Any type of collision is dangerous when driving a car, but some collisions are worse than others. That is because a collision can cause severe damage to the vehicle; even worse, it can cause serious and significant injuries to the occupants of all the vehicles involved in the collision. The injuries suffered because of one of these three collision types can be life-threatening, or even fatal.
That is why it is vitally important to obey all the rules of the road, avoid distracted or impaired driving, and make sure that you follow all the vehicle’s safety procedures in order to minimize the effects of any collisions.
If you do suffer a collision, make sure to follow the proper emergency protocols. After you are taken care of, call a car accident attorney, like the Grossman Law Offices, to find out if you are owed any compensation that can help to take care of the vehicle repair costs and medical expenses.
Most Dangerous: Head-On Collision
Even though head-on collisions are the rarest type of car crash, they account for the majority of fatalities. A head-on collision can be between two vehicles headed in opposite directions, or between a vehicle and a stationary object. When two vehicles collide head-on, their combined impact is greater than their individual speeds.
What this means is that if each vehicle is traveling at 30 mph, then the impact for each vehicle would be roughly equivalent to that vehicle hitting a stationary object at about 60 mph.
Some impact force will be absorbed by the crumple zones of each vehicle, but the force will be great regardless. Even if both cars are traveling at-or below-the speed limit, the impact will be intense. So you can imagine how much more catastrophic the collision will be at even higher speeds.
The head-on is the most dangerous of the collision types.
Injuries Caused By a Head-On Collision
- Whiplash
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Blunt Force Trauma
- Cuts and Bruises
Second Most Dangerous: Side Impact Collision
Sometimes called a T-bone collision, this is when one vehicle rams into the side of another. This usually occurs when a vehicle fails to obey traffic signs or signals like red lights or stop signs and ends up running into the side of another vehicle. This type of crash is more dangerous for the driver of the impacted vehicle because there is not an engine or a trunk to absorb the force of the collision.
The situation is exacerbated if there is a big size discrepancy between the two vehicles. A larger vehicle hitting a smaller vehicle can cause direct injury to the occupant of the smaller vehicle. These days, many vehicles have side-impact airbags to provide some protection, and while they mitigate some of the damage, they do not eliminate it altogether.
Injuries Caused By a Side Impact Collision
- Head and Neck Injuries
- Chest and Rib Injuries
- Shoulder and Arm Injuries
- Hip and Leg Injuries
Third Most Dangerous: Rear-End Collisions
This is when a vehicle collides with the back of another vehicle. It is usually caused by a driver not paying attention to the road. This type of collision is less dangerous because, if both cars are moving in the same direction, then the speed of the following car is subtracted from the speed of the struck car.
So, if the following car is traveling at 50 mph and the leading car is moving at 20 mph, the impact would be like if the following car were traveling at 30 mph. If the leading car is stationary, then the impact force caused by the following car is unchanged.
Injuries Caused By a Rear-End Collision
- Whiplash
- Herniated Discs
- Sprains
- Soft-tissue Damage
Stay Safe On The Road
Any collision is dangerous and unfortunately, you cannot always prevent one from happening to you. However, you can avoid being the cause of a collision by obeying the road rules, paying attention to traffic signs and signals, and by being an attentive driver.
These are three of the most dangerous collision types that hurt people and finances the most. If you end up being the victim of a collision, then contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible to get the compensation that you are due.
