t by itself too surprising, considering the large size and density of the state’s population. For these reasons, it’s important to be aware of the most common highway accidents, so that you can be prepared for every eventuality. This blog will talk about some of the most frequent examples you may see. Remember that contacting a San Mateo County car accident lawyer after you’ve been involved in an incident is the best preparation you can do.
Highway Accidents: Read-End, Side Impact, and Head-On Collisions
Rear-End Collisions
By far, rear-end collisions are the most common, and the most common cause of rear-ending another car is tailgating. Tailgating is when one car follows very closely behind another, without keeping the minimum distance required for safety. It can also happen that a rear-end collision occurs at a red light, when the car behind can’t stop in time. Please try to always maintain a proper distance from other cars. Your vigilance plays a big part in preventing an unexpected stop from turning into a crash.
Side Impact Collisions
If rear-end collisions are the most often seen, side-impact collisions may be among the most dangerous. Approximately 27% of passenger deaths during 2017 arose from side-impact collisions. This is because the side of a car has the least capacity to absorb a hit, and consequently, has a greater capacity to end up being the cause of very severe injuries. Another name for a side-impact collision is “T-bone crash.”
Head-On Collisions
Finally, we get to the most famous and popular-to-depict kind of crash: a head-on collision. Head-on collisions are often caused by a speeding driver losing control of their vehicle. Like side-impact collisions, head-on collisions have unique categories that make them more dangerous. For example, during a head-on collision, safety devices like airbags and seatbelts are less effective. It is not unusual for the at-fault driver to be drunk or otherwise under the influence of some substance.
Other Dangerous Highway Factors
Other factors can create an intensely concerning situation, factors that are as common off the highway as on the highway, though given the higher speeds of vehicles, such factors present on the highway may be notably more dangerous. A defect in the vehicle, though a cause of action for a product liability claim, may result in an accident. Similarly, the same hazardous conditions we see on any other road, such as potholes or missing signage, can also happen on the highway.
