Birmingham Car Accident Lawyers

What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents?

Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that roughly 6.5 million car accidents occur per year in the United States, averaging to well over 17,000 car accidents per day. The NHTSA also states that the majority of automobile accidents occur during the after-work rush hour between 3 PM and 6 PM on weekdays.

Depending on the type of crash, injuries range from minor to severe, including life-altering brain and spinal injuries. The most common types of car crashes include:

• Rear-End Collisions: Rear-end collisions are frequently caused by a combination of driver inattentiveness, speeding, and tailgating. Car accident injuries such as soft tissue damage (like whiplash) are commonly sustained. The neck and upper back are likely to suffer injury, as are lower extremity injuries to the legs and feet.
• Sideswipe Accidents: Caused frequently by drowsy or intoxicated drivers, most sideswipe accidents occur when two vehicles are approaching from opposite directions. The cars do not hit each other head-on but instead, scrape along their sides. When one car is significantly larger than the other or has weaker side-impact reinforcements, the driver or passenger may experience injuries to the upper body, head, and neck.
• Side Impact Crashes: According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, side impact crashes account for 25% of car accident fatalities. Often caused by a negligent driver running a red light or making an improper turn, the severe side-to-side movements of such crashes can lead to broken ribs, lacerations, and internal organ rupture.
• Rollovers: Larger cars like SUVs, large trucks, and semis have higher centers of gravity and are more likely to have a rollover incident, but all vehicles have the potential to roll over. Nearly 85% of deaths from rollover accidents involved a single car traveling their daily route. As the car turns over onto the roof, you could suffer a traumatic brain or spinal injury, seat belt injury, or death.
• Head-On Collision: Ranked first among the deadliest types of car accidents, head-on collisions are almost sure to cause great injury. Even at low speeds, head-on collision accident injuries from head-on collisions can cause broken facial bones, soft tissue damage to the neck and upper back, and brain injury. Severe leg and foot injuries are also common in head-on crashes.

Different crashes cause different types of injury severity. What causes a car accident matters for liability purposes in court—the more at-fault a person is, the more they’re obligated to pay to help fix the harm caused. Whatever kind of crash you’ve endured, the lawyers at Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann can handle any claim related to car, truck, motorcycle, or automobile accidents.

‍

How Many Car Accidents Were There In Alabama In 2023?

In 2023, ALEA Troopers investigated a total of 31,717 traffic crashes, which resulted in 11,070 injuries, and includes 560 fatal injuries. Crashes declined by 273, however injuries increased by 156 in 2023 compared to 2022 totals.

‍

What Types of Injuries Are Caused by Car Accidents?

The most common types of car accident injuries include:

• Spinal cord injuries, such as paraplegia and full-body paralysis
• Neck injuries, including whiplash, and ruptured or herniated cervical discs
• Traumatic brain injuries, including concussions or coma
• Broken bones, fractures, or dislocations
• Amputations and loss of limb
• Soft tissue tears, sprains, and lacerations
• Burn injuries, scarring, or disfigurement
• Fatality and wrongful death

According to the NHTSA, motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of two and 34. There is roughly one car accident injury every 14 seconds. Of those accidents, 10% were in SUVs, 7% in pickup trucks, 4% in vans, and 3% in cars.

Preventable causes of car accidents, like alcohol-related crashes and speeding, not only cause an unnecessary loss of human life and health, they also cost Americans billions each year in emergency response costs, uninsured injury treatment, and wage and productivity loss.

Your losses are just as important as these greater economic costs—call Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann at (205) 322-8880 to make your claim.

How Can You Contact a Personal Injury Attorney for Car Accidents?

Those recovering from a serious car accident face numerous burdens. Hiring an attorney can remove many of those tasks, allowing you to heal in peace.

The office of Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann, P.C. has secured numerous multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements on behalf of our car accident clients. We have the experience necessary to investigate your accident and build a strong case to secure a settlement that benefits you and your loved ones.

Recovery has costs. It often takes time, teamwork, and a ton of mental and emotional energy for people to feel themselves again after a car accident. For those who’ve been severely injured, recovery likely requires professional medical help, changes to employment, and other monetary costs. One call to our law firm can improve all aspects of your recovery, by providing peace of mind, accomplishing tasks on your behalf, and securing the financial settlement you need. Reach out to Pittman, Dutton, Hellums, Bradley & Mann today at (205) 322-8880 for representation.

‍