Most Common Fatal Car Accidents

Fatal car accidents are usually the result of speed and angle of impact. Other contributing factors include whether motorists wear seat belts and their general health. However, some types of car accidents are more likely to result in fatalities than others. If you lost a beloved family member in a crash, contact Hoy Law today. You might file a wrongful death claim against the party responsible for the death.

Head On Collisions

This is the most dangerous type of crash, principally because the driver and any front-seat passenger is sitting closer to the impact zone. Head-on collisions often happen at high speeds, such as on the highway when one vehicle is going the wrong way. Other causes include tired or drunk drivers who drive over the centerline and crash into oncoming traffic.

During a collision, motorists can suffer fatal head injuries. Many die immediately, while others perish on the way to the hospital in the back of an ambulance. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), frontal impacts accounted for about 6 in 10 passenger fatalities.

T-Bone Accidents

These accidents also cause many fatalities. Most cars have less protection or reinforcement on the sides, so the damage is more extensive. Some occupants will break their necks due to the impact when their head twists violently to the side.

Side-impact collisions are common at intersections, when one driver runs a red light, often while speeding. IIHS data shows that 22% of passengers who perish in accidents were involved in side impact collisions.

Rollovers

Rollovers were once a leading cause of fatal car accidents. Helpfully, improvements in vehicle design have reduced the frequency of rollover accidents, especially in SUVs. Nonetheless, when these accidents happen, we see many significant injuries, including fatalities.

One risk is that a passenger is not belted in, so they can land on their head or neck when the vehicle flips over. Other motorists are ejected from their vehicle in this type of crash, and they can suffer a fatal injury when they land in the road or are run over.

Fixed-Object Collisions

These single-vehicle accidents are often deadly. A motorist who crashes into a tree or building can suffer devastating injuries because the fixed object does not absorb energy the way another vehicle will. Consequently, drivers and their passengers are more likely to suffer significant bodily trauma. Organ damage, including heart damage, can lead to fatalities.

Fixed-object collisions are especially challenging for family members. Legally, you need to prove someone was responsible for a loved one’s death to maintain a wrongful death claim. The defendant could be a phantom motorist who almost hit your loved one and forced them off the road before fleeing the scene. Or a defendant could be a mechanic who failed to perform careful repairs or the manufacturer for selling a defective product. We need to convince insurance companies that your family member did not drive off the road due to their own carelessness.

Call to Speak with a Fatal Accidents Lawyer in a Consultation

Grieving families do not want to think about lawsuits, but critical deadlines apply. Call Hoy Law to speak with a Sioux Falls fatal car accident lawyer today. We provide compassionate legal representation to those who lost beloved family members in accidents.

Source:

iihs.org/research-areas/fatality-statistics/detail/passenger-vehicle-occupants