Types of Car Accidents in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania allows car owners to choose whether they have full-tort or limited-tort insurance coverage following a car accident. The result is that your right to pursue an injury claim against an at-fault driver might depend on your choice of car insurance and the severity of your injuries.
In situations where you have the right to pursue a personal injury claim, knowing the type of car accident you were in might also matter. It can help your lawyer explain who bears liability for the crash and how the collision caused your injuries.
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, contact Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers to discuss your options during a free initial consultation.
How Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Car Accident in Philadelphia, PA
Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers was established over 30 years ago, and our Philadelphia car accident attorneys have over 80 years of combined legal experience. We’ve earned some of the legal industry’s most prestigious honors, including a Distinguished rating from Martindale-Hubbell.
Our law firm has recovered over $50 million in compensation for our Pennsylvania clients, including a $4.8 million car accident settlement for a client with head trauma and brain injuries. We’re prepared to fight for you, too, if you sustained injuries in a collision in Philadelphia, PA.
If you hire our Philadelphia car accident lawyers for help with your claim, we’ll:
- Investigate the collision to prove vital elements of your case
- Help you identify all potential sources of compensation for your injuries and other damages
- File claims and negotiate with insurance adjusters on your behalf
- Represent you in court hearings if necessary
Injuries from a car accident can cause long-term disabilities that prevent you from meeting your daily needs or work. Discuss your accident and the compensation you can seek for your injuries by contacting Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
How Do Car Accidents Get Classified?
Car accidents are classified in several different ways, which include the including:
The Units Involved in the Crash
Car crashes can be categorized by the number or type of units involved. Single-vehicle accidents only involve one vehicle that hits a fixed object, overturns, or catches fire, while multi-vehicle collisions involve two or more vehicles in motion. If a car hits a parked vehicle, the police will usually classify it as a single-vehicle accident.
Traffic accidents can also involve different types of units, including:
These accidents are classified separately from car accidents due to the different insurance systems, injuries, and traffic laws involved that distinguish these crashes from ordinary car accidents.
The Motion of the Units
Car accidents can also be classified by the direction of the units involved during the collision. Helpfully, the 2021 Pennsylvania Crash Facts & Statistics report includes the types of collisions tracked by the state.
These crash types include:
- Angle
- Backing up
- Head-on
- Rear-end
- Sideswipe
According to the Crash Facts report, the type of multi-vehicle collision that was most likely to cause a fatality in 2021 was an angle crash.
Common Types of Car Accidents That Occur in Philadelphia, PA
The type of car accident can tell you a lot about the legal posture of each driver involved. Lawyers can use this information to craft arguments to a claims adjuster or jury to recover compensation for accident victims.
Some common accident types include:
Single-Vehicle Accidents
According to the Crash Facts report, single-vehicle crashes were the most common in Pennsylvania as well as the form of accident most likely to kill the driver. Accident victims involved in single-vehicle crashes often have no one to blame but themselves for their injuries.
Occasionally, though, these crashes can, in fact, lead to an injury claim against the following people or groups:
- Vehicle or parts manufacturers that sell defective products
- Repair garages that negligently perform repairs
- Animal owners that negligently permit their animals onto the road
Additionally, passengers injured in single-vehicle crashes might have a claim against the driver for their negligent driving.
Angle Crashes
Angle crashes typically happen at intersections when a driver:
- Fails to yield the right of way
- Turns left in front of an oncoming car
- Turns right into an oncoming car’s lane
- Runs a red light or stop sign
Angle crashes are especially dangerous because the passengers sit close to the doors, and the doors themselves are the weakest part of the vehicle. These accidents often injure the head, chest, and abdomen, and the liability for these crashes falls on the driver who proceeded through the intersection before traffic cleared.
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end crashes can happen for a few reasons, which can include the following:
- Following another vehicle too closely
- Speeding
- Cutting off other vehicles
These crashes, though hazardous, are much less dangerous than angle or head-on crashes, as the vehicles are moving in the same direction when they collide. Seat belts and airbags are designed to restrain you during a front or rear-end crash. Common injuries from rear-end crashes include neck, back, and facial injuries.
The liability for rear-end collisions usually falls on the rear driver because they should have been following at a safe distance. Still, the front driver might bear some or all of the liability if they cut off or brake-checked the rear driver.
Sideswipe Crashes
Sideswipes happen when drivers change lanes unsafely, and they usually only damage property.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyers
A car accident can result in serious injuries that require expensive medical treatment while disabling you from working. Contact Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your car crash injuries and the compensation you can seek for them.Call us today at (215) 875-7030.
