The Most Dangerous Types of Car Crashes

Sean K. McQuaid | Car Accidents | November 18, 2022

While any car crash can be dangerous there are certain types of car crashes that are considered to be the most dangerous. Any collision between a car or truck and another object has the potential to cause significant harm to those involved. Although it is not common, even a simple fender-bender can result in considerable internal injuries or long-term soft tissue injuries.

Florida is known for sunny weather, beautiful beaches, and trendy tourist destinations. It is also known as the third deadliest state for automobile accidents, averaging over 3,300 car accident fatalities each year, with an additional 250,000 injuries. Let’s look at what types of accidents contribute most to these statistics.

Most Dangerous Types of Auto Accidents

Head-On Collisions

When you hear anyone mention the most dangerous type of car accident, a head-on collision always comes to mind. Head-on collisions nearly always occur as a result of driver negligence. Specifically, when one driver crosses over into the lane of oncoming traffic and crashes head-on into another vehicle. It is common that both vehicles are traveling at high speeds, which makes sense given that this type of accident happens most frequently on rural roads or long stretches of highway, rather than on busy, urban streets.

57% of car accident fatalities are a result of front-impact collisions. When two objects are racing toward each and collide, the brunt of the impact is so forceful. Because of these high speeds, it usually will result in severe injuries to the people in the vehicles. When the forward motion of a vehicle stops suddenly, anything and anyone inside the vehicle will continue to be propelled forward. Consequently, they strike an object that is unmovable or has little give – such as the dashboard, steering wheel, or windshield of the car.

If you are involved in a head-on collision, seek medical attention right away. Even if you don’t appear to have symptoms, you may have suffered an injury that won’t appear until later. While soft tissue damage is most common, some people can suffer fractures or bleeds that need to be diagnosed by a doctor.

Side-Impact Collision

A side-impact collision also called a T-bone accident, is when one vehicle hits the side of another vehicle in a perpendicular manner. These accidents often occur when one driver fails to obey traffic laws, such as another driver failing to yield the right-of-way, speeding through an intersection, or running a traffic light.

All car manufacturers continue to make improvements in the automation of safety features of vehicles. Nonetheless, there have been relatively few that provide adequate protection in side-impact collisions. The sides of a vehicle are typically the most vulnerable to damage. In comparison, the front and rear of the vehicle have safety equipment and buffers. When a vehicle is hit on the side at high speed the resulting damage can be severe or even fatal.

Rollover Accidents

A rollover accident is when a vehicle flips over and rolls, usually several times before coming to a stop. These types of accidents are extremely dangerous because people can be thrown out of the vehicle, or partially out of the vehicle, causing extensive bodily trauma and death. Rollover accidents often occur when a driver simply loses control of their vehicle after striking an object, such as a guardrail. High speed is frequently a factor in this type of accident. Other factors that contribute to this type of accident are the angle of impact when vehicles collide, or when a top-heavy vehicle, such as a truck or SUV, turns too sharply. Many times these accidents will occur because a driver will attempt to avoid a collision. The evasive actions will lead the vehicle to flip over and roll. This is especially more likely with larger vehicles like trucks and SUVs. Rollovers are particularly dangerous and cause significant injury should the people in the car not be wearing seatbelts, resulting in them being tossed about inside the vehicle.

Rear-End Collisions

A rear-end collision is another type of car accident that can be dangerous. This type of accident occurs when one car hits the back of another car. Rear-end collisions often occur when one driver is following another car too closely. These accidents can also occur when one driver is not paying attention and rear-ends the car in front of them. If you are in an accident like this, you should get medical treatment as soon as possible. Because this type of injury can be fatal, it’s vital to get medical attention right away.

Single-Vehicle Crashes

A single-vehicle crash is another type of car accident that can be dangerous. This is a type of accident where only one car is involved. Single-vehicle crashes often occur when a driver loses control of the vehicle. For instance, a driver may lose control on a wet road and crash into a tree. Or, a driver may fall asleep at the wheel and crash into the median. If you are in an accident like this, you should get medical treatment as soon as possible. Because this type of injury can be serious, it’s essential to get medical help right away.

Multi-Vehicle Car Accidents

The majority of accidents that people will be involved in will typically involve only one other vehicle. Even then, an accident between two vehicles can still be quite destructive. When the number of vehicles involved in an accident goes up then the likelihood of someone suffering severe injury goes up as well. When multiple cars are involved in an accident on a busy road then there is the chance that additional vehicles may inadvertently collide with the cars involved in the initial accident. This can create a chain reaction of vehicles crashing into each other in what is called a pileup. When a pileup occurs those involved in the initial collision are often unable to do much to escape the vehicles adding to the pileup and are put at risk for more damage. The pileup of vehicles can also increase the risk of fires, explosions, and flying debris.

Get Help from a Florida Car Accident Attorney

If you have been involved in any type of car accident in Florida, you should always seek medical care as soon as possible. If you were seriously injured due to someone else’s negligence, you should talk to a personal injury attorney experienced in handling car accident claims. We are experienced Florida personal injury lawyers who can help you get the fair compensation you deserve for your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages.

We pride ourselves on providing our clients compassionate, honest, and dedicated legal counsel. As one of Florida’s leading personal injury firms, we have helped countless car accident victims recover compensation.

Furthermore, we understand how devastating an unexpected accident can be, especially if you have sustained severe injuries. Therefore, let us handle all of your legal issues so that you can prioritize recovering and healing.