Types of Alpharetta Car Accidents
Per statistics released by the Georgia Department of Transportation, nearly 50,000
car accidents occurred in 2003, equating to a rate of 729 accidents per 10,000 licensed drivers.
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 The Kalka Law Group, 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 2014-2019. Attorney Baer has been selected for inclusion in the
Super Lawyers®
Rising Stars℠ Edition for 2010-2013 and
Super Lawyers® from 2015-2019.
Call us today to learn what comes next and how we can help!