According to statistics, approximately 38,000 people die each year in the US from traffic accidents. Another 4.4 million people sustain serious injuries. Since the beginning of the pandemic, traffic fatalities have been on the rise.

The United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that about 38,680 people died in motor vehicle accidents in 2020. This is the most significant number since 2007, and it showcases a staggering 7.2% increase compared to the 36,906 fatalities in 2019.

Car accidents are notorious for causing severe head injuries that usually result in disabilities and emotional trauma. Below is a list of the most common car accident types:

• Head-on collisions- are one of, if not the deadliest, types of accidents. This is due to the force at which drivers hit their heads. Usually, this happens when the car’s front hits another object or vehicle. The leading causes of these accidents are driving at high speeds, not wearing a seatbelt, or the airbags not deploying to protect passengers from injuries. Suppose you factor in road conditions like rain, snow, ice, and fog; the chances of a head-on collision increase too. More times than not, though, head-on collisions result from negligent drivers. Even more so, those who drive under the influence or are focusing their attention elsewhere.
• Rear-end collisions- the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that rear-end collisions are the most common type of car accident in the country. These accidents account for approximately 29% of all accidents. Tailgating is the overall main reason for these accidents. People rush to get somewhere, so they follow closely behind another driver. Should the car ahead stop suddenly, there isn’t enough time to react appropriately. Other reasons for rear-end collisions are inattention, distraction and panic stops.
• Side-impact collisions- another name for T-bone accidents. This happens when one vehicle collides with the side of another car. Generally, this results in critical harm to the passengers since there is less space in the side of the vehicle to absorb the impact. Our Los Angeles Car Accident Attorneys tend to see these more when drivers don’t stop at a stoplight or stop sign. This can also occur when a driver fails to yield to another driver.
• Side-swipe collisions- accidents like these happen when two vehicles traveling parallel impact each other on the sides. Usually, when a driver makes a lane change without looking first before emerging, this happens.

Multi-vehicle collisions consist of at the very minimum three cars or more colliding on a busy road, freeway, or highway. Similar to head-on crashes, these accidents are hazardous. They also lead to more fatalities due to the vehicle receiving many impacts from differing angles.