Car crashes almost always come out of nowhere. Most aren’t fatal, but they can still leave a lasting physical, emotional and financial mark. Knowing the most common types of accidents, and what causes them, gives you a better chance of avoiding one.
1. Rear-end collisions
These usually happen when a driver follows too closely (tailgating) and the car ahead stops suddenly. Vehicle damage is often modest, but drivers and passengers can end up with subtle injuries that go unnoticed at first and get worse over time. Tailgating can also spark road rage, so if someone is riding your bumper, stay alert and stay calm.
2. Single-vehicle crashes
Rough road conditions and distractions are behind many of these. Running off the road, sliding on ice, spinning out, hitting a fixed object or simply losing control all fall into this group. Reaching for your phone, changing the music and answering texts are the most common distractions, and joyriding or high speeds make it much harder to react to sudden danger.
3. T-bone (cross-traffic) collisions
These mostly happen at intersections when a driver runs a red light or stop sign, or turns left without yielding. Because they come from someone else’s carelessness, they can be hard to avoid. Take intersections slowly, keep your foot hovering over the brake, and keep your eyes up and your head on a swivel.
4. Side-impact collisions while merging
Most merging crashes happen because a driver didn’t check their blind spot. If you’re in the right lane and someone is merging, judge the gap and help them in by speeding up or easing off. If you’re the one merging, get up to the speed of traffic and watch the cars on your left and the space you have. Teamwork helps on the road, but not every driver plays along.
5. Low-speed accidents
Bumps, fender-benders, parking-lot scrapes and other below-the-limit collisions still cause real damage, and they’re common in neighborhoods. Watch for pedestrians, and take an extra moment when backing up, since that’s when many low-speed crashes happen.
Stay focused behind the wheel
It’s easy to get distracted while driving. A quick glance at a text can turn into missing what’s around you. An animal darting across a dark road can ruin the drive home, and less experienced drivers can test anyone’s patience. If another driver treats you badly, don’t get angry and don’t try to get even. Keeping your emotions in check is part of driving safely.
No crash is easy to deal with. If you’re in one, here’s what to do in the first hours afterward.
Injured in a car accident? Accident Care and Treatment Center in Oklahoma City treats auto accident injuries and bills auto insurance directly, so if another driver caused the crash, your care can go through their auto insurance. Same-day appointments and walk-ins are welcome. Call (405) 842-3209 or visit AccidentCare.com.