Types of Car Accidents

Car Accident Lawyer Sherman Oaks

Many types of Car accidents are among the most common in the personal injury context, in California and elsewhere.

 Though we operate two offices in Southern California (Sherman Oaks and Palmdale). we have represented many Northern California plaintiffs as well with an experienced car accident lawyer in Sherman Oaks.

Categorizing an injury claim as a “car accident claim” is useful, but it’s perhaps not specific enough to describe the full range of possibilities available to the injured plaintiff. In truth, the circumstances surrounding the injuries. If a car hits you so you can litigate.

For example, if a faulty light becomes the cause of injury to you, Then you may be entitled to bring a claim against the city where the accident occurred for failing to properly maintain the traffic light. The strategy and execution required for such a claim would be quite different from the prototypical two-vehicle crash scenario.

Given the full range of possibilities, many plaintiffs can start to feel overwhelmed. Let’s take a look at some common types of car accidents. And many problems are like them. Consider the following:

Head-On Collisions

Head-on collisions are uniquely hazardous because the force of impact of each vehicle have together

How does this work in real-world terms?

Suppose that you are hit by a car moving at 60 miles per hour. So you should have to read about these important types of car accidents. For the sake of this example, we’ll assume that your car and the defendant’s car weigh the same (2000 lbs.). If you park a car. Multiplied by 2000 lbs then the force of impact can be 60 miles per hour. Then the force of impact will then the force of impact is almost limited to 60 miles per hour multiplied by 2000 lbs be equivalent to 120 miles per hour multiplied by 2000 lbs, nearly doubling the force inflicted upon you.

This additive effect is extremely dangerous. As it can give rise to such a significant impact force that the safety mechanisms (i.e., airbags, crumpling front end, seatbelt). In your vehicle are insufficient to protect you.

Intersection Accidents

Intersection accidents can occur in a variety of ways. In one common scenario, the plaintiff is rear-ended and pushed into the flow of traffic, exposing them to the risk of a side-impact collision. 

Important point is that the negligence of others beyond the defendant-driver intersection can become the cause of intersection accidents.. Negligent design and maintenance can quite easily give rise to an intersection accident. For example, if the city fails to properly maintain the traffic lights at an intersection, and the lights malfunction (i.e., by showing intersecting lanes the “green light” simultaneously) Then that could lead to an accident. Under such circumstances, the injured plaintiff would likely have a right of action against the city for damages caused by their negligent maintenance of traffic equipment.

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions are unique in that the plaintiff might not have had an opportunity to avoid the accident. For example, if the defendant-driver is speeding towards a car that is stopped at a busy intersection. Then the plaintiff in that stopped car does not have a legitimate, safe option for moving out of the way before the rear-end collision occurs.

This dynamic generally means that plaintiffs have a stronger and more certain case against the defendant-driver. Why? The defendant cannot reasonably argue that the plaintiff is at fault for their own injuries. Unless the plaintiff was not wearing their seatbelt or did not have a working airbag system.

Side-Impact Accidents

Side impact collisions often occur at intersections or during turns. Defendants may be busy at the time of the accident. They may be operating their vehicle without taking the time to evaluate the movement of traffic around them.

Side impact collisions (otherwise known as sideswipe accidents) are among the most dangerous types of car accident context. As vehicles generally have very limited built-in protection from side impacts. There simply is not enough material on the side of a vehicle to absorb the tremendous impact force of a crash. Given this limitation, the full force of impact (or something close to the full force of impact) will affect the plaintiff.

By contrast, if you are rear-ended or hit in a head-on collision. There is substantial material between the point of impact and the individuals within the vehicle. That material is also designed to “crumple” in a way that absorbs as much of the impact force as possible.

Vehicle Rollovers

Vehicle rollovers are in including types of car accidents that are extremely dangerous. As they lead to a complete loss of control on the roadway. Most rollovers involve top-heavy vehicles, such as jeeps, SUVs, buses, and other large trucks.

Though a careful driver can usually prevent a rollover. There are situations where improper loading of cargo can contribute to a rollover accident and make it that much more difficult for the driver to maneuver their vehicle safely.

For example, a delivery truck that is speeding on a tight curve might experience a rollover accident and wreak havoc on other vehicles sharing the same roadway. Further investigation might reveal that the warehouse crews overloaded one side of the vehicle. Which contributed to the heightened risk of a rollover. The warehouse company and the driver’s company might each. Therefore, be liable for the injuries caused.

Multi-Vehicle Accidents

Multi-vehicle accidents include any collision that involves multiple vehicles. From a gradual lane-clogging pileup on the highway to a scenario. In which several cars crashed into one another simultaneously.

Multi-vehicle accidents are unique in that there may be multiple defendants. Who is responsible for causing your injuries. Under California law, you may sue and recover damages from each defendant who contributed substantially and proximately to the suffered harm. It can be quite a challenge to prove that each of the defendants is liable. The key to success is in establishing a “causal link” that demonstrates that your injuries were a reasonably foreseeable result of their negligent acts.

Let’s try to understand the main topic

For example, suppose that a defendant speeds towards a red light and smashes the back of a car, leading to a chain reaction pileup. Though the defendant may not have intended to hit you and may not even have seen you from a distance. It could be argued that a reasonably foreseeable consequence of his speeding towards a red light is that the stopped cars at the front would be subject to a rear-end collision.

California implements a modified form of the “joint and several” liability rule. Pure joint and several liabilities normally allow the plaintiff to recover all of their damages from any one defendant. No matter how at fault that defendant is. If you had $1 million in damages, for instance. Then California law would previously give you an opportunity to recover all $1 million from a defendant, who is just 1 percent at fault for your injuries.

Modified joint and several liabilities change the rule so that you can recover all of your economic damages (i.e., medical expenses, wage loss, property loss, etc.) from any of the liable defendants. The non-economic damages (i.e., pain and suffering) will be dangerous. Thus, if you had $100,000 in non-economic damages, a defendant, who is 10 percent at fault could only be made to pay $10,000 for that category of damages.

Contact Experienced types of Car Accident Lawyer in Sherman Oaks for a Free Consultation

Litigating a car accident claim can be a challenge, depending on the circumstances. Though you might initially believe that your case is simple. Further investigation could reveal multiple defendants or evidentiary issues. You could be facing a much more complex dispute than you first anticipated.

We can help.

At Prestige Law Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, our attorneys have decades of experience litigating claims on behalf of those who have suffered injuries in car accidents. From head-on collisions to rear-end collisions to sideswipe collisions and more. Over the years, we have gained keen insights into the sort of strategies implemented by opposing counsel in car accident litigation. And how best to advocate for our client so as to secure maximum compensation.

Ready to get in touch with our firm? Call us at 818-788-0808 or send us a message online to schedule a free, confidential, and no-obligation consultation.