Vehicle accidents can be terrifying experiences for those involved, and they can lead to significant injuries and substantial property damage. Vehicle accidents can occur in a wide variety of ways. Typically, investigations discover that crashes are caused by the careless or negligent actions of one or more drivers. However, there are various types of car accidents that can occur on the roadways throughout West Virginia. Here, our Martinsburg accident attorneys wanted to discuss the five most common types of car accidents that occur on our streets.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are typically the most common types of vehicle accidents that occur on the roadways in West Virginia. These incidents happen when a vehicle strikes the rear of the vehicle in front of it. These crashes usually occur because of the rear driver’s inattention or distraction, tailgating, reduced roadway traction, or inclement weather. In most cases, a rear driver will be found at fault. However, if the front driver was operating erratically or impaired, they could also share fault.
Head-On Collisions
This type of collision occurs when the front ends of two vehicles slam into each other as they are heading in opposite directions. Head-on collisions often result in severe injuries or fatalities, usually because one or both drivers are operating at fairly high rates of speed. Some of the most common causes of head-on collisions include drivers thinking they are on the correct side of the roadway but are not, alcohol or drug-impaired driving, distracted driving, failing to yield the right of way, and more.
Side-Impact Collisions
These are also referred to as T-bone collisions and can result in devastating injuries for those involved. Often, side-impact collisions occur when vehicles are going through intersections and one driver fails to yield the right of way. The results of a side-impact collision can vary widely depending on where a vehicle was struck. Individuals simply do not have as much protection in these collisions as they do from rear-impact or head-on collisions.
Single Car Accidents
There are plenty of vehicle accidents that occur in West Virginia that involve only one vehicle. Often, these incidents are caused by drivers operating their vehicles while impaired by drugs or alcohol, while distracted by phones or other devices, or while simply not paying attention to the roadway. Additionally, single-car collisions can occur when there are obstacles on the roadway, including trees, animals, debris that has fallen off of vehicles, etc. Single car accidents also regularly involve collisions with stationary objects such as traffic signs, electrical poles, obstacles in parking lots, mailboxes, and even houses.
Vehicle Rollovers
Vehicle rollover accidents are typically fairly violent in nature. In most cases, rollover accidents occur when one or more vehicles are operating at relatively high rates of speed when a collision occurs. Additionally, a rollover is more likely to occur when one vehicle goes off of the road. Data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows us that approximately 85% of all rollover crash fatalities are the result of single-vehicle collisions.
