[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/types-of-car-accidents\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/types-of-car-accidents\/","headline":"Types of Car Accidents and How to Prevent Them","name":"Types of Car Accidents and How to Prevent Them","description":"Every car accident is unique for those involved. Yet, experts group accidents into categories based on many factors, including the cause of the accident, the location, and the type of impact. While impact might not seem important, collisions tend to follow predictable patterns. Learning these patterns can help you learn to avoid them and prevent […]","datePublished":"2021-07-27","dateModified":"2026-01-22","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/author\/aprilcollins\/#Person","name":"April Collins","url":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/author\/aprilcollins\/","identifier":26,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/55a984f005d8b7837361f222628aa1007fd609f15ee5c477ae3e768972785d30?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/55a984f005d8b7837361f222628aa1007fd609f15ee5c477ae3e768972785d30?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Collins Law, LLC","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/header-firm-logo.svg","url":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/header-firm-logo.svg","width":0,"height":0}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/5-types-of-car-crashes-and-how-to-avoid-them.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/5-types-of-car-crashes-and-how-to-avoid-them.jpg","height":1433,"width":2048},"url":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/types-of-car-accidents\/","video":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=p-jvMvNFVo0#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=p-jvMvNFVo0","name":"Birmingham Personal Injury Attorney | Collins Law LLC","description":"Collins Law, LLC was founded on the principle that every person who experiences injustice deserves to be heard, and no one should have to walk the path to recovery all alone. Whether you endure financial, physical, or emotional loss, we hold those accountable and will put a monetary value on your loss so that you receive fair compensation under Alabama law. If you are ready to move forward with your personal injury claim, contact Collins Law at 205-588-1411 today. \n__________\nCollins Law, LLC\nwww.acollinslaw.com\n205-588-1411\n431 Lorna Square Birmingham, AL 35216","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/p-jvMvNFVo0\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/p-jvMvNFVo0\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/p-jvMvNFVo0\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/p-jvMvNFVo0\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/p-jvMvNFVo0\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2021-01-20T20:00:22+00:00","duration":"PT2M8S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/p-jvMvNFVo0","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC2hSowpmD6UkXbAJCR9JVHA#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UC2hSowpmD6UkXbAJCR9JVHA","name":"Collins Law","description":"Collins Law, LLC is an elite personal injury law firm founded by attorney April H. Collins. Located in Birmingham, we specialize in getting results for our clients.  We represent clients in injury matters such as:\n\u00b7 Automobile, trucking, and motorcycle accidents\n\u00b7 Slip and falls\n\u00b7 Wrongful death\n\u00b7 And more.\n\nApril Collins has been repeatedly recognized as one of Alabama\u2019s most outstanding personal injury lawyers. The American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys (AIOPIA), named Attorney Collins as one of the Ten Best Personal Injury Attorneys in Alabama.  \n\nIf you suffered a personal injury, we can help. We offer a free case consultation.\n\nNo representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. This information is not intended to create, and receipt of it does not constitute a lawyer-client relationship. You should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.","logo":{"url":"https:\/\/yt3.ggpht.com\/ytc\/AIdro_n3_1wj5KPFEUhsqIS3NAwYwo2yT5K_QYK1CyZKjB1aUw=s800-c-k-c0x00ffffff-no-rj","width":800,"height":800,"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=p-jvMvNFVo0#VideoObject_publisher_logo_ImageObject"}},"potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=p-jvMvNFVo0#VideoObject_potentialAction","target":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=p-jvMvNFVo0&t={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"},"interactionStatistic":[[{"@type":"InteractionCounter","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=p-jvMvNFVo0#VideoObject_interactionStatistic_WatchAction","interactionType":{"@type":"WatchAction"},"userInteractionCount":354}]]},"about":["Auto Accidents"],"wordCount":1123,"keywords":["broadside","collisions","crashes","head-on collision","sideswipe","t-bone"],"articleBody":"Every car accident is unique for those involved. Yet, experts group accidents into categories based on many factors, including the cause of the accident, the location, and the type of impact.While impact might not seem important, collisions tend to follow predictable patterns. Learning these patterns can help you learn to avoid them and prevent accidents. Read on as our Birmingham car accident lawyer explains five types of car crashes.1. Rear-End CollisionsRear-end collisions happen when the car in front stops or slows, but the car in the back does not.Rear-end collisions are the most common type of crash. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), rear collisions accounted for nearly 50 percent\u00a0of all crashes. They also caused nearly 50 percent of all crash injuries.\u00a0 Luckily, rear-end collisions cause less than twenty percent of all crash fatalities.It\u2019s easy for one car to rear-end another when it doesn\u2019t have enough time or space to stop. So, following too closely \u2013 also known as tailgating \u2013 is a common cause of rear-end crashes.Another factor is speeding. A driver travelling at high speeds will have a harder time slowing down to avoid hitting another vehicle.Weather is another issue. Rain, ice, and other events can make roads slippery. Cars need more time to stop on slippery roads even at normal speeds.To avoid rear-ending another car:Always leave a proper following distance between your car and the car in front of you.Increase following distance in poor weather.Check your side and rearview mirrors often.Make sure your brakes and brake lights are in working order.Obey the speed limit.2. Sideswipe AccidentsSideswipe collisions occur when the side of one car strikes the side of another car. While sideswipes compose about 20 percent\u00a0of all crashes, they only cause roughly 10 percent of accident injuries and 7.8 percent of deaths.Any lateral movement of a car \u2013 changing lanes, merging lanes, or drifting into another lane \u2013 creates a risk of a sideswipe.To prevent a sideswipe:Always check your blind spot before changing lanes.Only change lanes when it is legal and safe to do so.Signal properly before changing lanes.Allow enough space for other drivers to merge safely.Do not speed up or slow down to prevent or hinder others from merging.Pay attention to the road to avoid drifting.3. Side-Impact Collisions (T-Bone Accidents)Unlike a sideswipe, where the sides of the cars hit one another, side-impact collisions occur when one car\u2019s front hits another car\u2019s side. (These are also called T-Bone, broadside, or right-angle collisions.) Side-impact crashes pose great danger because while they represent just 30 percent\u00a0of all crashes, they account for 38 percent of crash injuries and 45 percent of crash fatalities.Most T-bone accidents happen around intersections. They usually occur because one or both drivers ignored stop signs or traffic signals. Unlike other types of accidents, broadsides also happen in parking lots and driveways. If the car in traffic is not paying attention, it can easily hit a car entering traffic and vice versa.To avoid an angle collision:Never run a red light or stop sign.Make a complete stop at every red light or stop sign.Never make an illegal left turn or U-turn.Stop completely at every stop sign and red light \u2013 no rolling stops.Look both ways before pulling out of a parking space or driveway.4. Head-On CollisionsHead-on collisions happen when the front of one car hits the front of another.Head-on collisions are the deadliest of all crashes. While they are just 3.5 percent\u00a0of all crashes, head-on comprise 27.8 percent of fatal crashes. No other type of collision has this ratio of accidents to deaths.Head-on collisions occur in many places, but because they involve cars travelling in opposite directions, the danger increases whenever cars do something that unexpectedly forces the car into the wrong lane. The usual causes are loss of control \u2013 such as speeding, failed brakes, or skidding \u2013 or driver error \u2013 such as crossing a median or passing improperly.Here are some ways to prevent head-on collisions:NEVER go the wrong way on a one-way street.Obey all \u201cDo Not Enter\u201d and other such signs.Never cross a double-yellow line to pass.Never run a red light or stop sign.Only pass other vehicles on two lane roads with broken white lines when it is safe to do so.Do not speed around curves.Drive carefully in bad weather.5. Single-Vehicle AccidentsJust\u00a042 percent\u00a0of car crashes involve other vehicles. The remainder happen when cars hit other objects. These can be moving objects like pedestrians and bikes or stationary items like trees and telephone poles. Whether the item is mobile or fixed, these crashes pose great risk to drivers and passengers.Unlike the other types of car crashes, it\u2019s difficult to find any one set of factors that cause single-car crashes. Drivers can cause these accidents in a variety of ways. Drivers who speed or drive recklessly increase the chances that they will lose control of the vehicle and hit something.However, some factors are beyond a driver\u2019s control. Poor weather can cause a car to hydroplane. Brake failures or tire blowouts can cause a car to spin out of control. Fallen tree branches, wild animals, and other obstacles can cause a driver to swerve.Because single-car crashes can be caused in so many different ways, the best defense against them is to keep your car well maintained, drive safely for the weather conditions, and obey all road signs and traffic rules.How to Prevent Any Type of Car CrashWhile the different types of car crashes have different causes, there are two things that can prevent any type of accident.First, never drive while distracted or sleepy. Distracted driving\u00a0is a serious problem. At 55 miles per hour, looking down at your phone for just five seconds is the equivalent of driving the length of an entire football field \u2013 but with your eyes closed. Districted driving increases the risk of all types of car crashes.Second, never drive while intoxicated. It\u2019s not only illegal, it\u2019s also dangerous. Drinking reduces focus, coordination, and inhibitions. Lowered inhibition causes drivers to take unnecessary risks \u2013 risks that can lead to a serious accident.What to Do After a Car Accident in Birmingham, AlabamaNo matter the type of accident, afterward, make sure to seek medical treatment, take pictures, and get the names of witnesses. Be careful when speaking to insurance companies.If you need legal advice after any of these types of car crashes, contact Collins Law, LLC. We help clients facing car accident claims in Madison, Birmingham, and many other areas of Alabama. Call (205) 588-1411\u00a0to schedule a free consultation with our Alabama car accident attorneys."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Types of Car Accidents and How to Prevent Them","item":"https:\/\/www.acollinslaw.com\/blog\/types-of-car-accidents\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]