Sideswipe accidents are not as common as side-impact, head-on, or rear-end collisions, but they still present a significant risk to motorists. Around 1,600 deaths occurred in 2022 due to sideswipe collisions which make up about 8.2% of two-car collisions. Sideswipe accidents are most common in congested urban areas and high-traffic driving situations.
After a sideswipe accident, the victims could suffer more than just minor damage to their vehicles. Sideswipe accidents commonly cause injuries from the crash force of the collision and may also cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles, depart from the roadway, or hit other vehicles or obstacles.
What Causes Sideswipe Accidents?
Sideswipe accidents typically occur when two vehicles traveling in the same direction or opposite directions strike a glancing blow against each other along the sides of both vehicles. The most common causes of sideswipe accidents include the following:
- Distracted driving
- Improper merging
- Unsafe lane changes or blind-spot accidents
- Aggressive or reckless driving
- Overcorrecting or swerving
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Drunk driving
Most sideswipe accidents directly result from driver error, but some are caused by inclement weather conditions such as icy or slick roadways or poor driver visibility. Sideswipe accidents are most serious when they occur on major highways when vehicles travel at high speeds.
What Common Injuries Can Occur?
It may seem like a sideswipe accident is little more than a fender-bender, but when a sideswipe accident causes one or both drivers to lose control of their vehicles, serious injuries may result. Common injuries in sideswipe accidents include the following:
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Knee injuries
- Fractures
- Head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Soft tissue injuries like sprains and torn ligaments
- Spinal cord injuries
- Cuts, bruises, and abrasions
Serious injuries from sideswipe accidents can cause expensive medical bills and lost income as well as property damage to a vehicle and victims deserve fair injury compensation in Cherry Hill.
Liability in Sideswipe Accidents
Even in no-fault insurance states like New Jersey, determining liability for an accident is important. Depending on the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to file a lawsuit against the at-fault party after a sideswipe accident. A lawsuit allows injury victims to recover damages like medical expenses, lost income, and compensation for non-economic damages like pain and suffering that aren’t allowable under traditional insurance claims. Possible liable parties in New Jersey sideswipe accidents include the following:
- A negligent or reckless driver
- A negligent road design agency
- A negligent road maintenance agency
Determining liability requires demonstrating that the at-fault party owed a duty of reasonable care to others on the road, they breached this duty through an act of negligence, the breach of duty caused the sideswipe accident, and the injury victim suffered significant damages due to the injury.
How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help?
When driver error, negligence, or reckless and aggressive driving causes an accident with injuries, the injury victim is entitled to compensation. In no-fault insurance states like New Jersey, this requires filing a claim against your own insurance policy or a lawsuit against an at-fault driver, depending on the terms of your policy. An experienced Cherry Hill car accident attorney from Cuneo & Leonetti can ensure the best possible outcome and maximum compensation in your case.