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Car accidents in a big city as spread out as Houston are an almost inevitable part of daily life. Roadway collisions can result in property damage, personal injury, and wrongful death, and must therefore be taken extremely seriously by drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and all others on or near Houston streets and highways. With its many intersections, roundabouts, crosswalks, bridges, and other varied aspects of transportation infrastructure, there are various types of car accidents that can and do occur on a regular basis. It’s important to learn about each type so that drivers can be aware of how and when to watch out for them and hopefully avoid car wrecks and the resulting injuries they cause.

What Are the Most Common Types of Car Accidents?

While there are a wide variety of types of car accidents and an even longer list of causes or triggers, the most common types of car accidents seen in big cities like Houston include:

Rear-End Collisions

Rear-end collisions are a common type of auto accident. When you follow too closely behind another car and/or when another driver suddenly stops, a rear-end car accident can result. These crashes are easily one of the most common types of car accidents. In order to attempt to avoid them, drivers should keep a safe following distance from other cars at all times and avoid tailgating. Whether you are the driver who hits a vehicle in front of you or the driver who gets hit by a vehicle behind you, these accidents can often cause serious property damage and physical injuries including head, neck, and back injuries.

Head-On Collisions

A head-on collision is also known as a frontal collision. This type of car crash usually happens when two vehicles driving in opposite directions hit each other head-on. The majority of head-on collisions are caused by one driver traveling the wrong way – either because they have crossed the centerline of the roadway or because they are driving in the opposite direction. Head-on collisions are the most dangerous and deadly of all crashes, accounting for over 10 percent of fatal crashes.

Side-Impact Collisions

Side impact car accidents occur when one vehicle hits another vehicle on its side – either head-on or at an angle. These types of car accidents are also called T-Bone accidents and sideswipe accidents and usually occur because someone failed to yield, because of improper lane changes, because a driver made another type of illegal driving maneuver such as an illegal U-turn, or because of bad road or weather conditions.

Single Vehicle Crashes

Single-vehicle crashes happen often due to causes that include overcorrecting a small mistake or braking too hard to avoid an obstacle – in Texas, these obstacles are often animals including livestock. These wrecks occur when drives run off the road, spin out on flood waters, hit stationary objects, and in many other situations.

Low-Speed Accidents

A low-speed car crash occurs when the vehicles involved are traveling at less than 20 or 25 miles per hour. Most low-speed accidents occur in parking lots, on smaller streets, or in school zones – all areas where drivers should be driving at slower speeds. Even though these crashes are not generally as catastrophic as high-speed collisions, they can and do still leave victims with resulting injuries, some of which can be severe.

Multi-Vehicle Crashes

When a car accident involves three or more vehicles, it’s considered a multi-vehicle crash. Also called “pileups,” these car accidents are commonly seen on highways where speeding is rampant. Since many vehicles are involved in these types of car accidents, determining liability can be difficult which means hiring a personal injury lawyer to help you is all the more crucial.

Hit and Run Car Accidents

A hit and run occur when a negligent driver hits another motor vehicle and just drives off without stopping to check if everyone is okay, provide help or exchange information. In Texas, a hit and run is punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment, depending on the facts of the crash.

Houston, TX Lawyers For Car Accidents

Unfortunately, even the best drivers can’t always protect themselves from car accidents. Understanding the different types of car accidents that are likely to occur can help you be prepared if you are ever involved in one yourself. When people drive recklessly, they can be held liable for the damages caused by a resulting auto accident. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you hold them responsible. Our car accident attorneys serve clients throughout the Houston area, out of our two offices in the Heights and Cypress. If you or a family member has been injured in any of these types of accidents caused by a negligent driver, you may be eligible for financial compensation. Contact Adame Garza today for a free consultation in either English or Spanish to find out more about how we can help.