Many different issues influence what occurs during a motor vehicle collision. The direction and speed of the vehicles, the style of the vehicles and road conditions all play a role in collisions.
Police departments and researchers categorize collisions into a variety of categories based on the mechanics of the actual crash. Every type of crash has a unique cause and a different degree of risk when compared with other types of collisions. With that said, these are the most common types of crashes that typically occur.
Rear-end crashes
Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of collisions that occur. Drivers who tailgate or who become distracted in traffic may not stop in time when other vehicles stop. That can lead to a preventable collision. Thankfully, rear-end crashes are among the least likely to cause fatalities. However, they do still sometimes lead to the death of vehicle occupants.
Head-on collisions
Head-on crashes occur when vehicles driving in opposing directions directly collide with one another. Such crashes can occur at very high speeds and may cause devastating damage to the vehicles involved. Head-on collisions may occur because someone did not stop at an intersection or because of someone driving the wrong way on a one-way street.
Angle collisions
Like head-one collisions, angle collisions involve vehicles striking one another at a clear angle. A T-bone collision is a type of angle collision. These crashes are responsible for the most fatal crashes when compared with other types of wrecks.
Sideswipes
Sideswipe collisions may involve vehicles traveling in the same direction or in opposing directions. Instead of a head-on collision involving the bumpers in both vehicles, the side of one vehicle strikes the side of the other vehicle. These crashes can disable vehicles and cause severe injuries, especially at higher speeds.
Single-vehicle crashes
Rollover collisions, jackknife incidents, crashes involving trees and other major motor vehicle issues may begin with one vehicle rather than two vehicles colliding. However, these incidents may snowball and end up impacting others, especially if they occur on busy streets with high speed limits.
The type of crash that occurs influences the best approach to pursuing compensation afterward. Holding another driver accountable for causing a crash often requires proving that their negligence or misconduct was the underlying cause of the wreck.