What are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents?
Not all car accidents are created equal. There are many types of car accidents and each type of crash comes with unique legal challenges. These challenges can have a major impact on how your case unfolds. From the way insurance companies assess liability to the kinds of injuries you might face, the type of accident you’re involved in shapes every aspect of your claim. In this article, we’re breaking down the most common types of car accidents and when it’s essential to have a lawyer on your side.Don’t face the insurance company alone. Contact The Biker Lawyers today for a free consultation. We’ll help you understand your rights and maximize your compensation.
Injured and Fighting for a Fair Settlment?
Many victims are unsure of their rights when it comes to accidents and the mess of dealing with insurance claims. Nearly half don’t even challenge coverage denials because they don’t know how or if they’re allowed to fight back.
That’s where we come in—to ensure your voice is heard.
Insurance companies are counting on you to give up. Don’t let them stall your recovery—let us handle the fight while you focus on healing.
Types of Car Accidents and When to Call an Attorney
Every accident is different, and the type of crash you’re involved in can affect:
- Who is at fault (and how hard that will be to prove)
- The severity of your injuries (and your medical expenses)
- The amount of compensation you’re entitled to
Injuries Related to Specific Types of Accidents
Certain injuries are more likely to happen in specific types of crashes. Here’s what you should know:
- Rear-End Collisions = Whiplash, soft tissue damage, chronic pain
- Side-Impact Collisions = Neck injuries, head trauma, spinal cord injuries
- Rollover Accidents = Traumatic brain injuries (TBI), broken bones, catastrophic injuries
- Single-Vehicle Accidents = Concussions, fractures, whiplash, soft tissue injuries
Want to know if you should file a lawsuit or just negotiate with insurance? Contact The Biker Lawyers for a free consultation.
Here is a deeper dive into the most common types of accidents and the unique challenges that can come with each one. Keep in mind that often the reasons and benefits of talking to a lawyer about your case are often similar regardless of the type of crash.
1. Rear-End Collisions
Rear-End Collision Related Common Injuries
The sudden impact from behind can cause the head and neck to jerk forward and backward rapidly, leading to whiplash and other soft tissue injuries.
Here are some of the most common injuries we see:
- Whiplash and Neck Issues: That sudden jolt can really mess with your neck, causing pain, stiffness, and limited movement. Sometimes it’s more than just whiplash, like fractures or dislocations.
- Soft Tissue Injuries: We’re talking about sprains, strains, and bruises to muscles, tendons, and ligaments all over your body. Lots of pain and swelling often come with these.
- Head Injuries: This is a big one. Brain injuries, from mild concussions to more severe TBIs, can have lasting effects on how you think, remember, and even how you act.
- Broken Bones: Accidents can lead to fractures in arms, legs, ribs, you name it. These often mean surgery and lots of rehab.
- Road Rash: Sliding across the pavement after being thrown off a bike leads to this. It can be anything from minor scrapes to deep wounds needing skin grafts and leaving scars.
- Internal Injuries: Serious accidents can cause internal bleeding and damage to organs, which can be life-threatening if not treated fast.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: These are really scary and can lead to paralysis and loss of feeling.
- Emotional and Mental Injuries: Motorcycle accidents can cause PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The trauma can be as real as the physical injuries.
Quick Tip: Always wear a helmet and protective gear to help prevent these kinds of injuries. If you’re in an accident, get medical help right away and talk to a motorcycle accident attorney to protect your rights.
Legal Challenge
Liability is usually clear, but insurance companies may downplay injuries like whiplash as “minor.”
Rear-end collisions happen when one car crashes into the back of another. While liability is typically assigned to the driver in the back, insurance companies often argue that injuries like whiplash aren’t severe.
A rear-end collision attorney can present medical evidence to prove that even “minor” accidents can have major health impacts.
How a Rear-End Collision Attorney Helps Your Case
- Proving Whiplash is Serious: Insurance companies claim whiplash is “minor.” A lawyer can present medical expert testimony and pain journals to prove otherwise.
- Gathering Evidence: Your attorney will often collect roadway and dashcam footage, witness statements, police reports, and other information that is not always readily available to establish liability.
- Calculate Hidden Costs: Your lawyer will make sure that your settlement takes into account lost wages, chiropractic care, long-term pain management, and any number of other sources of information that are often overlooked.
2. Side-Impact Collisions (T-Bone Accidents)
Being struck from the side can cause significant harm, especially since the sides of vehicles typically offer less protection than the front or rear. This can result in serious injuries to the head, neck, and spine.
Most Common Injuries Related to Side-Impact Collisions
Neck injuries, head trauma, spinal cord injuries, etc.
Legal Challenge
Disputes about which driver had the right-of-way are most common. Side-impact crashes (also known as T-bone collisions) usually happen at intersections.
Proving fault often comes down to witness testimony, roadway and dashcam footage, location of roadway debris, scuff and skid marks, traffic signal data, and any number of additional factors that vary from case-to-case.
If the other driver claims they had a green light, it’s your word against theirs—unless you have a lawyer to build a stronger case.
How a Side-Impact Collision Lawyer Helps Your Case
Here are just a couple of reasons to consider talking to a lawyer.
- Proving Liability: Since fault can be disputed, your lawyer may involve accident reconstruction experts to establish which driver’s negligence caused the crash.
- Insurance Negotiations: Insurers often try to downplay the seriousness of side-impact injuries. A lawyer will ensure you have the best chance to be fully compensated for both your economic and non-economic damages.
3. Rollover Accidents
Common Injuries Related to Rollover Accidents
The violent nature of rollovers exposes occupants to multiple impacts, increasing the risk of severe injuries, including TBIs and fractures.
Serious injuries, like brain and spinal cord damage, broken bones, organ issues, and losing limbs change people’s lives. These usually happen in big accidents like motorcycle crashes, car wrecks, falls, or workplace mishaps. The aftermath? Long-term problems, constant pain, emotional struggles, and money troubles – just to name a few.
Legal Challenge
Determining the cause (like reckless or distracted driving, etc.) is critical.Figuring out who’s at fault in a motorcycle accident is way more complicated than it looks. It’s not just about what happened in the seconds before the crash. It’s about digging deep to find out the real cause.
Getting to the bottom of all this takes a serious investigation. We may need to reconstruct the accident, get experts involved, and check out all the evidence. What we find will decide who’s responsible and how much compensation folks might get.
Rollover crashes are some of the most violent and deadly accidents on the road. While they can be caused by driver error, other factors often play a role.
An attorney who spcializes in these types of car accidents will investigate all possible causes to determine if a third party may be liable.
How a Rollover Accident Attorney Helps Your Case
Here are two strong reasons to consider talking to a lawyer:
- Severe Injury Claims: Since rollover accidents often result in catastrophic injuries, an attorney will build a case that factors in long-term medical expenses, pain and suffering, diminished quality of life, and more.
- Making Sure All Your Bases are Covered: Your lawyer works for you and they don’t get paid unless you do. They are 100% invested in the best possible outcome for your case and recovery.
4. Single-Vehicle Accidents
These accidents often involve collisions with stationary objects or rollovers, leading to a variety of injuries depending on the nature of the crash.
- Common Injuries: Concussions, fractures, whiplash, soft tissue injuries, etc.
- Legal Challenge: Insurers often blame the driver, but third-party negligence or other factors may play a role.
What is a Single-Vehicle Accident?
If you crash your car without hitting another vehicle, it’s called a single-vehicle accident. While many people assume it’s always the driver’s fault, that’s not always true. Other factors may be to blame.
A lawyer can investigate if another party should be held accountable.
How a Single-Vehicle Accident Lawyer Helps Your Case
Aside from the many other reasons we have mentioned previously, your lawyer will help you defend yourself against blame. Insurers often blame the driver in single-vehicle accidents, but a lawyer can push back with evidence of third-party negligence.
Types of Car Accidents - FAQ
Click the (+) on any of the questions below.What is the most common type of car accident?
Rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident, often occurring at stoplights, stop signs, and in heavy traffic. These crashes usually happen because the rear driver is distracted, speeding, tailgating, or impaired. While some rear-end accidents are minor, others can cause serious injuries like whiplash, head trauma, and broken bones. To avoid these accidents, maintain a safe following distance, stay focused, and adjust for road and weather conditions. If you've been injured in a rear-end crash, call The Biker Lawyers for a free consultation.
Can I sue if I’m in a single-vehicle accident?
Yes, but it depends on whether someone else is responsible for the crash. If road hazards, defective car parts, or another driver's actions contributed to the accident, you may have a case. Proving fault requires evidence like accident reports, police records, and witness statements. A skilled attorney can investigate the circumstances and help determine your legal options. Contact The Biker Lawyers to discuss your case.
How does a lawyer help with side-impact collisions?
Side-impact crashes, or T-bone accidents, can be complicated to prove. A lawyer can help by:
- Gathering dashcam footage, traffic light data, and accident reports.
- Interviewing witnesses to establish the events leading up to the crash.
- Working with crash reconstruction experts to analyze the scene.
- Negotiating with insurance companies to ensure you get fair compensation.
- Filing a lawsuit if necessary to secure the settlement you deserve.
What types of injuries happen in side-impact collisions?
Side-impact crashes are especially dangerous because there is less structural protection on the sides of a vehicle. Common injuries include:
- Neck Injuries: Whiplash, torn ligaments, and spinal damage.
- Head Trauma: Concussions, skull fractures, and brain injuries.
- Spinal Cord Damage: Can cause paralysis, numbness, or long-term disability.
- Chest & Abdominal Injuries: Broken ribs, internal bleeding, and organ damage.
- Pelvic & Leg Injuries: Hip fractures, knee dislocations, and soft tissue damage.
Don’t Face Big Insurance Alone.
If you’ve been involved in a car accident—whether it’s a rear-end collision, side-impact crash, rollover, or single-vehicle incident—The Biker Lawyers have the experience and expertise to fight for your rights. Our team knows how to build strong cases tailored to each type of accident and injury.
Contact The Biker Lawyers today for a free consultation and learn how we can help you get the compensation you deserve.
A personal injury lawyer doesn’t just fight for settlements — they protect your rights every step of the way.