Types of Alpharetta Car Accidents

All of these crashes had varying causes, and different ways that they unfolded. No two car accidents are alike-from the people who are involved, to the types of vehicle, to the surrounding circumstances.

At Kalka & Baer LLC, we understand that being involved in a car accident can be one of the most traumatic incidents that you may ever be forced to endure. As dedicated Alpharetta personal injury lawyers, we are committed to helping our clients regardless of the type of accident that they were involved in; however, we know that understanding the basic "type" of accident can be crucial to understanding how the insurance claim will unfold. For example, in some cases, liability may be clear-cut based on the type of traffic crash that you were involved in alone.

Some of the most common types of of car accidents are explained below:

Rear-End Accidents

One of the most common types of crashes, especially during heavy traffic, is a rear-end collision. This is exactly what it sounds like: one car hits the other from behind. In most cases, this is caused by a driver who is tailgating, driving too fast, or swerving into another lane. It can also happen during traffic where the driver in front stops and the drive behind is distracted. Due to this, rear-end accidents usually pin liability on the driver who was behind, not the driver who was in front.

That being said, there are certain situations where the driver in front can be held liable-for example, if they were reversing or if they swerved in front of another driver. A common injury that is sustained in rear-end accidents is whiplash, where the driver in front is projected forward and then slammed back when they hit the end of the slack in the seatbelt. This can cause the neck to move past the normal range of motion, causing stiffness, pain, and other symptoms.

Head-On Collisions

This is the exact opposite of a rear-end accidents and involves two cars driving into one another head-on. In most cases, this is caused by a driver swerving out of their lane into another, attempting to pass on a two-lane road, or even going the wrong way down a one-way street. All of these can have similar effects: causing the driver to drive straight into one another. This is especially dangerous because if it involves two cars of similar weight and size, it has the same effect of driving into a solid wall-causing the vehicle to stop abruptly. The crash then causes the kinetic energy to turn into mechanical energy, which results in catastrophic injuries. Even crashing into a parked car is considered a better alternative since the car could move a little.

Side Impact Accidents

Most commonly occurring in intersections, side impact accidents, also known as broadside accidents, occur when one vehicle drives into the other vehicles side. This causes the two vehicles to form a shape akin to a capital "T," giving it the nickname T-bone accident. Common causes include drivers that run a red light, fail to yield, or make an illegal left turn. While the "crumple zones" of a vehicle help to absorb the energy of the impact, they do not completely protect the driver and passenger(s). In fact, individuals involved in side impact accidents are often afforded little protection, with nothing but the door and space between them and the oncoming vehicle. This can lead to catastrophic, and even fatal, injuries being sustained.

Single-Vehicle Accidents

Car accidents do not always involve more than one vehicle. While most people consider multi-vehicle accidents to be the norm, there are cases where one vehicle alone can be involved in a collision. This could occur from human error (speeding, driving while intoxicated, or being distracted), or it could stem from environmental factors, such as inclement weather. Other causes of single-vehicle accidents include dangerous roadways and defective auto parts. In these cases, a pedestrian who was injured may be able to file suit, or you may be able to bring a lawsuit against the government for failing to upkeep the road or the manufacturer of the faulty part.

Rollover Accidents

One frequent type of accidents is a "rollover," which involves the vehicle literally rolling over onto its side or top. There are two main categories of rollover accidents: tripped and untripped. Tripped rollovers may occur from the vehicle hitting something, such as a curb or another vehicle. Untripped rollovers, on the other hand, occur from the driver taking a curve too quickly, speeding, or friction. A contributing factor to these types of accidents is the center of gravity in the vehicle. In cars such as SUVs, the center of gravity is too high, which throws everything off, making them more susceptible to rolling over. This can result in the driver and passenger(s) being ejected from the vehicle, as well as roof crush and the windows shattering.

Need a personal injury attorney in Alpharetta, Georgia?

If you have been involved in a car accident, it is highly encouraged that you do not hesitate to contact an Alpharetta injury attorney from our firm. Attorney Kalka has been selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers® Rising Stars℠ Edition for 2006, 2009-2013 and Super Lawyers® from 2014-2017. Attorney Baer has been selected for inclusion in the Super Lawyers® Rising Stars℠ Edition for 2010-2013 and Super Lawyers® from 2015-2017.