Common Causes Sideswipe Collisions
A sideswipe collision has happened when the sides of two parallel cars meet and “swipe” each other; sometimes described as a “glancing blow.” In the best case scenario, the cars are traveling in the same direction and neither driver loses control. In these cases the vehicles may suffer only cosmetic damage. In more serious sideswipe accidents, one or both drivers lose control of their vehicle. This can lead to a tragic ROR collision with a stationary object such as a tree along with serious personal injuries.
Causes of sideswipe car collisions
Common causes of sideswipe traffic accidents:
- When distracted driving causes the driver to veer out of their lane.
- When a driver is impaired by drugs, alcohol or fatigue and veers out of their lane.
- When a driver reacts to a road hazard or imminent motor vehicle accident by over-correcting their steering wheel. Rather than crashing into one vehicle the car ends up side-swiping another.
- When a driver makes a lane change without properly checking to see if the lane they are moving into is clear. In some cases there is a car in the first driver’s “blind spot” so the driver mistakenly believes that the lane is clear.
The cause of sideswipe collisions generally boils down to careless or absent minded driving on the part of the first driver. Whatever the cause, the resulting accident can cause serious personal injury or death and plenty of damage to the vehicle including scraped quarter panels, dented side doors and/or damaged side-view mirrors.
Do I need a car accident lawyer to fight for a sideswipe collision settlement?
It is always an option to settle with a car insurance company without the help of a personal injury attorney but in most cases, the person will end up with a smaller settlement. In sideswipe collisions where the damage may not be as severe as it can be in more direct impact accidents, car insurance companies may attempt to dispute the injury claims. In these cases it is extremely important to hire a car accident attorney who can fight for a fair settlement on your behalf. You should not be left to pay the bills for treatment of your injured neck or shoulders, both common injuries in sideswipe collisions!
If you or a loved one was seriously injured in a sideswipe accident through no fault of your own, hiring a car accident attorney is an important step to recovering damages for medical bills, rehabilitation and even long-term care. If a car insurance company is fighting your claim, you need the help of an experienced car accident lawyer. Don’t delay; there is a three year statute of limitations to file an injury claim in Washington State!
Seek the help of a sideswipe car accident lawyer
If you or a loved one is dealing with an accident or injury, you have enough on your plate. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
