The Most Fatal Types of Car Accidents

It’s a fact – car accidents are dangerous – but some types of car accidents are even more dangerous than others. While every traffic accident is unique to its own set of circumstances, certain kinds of car accidents are particularly dangerous. If someone else’s negligence leaves you injured in a car accident of any kind, you need the professional legal counsel of a formidable Redding, California, personal injury attorney on your side.

The Top 4

The top four most deadly car accidents on our roads include:

• Head-On Collisions – It probably isn’t surprising to learn that head-on collisions are among the most dangerous accidents out there. When another vehicle barrels into you at highway speeds, the results are usually devastating. Even at relatively low speeds, however, the direct impact of a head-on collision is both immense and terrifying.
• Rollover Accidents – The thought of having your car rollover in an accident is enough to terrify the sturdiest among us. Certain vehicles with higher centers-of-gravity, such as SUVs and vans, are more prone to these very serious accidents than other vehicles are.
• T-Bone Accidents – A T-Bone accident refers to an accident in which another driver barrels directly into the side of your car (thus creating the shape of a “T’). A car’s sides are most vulnerable to the impact of a direct hit because they lack buffers, such as the trunk in the back and the hood in the front.
• Pileups – When two cars are involved in an accident, it’s dangerous. When more than two cars are involved in an accident, it’s more dangerous still. Car pileups are often chain reactions. For example, when a front car must stop suddenly because of an obstacle in the road (such as a deer), an accident can ensue if the driver following does not respond quickly enough – and if the driver following that second vehicle similarly does not respond quickly enough, the accident becomes a pileup that can potentially involve even more motorists.

Driver Negligence

These very dangerous accidents are often caused by driver negligence. Such negligence can take many forms, including:

• Speed – You learned it in driver’s ed, and it remains true – speed kills. In fact, excessive speed plays a major role in many of the most dangerous accidents on our roadways. Excessive speed is considered the hallmark of aggressive drivers, and aggressive drivers are dangerous drivers. Typically, aggressive drivers engage in more than one form of dangerous driving at a time, which can include tailgating, whipping in and out of lanes, incessant honking, yelling or gesturing at other motorists, passing illegally, refusing to yield, and much more.
• Distraction – Distracted drivers are becoming a more significant problem on our roadways, and the advent of the increasingly popular smartphone hasn’t helped. The most dangerous distraction of all is texting because it involves a driver’s vision, thoughts, and hands (a trifecta of distractions). Distracted drivers simply cannot give their full attention to the task at hand, which is driving safely, and as a result, they are often responsible for serious car accidents. 
• Impairment – Every driver knows that drinking and driving is a dangerous proposition, but some drivers continue to engage in the often-deadly practice. When impaired drivers get behind the wheel, they endanger everyone with whom they share the road.
• Exhaustion – We all know that we don’t do our best work when we’re drowsy, and this also applies to driving. You simply can’t drive as safely when you’ve had too little sleep to remain alert and focus on maneuvering safely through traffic. This is exactly why professional drivers, such as truckers, must adhere to strict hours-of-service regulations that restrict the number of consecutive hours they can spend behind the wheel.

Drivers who engage in any of these forms of negligence are dangerous drivers who imperil everyone else on the road.

Call Us Today to Speak with a Redding Personal Injury Attorney

If another motorist’s negligence leaves you injured in a car accident, you’re likely at a loss for how best to proceed. The dedicated personal injury attorneys at Maire & Deedon in Redding, California, understand your dilemma and are committed to building your strongest case in pursuit of the compensation to which you are entitled. 

Our experienced legal team has extensive experience helping clients like you successfully recover on their full range of damages, and we’re here for you, too. To learn more, please contact or call us at 530-246-6050 today.