What are the 4 most common types of vehicle accidents?

Numerous factors can contribute to a vehicle accident. Anything from defective parts to a distracted driver can cause serious accidents with catastrophic injuries. In general, motor vehicle accidents can be categorized in one of four different ways.

• Rear-end collisions: In what might be the most common type of accident, rear-end collisions represent a significant portion of vehicle crashes. Here, one vehicle crashes into the rear of another vehicle. Generally, the front vehicle is stopped. These accidents can be caused by driver inattention or distraction. Additionally, tailgating can be a major factor in rear-end collisions.
• Head-on collisions: Head-on collisions can be the most devastating type of crash as the two vehicles are colliding with combined force from opposite directions. A head-on collision can be a fatal accident with vehicle occupants being ejected through the car’s windshield. Injuries can occur in the vehicle, against the glass or the impact with the road surface.
• T-bone collisions: A t-bone collision is often also referred to as a side-impact or broadside collision. This type of collision is common at intersections – as one driver has completely missed a traffic signal (either a stop sign or a traffic light) and hit another vehicle directly on the side. The type and severity of injury suffered can depend on where the impact occurred and the speed at which the at-fault vehicle was traveling.
• Rollovers: The factors surrounding a vehicle rollover can be complex as the accident might be the result of a collision or a single-car accident. Hitting a patch of black ice, for example, can result in the loss of control and a rolling vehicle. The violent action of a car rolling from its wheels to its top can mean devastating injuries to those in the vehicle. Injuries to the head and neck are common in these situations.

Numerous factors can contribute to a vehicle collision. From inclement weather to faulty safety equipment to driving distractions, a motor vehicle crash can occur in nearly any situation. Depending on the size, speed and number of vehicles involved, car accidents can result in a broad range of serious injuries.