Car crashes are the leading cause of death for young adults between the ages of 15 and 29.
But aging out of this group doesn’t mean you’re safe on the road. Car accidents are the 9th leading cause of death for everyone in the United States.
Despite these statistics, many people can escape car accidents without a single scratch.
Why?
Not all car accidents are as dangerous as others.
We’ve put together this guide to help you understand the most dangerous types of car accidents so you can be more aware when you’re driving.
So keep reading below.
1. Rear-End Accidents
Most rear-end accidents are minor fender benders, but they can be more serious.
For example, read-end crashes are one of the most common causes of whiplash. The symptoms of whiplash develop within 24 hours after the crash, and they usually don’t have any long-term effects. But they still might require medical attention to heal properly.
Some of the symptoms of whiplash include the following.
- Neck pain
- Neck stiffness
- Loss of range of motion in the neck
- Shoulder or upper back pain
- Tingling in the arms (or even numbness)
- Headaches, fatigue, and dizziness
While many of these symptoms will fade after a few weeks, they can also lead to more serious complications. Some people involved in rear-end accidents can suffer from chronic whiplash pain for more than a year.
In rare cases, rear-end accidents can even lead to death.
The best way to avoid rear-end collisions is to be aware of what’s going on behind your car. Use your mirrors and keep your back window clean. If it looks like a car isn’t going to stop in time behind you, do your best to pull out of the way.
2. Rollover Accident
Rollover accidents might seem like they should be at the top of the list, but they can actually cause fewer injuries than side collisions or head-on crashes.
But that depends on if the driver or passengers are wearing their seat belts.
Over-the-shoulder seat belts will keep the passengers from being thrown around the inside of the car as it rolls over. People who aren’t wearing their seat belts when they get into this type of crash might get thrown out of the car and sustain more serious injuries.
Even if you do wear your seat belt, your body will be subject to violent sideways and rolling motions. If the car has a weak frame, it might also collapse during the accident.
Again, the best way to prevent this type of accident is to practice proper road safety measures.
3. T-Bone/Side Collision
T-bone collisions involve one car crashing into the side of another car. This type of accident usually takes place in parking lots, intersections, or roads with a high amount of traffic.
Most cars don’t have a lot of protection along the sides, which can make side collisions dangerous for drivers and passengers alike. In fact, side collisions account for roughly 25% of all traffic deaths.
Because of this percentage, more and more car manufacturers are putting airbags into the front doors to help protect against these crashes. To avoid these types of crashes, make sure you look both ways before driving through an intersection and be aware of other cars around you in a parking lot.
4. Off-The-Road Accident
An off-the-road accident occurs when a car veers off the pavement and crashes into another object, like a telephone pole or a tree. These types of accidents can be extremely dangerous and even deadly.
The main causes of an off-the-road accident are things like distracted driving, severe weather conditions, falling asleep while driving, and drunk driving.
To avoid these accidents, never let yourself drive when you’re tired, drunk, or distracted in any way. And be alert on the road. Keep track of what’s around you so you know the best way to react if the weather gets bad.
5. Head-On Crash
Head-on crashes are the cause of 54% of all traffic deaths. This makes them one of the most dangerous types of car accidents in which you can be involved.
And here’s why.
The impact of a head-on collision can be twice that of what occurs in any other type of accident. For example, if two cars are driving at a speed of 65 miles per hour when they crash head-on, the impact speed of the crash is actually 130 miles per hour.
If the impact speed is fast enough, the airbag will do little to protect against injury or even death.
Make sure you don’t get behind the wheel of a car if you’re intoxicated, overly tired, or are distracted. Otherwise, you might end up in one of these crashes.
6. Pile-Up Crash
A pile-up crash involves multiple cars all crashing into each other at the same time. Even if only two cars cause the initial crash, it can turn into a pile-up crash if other cars can’t avoid the crash or stop in time.
These crashes can be dangerous because of the sheer number of people who can get hurt or killed.
One of the worst pile-up crashes ever recorded involved a total of 104 cars. The accident injured 114 people and killed 17 others.
Always maintain a three second following distance from the car in front of you, and keep an eye on what’s happening farther down the road. Doing so will help you spot the early signs of a pile-up crash and help you avoid it.
What to Do If You Were Involved in One of These Dangerous Types of Car Accidents
If you were involved in one of these dangerous types of car accidents, you should seek medical attention right away. And don’t forget to get in contact with a lawyer. They can help guide you through your case, get you the compensation you need, and give you a more comfortable recovery by taking the stress out of the process.
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