Insight into Injuries Sustained from Side-Impact Car Collisions

Accidents arising from side-impact car collisions are common. It is vitally important to understand how these crashes occur, and which driver is at fault for the crash. In such a situation, it is imperative to have an auto accident attorney by your side, who can help you in getting out of such circumstances. Also, filing a recovery claim against the perpetrators, so that they are not carried away with their wrongdoing.

Determining which driver is at fault in a side-impact collision depends on multiple factors. As per the New Jersey Department of Transportation, side-impact collisions are categorized into three major heads, which are as follows:

• Same Direction Sideswipes

Same direction sideswipes occur when one vehicle strikes the other side of another car without traveling next to it. This kind of collision happens when one driver takes a wrong turn or tries to change lanes without looking and strikes the other vehicle’s side.

• Opposite Direction Sideswipes

Opposite direction sideswipes occur when two vehicles are traveling in different directions, one car might cross the center line and strike the side of another vehicle.

• Right Angle Collisions

Right angle collisions happen when two vehicles approach each other from non-opposing directions and collide. This kind of side impact collisions is named as “T-Bone” accident, and occur only when one vehicle travels straight through an intersection as another car enters the intersection from the right or left, striking the vehicle’s side.

Therefore, there is no denial that side-impact collisions are serious in nature and have the potential to wreak havoc to drivers and passengers. Usually, these collisions are the result of driver negligence and occur when one driver becomes distracted or fails to comply with the traffic rules and regulations.

Side-impact collisions result in different types of injuries. Right-angle collisions might result in more severe injuries than other types of accidents. Like the side of a vehicle does not have the same level of impact absorption as the rear or the front does. The most common injuries sustained by the victims in side-impact crashes are chest, head, abdomen, and pelvis injuries include the following:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Concussions
• C-Spine injuries
• Lung punctures and contusions
• Pelvic fractures
• Femur fractures
• Diaphragm aorta or pulmonary vessels

Several factors need to be considered while determining fault for a side-impact collision. This typically depends on the cause of the crash and each driver's actions during the accident. For instance, right-angle side-impact collisions occur by drivers failing to yield to oncoming or approaching traffic. This might happen when one vehicle neglects to stop at a red light or stop sign, and collide with another vehicle as a result. However, in other cases, the driver of the car that struck another vehicle is found to be at fault for the car accident.

Hence, if you are injured in a side-impact car crash caused by someone else negligence, you might be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, pain, and suffering.

Personal Injury and Employment Attorney in Vermont have dedicated their lives to the craft and stand by your side throughout the entire case, should you have any questions or concerns about the process.

Editor’s Note: This page has been updated for accuracy and relevancy [cha 1.7.21]