While the pandemic isn’t fully over, traffic levels on the highways and streets have returned to pre-pandemic numbers. As a result, the number of traffic accidents has also increased, although traffic experts believe this may have more to do with the altering of traffic patterns than with the actual traffic volume. Either way, it’s important to be aware of the most common types of motor vehicle accidents that you’re likely to encounter as a driver so that you can take appropriate measures to avoid them.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident and they usually are the result of one driver following another driver too closely. When traffic comes to a sudden and unexpected stop, the person who is following behind too closely doesn’t have time to stop and rear-ends the car in front of them. The person who rear-ends the front car will almost always be at fault in these cases because it is their responsibility to follow at a safe distance that gives them enough time to stop or take evasive action if traffic suddenly comes to a halt.
You can avoid this type of accident by making sure you stay a safe distance behind the car in front of you at all times. The rule of thumb is to be one second behind the car in front of you for every 10 miles of speed you are traveling. So, if you are driving at 60 miles per hour, you should have six seconds of space between you and the vehicle ahead of you. Use a fixed point along the side of the road to count off the seconds between when the car in front of you passes this fixed point and when you pass this point to calculate your distance.
Single Vehicle Accidents
Single vehicle accidents happen frequently, especially in inclement weather, but they almost always are the result of driver error. Drivers tend to overcorrect when their car starts sliding, which can cause them to roll their vehicle or end up in a ditch. Braking too hard around a corner can lead to overcorrection as well. Swerving to miss an object in the road is an extremely common cause behind single vehicle accidents. The best way to avoid a single vehicle accident is to take extra care when driving in rain, snow, or fog, and be vigilant in areas where animals and objects could unexpectedly be in the road.
T-Bone Collisions
Another common type of motor vehicle accident is the T-bone collision, which is when a car is hit in the side by another vehicle coming from the cross-road. These accidents almost always occur in an intersection and are the result of someone running a red light or stoplight and failing to yield to the traffic that has the right of way. You can’t control what another driver does, but you can take extra care when entering an intersection to make sure no one is coming, even when you have the right of way.
Conclusion
These three most common types of motor vehicle accidents happen on a daily basis. You can help avoid being involved in one by controlling your own driving behavior and taking precautions during bad weather or other poor driving conditions. If you do find yourself the victim of one of these types of accidents, contact a personal injury attorney to make sure your rights are protected.
