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The words “sideswipe accident” bring to mind minor fender-benders or a few scratches on the side of a vehicle. However, sideswipe accidents can cause serious injuries, particularly when the impact causes both drivers to lose control of their cars. Sideswipe accidents make up 13% of all two-car collisions, with 830,000 sideswipe accidents in a single recent year.
Sideswipe accidents occur regularly in New Haven traffic, often with serious impacts on all involved.
Sideswipes can occur between vehicles moving in the same direction in parallel lanes, in opposite directions, or in intersections. The most common causes of sideswipe accidents include the following:
Sideswipe accidents sometimes result in simple property damage to one or both vehicles. Still, when this type of accident occurs at high speed it can result in serious crash-force injuries. Sometimes, a sideswipe causes one or both vehicles to careen out of control. Some sideswipe accidents cause roadway departure accidents when the sideswipe collision forces one vehicle off the road.
Sideswipe accidents result in injuries ranging from mild to catastrophic. Sadly, some sideswipes end with fatalities. Common Injuries include the following:
When a sideswipe accident results in serious injuries, the injury victims may make compensation claims to recover damages, but first, it’s necessary to determine which driver’s actions caused the sideswipe accident. In fault-based insurance states like Connecticut, it’s necessary to investigate the accident and document clear evidence of liability to make a successful claim for damages like medical expenses, lost wages, and compensation for pain and suffering.
Driver error is the most common cause of sideswipe accidents. When a driver makes an unsafe lane change, improperly merges into traffic, or drifts out of their lane due to distraction, that driver is liable for the damages to injury victims. Proving liability requires demonstrating the following with the evidence:
In less common cases, the at-fault party in a sideswipe accident could be a negligent road planning agency responsible for a poor road design, a negligent road maintenance agency for leaving a road hazard in place that caused a sideswipe from an avoidance swerve, or the manufacturer of a defective car part.
It can be difficult to prove liability in sideswipe accidents, especially in places lacking traffic cameras or surveillance video to capture the accident. It often requires a skilled investigation and consultation with accident reconstruction experts. The attorneys at Weber & Rubano have years of experience establishing fault and proving liability in sideswipes and other Connecticut car accident cases. If you or a loved one has suffered injuries in a sideswipe accident, an experienced New Haven car accident attorney can protect your rights and best interests.