While not every sideswipe car accident causes serious injuries, there are cases in which a sideswipe collision does involve significant injuries.
It can often be difficult for insurance companies to determine fault for sideswipe collisions, because both drivers may claim that the other driver was the party who caused a collision. For this reason, people with an injury claim stemming from a sideswipe crash in Greenville need a skilled car accident attorney to help them recover all of the financial compensation they may be entitled to.
At David R. Price, Jr., P.A., we represent sideswipe accident victims and their families. Contact us to learn how our experience can obtain the compensation you deserve.
What Constitutes a Sideswipe Accident?
What is a sideswipe collision? These accidents involve the sides of two vehicles making an impact. Vehicles could be traveling in the same direction or opposite directions.
Many sideswipe accidents involve drivers who do not check their blind spots while merging into another lane. In other cases, drivers may be moving out of traffic lanes or parking spaces when it is not safe to do so.
Sideswipe accidents are always the most dangerous when they occur at high speeds. A sideswipe accident on a major highway has the potential to force one vehicle into another lane or entirely off the road, which can result in secondary collisions that are even more dangerous.
Causes of Sideswipe Accidents
Sideswipe accidents can stem from many possible causes, and several forms of driver negligence can lead to a sideswipe collision.
Some of the most common sideswipe accident scenarios generally include:
- Failure to check blind spots
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence (DUI)
- Road rage
- Reckless driving
- Failure to signal
- Merging accidents
- Inclement weather
Sideswipe Accident Injuries
A sideswipe accident often has the potential to involve multiple injuries to the parties involved in a collision. Drivers and passengers can suffer various injuries because of the force of certain collisions and how much impact a vehicle makes with another vehicle.
Some of the more common injuries in these cases may include:
- Fractures or broken bones
- Skull fractures
- Closed head injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Paralysis
- Back injuries
- Leg injuries
- Neck injuries
- Internal organ injuries
- Permanent nerve injuries
- Amputations
- Severe burn injuries
Determining Fault in Sideswipe Accidents
Both drivers involved in a sideswipe accident might claim the other driver was at fault for their collision. Insurance companies for both drivers will then to try and pin the blame on the other driver for the accident.
In most sideswipe accident cases, investigators will have to view the exact location of a collision to determine which vehicle left its lane and caused a collision as it relates to fault. Since all drivers have an obligation to stay in their lanes and operate safely, the driver who left their lane and entered the lane of another driver is likely to be the party at fault in a sideswipe accident.
Even when the drivers involved have differing accounts of what occurred, police officers responding to crash scenes will often get statements from witnesses to collisions that can help offer insight into how a crash happened. Independent witnesses can often be valuable in these cases, so people should always be looking for third parties who might have seen collisions and ask them for contact information in case their testimony is needed.
Other important steps to take at the scene of a sideswipe accident include taking pictures of everything involved in a collision, including any skid marks, fluid spills, or indications of a crash.
People should always seek medical attention after car accidents, even when they do not think they were hurt. Remember that many injury symptoms do not appear for several days, and delaying treatment may cause problems with recovering compensation later. You will want to get a complete review of your health to ensure you did not suffer an unknown injury.
Hiring a Greenville Sideswipe Accident Attorney
Many people who are involved in sideswipe accidents do not feel the need to hire lawyers for their cases because they believe fault is clear and an insurance company will cover all of their damages. While this view is certainly understandable, people need to realize that insurance companies make every effort to pay as little as possible to resolve any claims that are filed with their companies.
The result is that insurers will often try to contact car accident victims, convince them there are questions about liability in their case, and get them to accept settlement offers that are dramatically less than what people are entitled to. You need to understand that there is significant risk of accepting such an offer too early, because you will not be able to pursue any further compensation from the insurance company if it proves to be insufficient to cover all of your costs. When you hire an experienced car accident injury attorney to handle your sideswipe case, your lawyer can immediately step in and deal with the insurance company for you. Your lawyer can then handle all conversations with an insurer on your behalf and help you avoid any instance in which you might accidentally admit to something that damages your case.
Fair settlements can take some time to negotiate, but insurance companies will often agree to settle cases because they do not want to pay the extraordinary costs of going to trial. The lawyers at David R. Price, Jr., P.A., are motivated to help sideswipe accident victims recover as much as possible.
Contact Our Experienced Sideswipe Accident Lawyer in Greenville
If you suffered severe injuries or your loved one was killed in a sideswipe accident anywhere in South Carolina, be sure that you do not delay seeking legal representation. The lawyers at David R. Price Jr., P.A. have recovered hundreds of thousands of dollars for various clients in many different types of accident claims.
Our firm was voted the Best Law Firm by the Greenville News in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. Call (864) 207-4741 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.