Types of Atlanta Car Accidents

While there are many different types of car accidents, each one poses a serious risk to the drivers and passengers involved. The level of injury depends on the size of the vehicles involved, the speed the vehicles were traveling at the time of the accident, and whether the vehicles’ occupants were wearing their seatbelts. Here are some car accidents that we commonly see on Atlanta roadways:

Head-On Collisions

A head-on collision happens when the front of one vehicle hits the front of another vehicle. The level of injury depends on how fast the vehicles were going at the time of the accident. While head-on collisions are not the most common type of car crash, they are the most likely to cause catastrophic injuries and even death.

T-Bone Collisions

T-bone collisions, also known as side-angle or broadside crashes, occur when the front of one vehicle hits the side of another vehicle. The collision is shaped like the letter “T.” Those who are sitting on the side of the vehicle that’s hit face the most serious injuries. Vehicles are not always equipped with proper safety measures on the side panels. T-bone car accidents happen most frequently at intersections when one driver fails to give the right-of-way to another.

Sideswipe Collisions

Sideswipe collisions happen when the side of one vehicle hits the side of another vehicle. These types of car accidents are most likely to occur when a driver changes lanes without checking that the next lane is clear. Sideswipe collisions can also happen if a driver loses control of their vehicle and swerves or drifts into a nearby lane.

Rear-End Collisions

A rear-end collision occurs when the front of one vehicle hits the rear of another vehicle. Rear-end collisions typically happen when the rear vehicle is following too closely and does not have enough time to safely apply the breaks. Although these accidents are often considered minor, about 1.6 million read-end collisions happen in the US every year.

Single-Vehicle Accidents

Single-vehicle accidents involve only one car. Typically, these accidents happen when the vehicle hits an obstacle on the road, such as a median, debris, animal, or pedestrian. It can also happen when the vehicle runs off the roadway and hits a guardrail, ditch, or utility pole. Single-vehicle accidents are one of the most common Atlanta car accidents and account for 50% of all road-related deaths.

Chain Reaction Accidents

Chain reaction accidents, also known as a pileup, involve three or more vehicles. The accident usually happens when two vehicles collide, and the impact forces one or both of the vehicles into other nearby cars. One accident can lead to a string of collisions. Chain reaction accidents happen on busy Atlanta roadways, interstates, and highways.