The Most Common Types of Car Accidents

According to estimates, there are over six million car accidents in the United States each year, which result in millions of dollars in injuries and hundreds of billions of dollars in damages. It's estimated that 115 people die every day from car accidents. That's about one death every 13 minutes.

Yes, car accidents are a leading cause of injury and death among Americans. But not all accidents and circumstances behind them are the same. For instance, accidents are less likely to occur on the weekdays than they are on the weekends. And seasons like summer and fall, as well as holidays, are more likely to lead to higher accident totals. Those are a few examples, statistically speaking, of when accidents are more likely to occur. But there are more types of accidents that are more common than others. Here's a list of the most common types of accidents:

Low-speed/rear-end accidents: Over 2.5 million rear-end car accidents occur annually. These types of accidents are the most common type of car crash and often occur at speeds of less than 10 mph. They're common in parking lots and in fast-braking situations when an at-fault driver hits the rear bumper of another driver. Many times in such accidents damage and impact is so minimal that the air bags won't even deploy.

However, despite the low speeds that these accidents occur at, vehicle damage and personal injury can still be sustained (i.e., whiplash). In fact, studies show that in car crashes that occur at 8 mpg, up to 5 g-force's worth of acceleration can act on the vehicle driver's head. This can have a severe impact on the driver because he may be unaware of a pending collision. It's estimated that up to 20 percent of people in rear-end "fender benders" experience whiplash symptoms.

Frontal car accidents: These types of car accidents occur head-on, often in passing lanes or when at-fault drivers are maneuvering abruptly into oncoming traffic to avoid an unexpected road hazard. While they generally cause more vehicle damage than rear-end accidents, drivers are more aware of a pending collision and can brace themselves accordingly (i.e., hands up protecting the head) or even swerve out of the way to minimize damage.

Injuries from such a crash, however, are still largely based on the size of the vehicles in the crash and the speed at which the crash is occurring at. Injuries from frontal accidents can be as minor as small cuts and bruises or as severe as joint dislocations, head and neck injuries or even death.

Side impact: About 9,000 people die from side impact crashes each year. Side impact accidents commonly occur at traffic intersections, when an at-fault driver runs a red light or passes through an intersection into oncoming traffic, striking the driver's or passenger's side of a vehicle. These accidents can be dangerous because many cars don't have side airbags to protect occupants. Side impact collisions may also occur during lane changing and making ill-advised left-hand turns.

Rollover: Responsible for 10,000 deaths in the U.S. annually; occupants are 36 percent more likely to sustain serious injury in rollovers compared to other types of accidents. Rollover accidents are among the most serious type of car crash.

Rollover motor vehicle acidents are often the result of a driver traveling too fast around a curve or on a winding highway on or off ramp, which causes the vehicle to lose traction and roll over or flip. Such accidents are also common during winter weather conditions, where snow and ice can complicate travels. Finally, rollover accidents are most likely to occur in SUVs, which have a lower center of gravity compared to sedans and mid-sized vehicles.

Alcohol-related: This type of accident occurs when an at-fault driver is involved in an automobile accident with a blood alcohol content (BAC) above a state's legal limit (in Michigan, the legal limit is 0.08) Alcohol-related driving continues to be one of the most common types of vehicle accidents. In fact, alcohol is a major factor in 50 percent of all traffic accidents.

Drunk drivers are responsible for some 16,000 deaths each year. Such car accidents are most likely to occur at night, when at-fault drivers are on their way home from bars or parties, or on holidays and holiday weekends.

Distracted driving: About 20 percent of all car accidents involve someone texting or speaking on a cell phone. Hence, such distracted driving collisions occur when an at-fault driver is either too busy text messaging or talking on their phone to pay full attention to the road.

The commonality of these types of accidents has led states such as Michigan to pass laws prohibiting drivers from texting and driving. Some Michigan municipalities, such as Troy, have even implemented distracted driving laws, which make it illegal for motorists to either talk or text while operating their vehicle.

Vehicle-pedestrian: Estimates say 5,000 pedestrians are killed and about 60,000 more are injured annually by motorists. These types of accidents occur when an at-fault motorist strikes a pedestrian. They often take place in downtowns, parking lots and on urban roads.

If you've been involved in an automobile accidents, know that you have certain rights. If you have questions about these rights, contact us today. One of our car accident attorneys will be happy to listen to your situation and advise you on your next steps, whether they include legal action or not. Suffering from a car accident isn't fun for anyone, especially if injuries linger long after the crash or if they've become permanent to impact your quality of life. If you or someone that you know has suffered, call us today. Our law experts will fight for you to get you the treatment and compensation that you've lacked and that you deserve.

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