Of all the types of car accidents, side-impact collisions are one of the most dangerous.
They cause considerable vehicle damage, and more importantly, are a significant injury risk. If you ever find yourself in one of them, it is a good idea to speak with a St. Louis car accident attorney to discuss your options.
Causes
The vast majority of side-impact accidents happen at intersections. Here are four primary causes of this type of accident.
Running Stop Signs – When drivers do not make full stops at stop signs, they are in danger of collisions. Usually, the driver that was driving responsibly is the one that takes the side impact.
Running Red Lights – This situation is very similar to stop signs, but with higher stakes. This is because these accidents tend to be at higher speeds and involve more than two vehicles.
Not Looking Both Ways – Sometimes an intersection has a stop sign for only two ways, rather than all four. In this situation, drivers need to look carefully for cars before turning. If they do not, they could be struck.
Aggressively Taking Unprotected Left Turns – Drivers can get too aggressive at stop lights that have unprotected left turns. This frequently leads to side-impact collisions.
Common Injuries
The reason these accidents are so dangerous is lack of protection. In head-on collisions, the front of the car can crumple and absorb a significant amount of the energy of the other vehicle. In a side collision, all of that energy is transmitted directly to them. Though they have airbags, these accidents are still incredibly deadly. Some of the most common damages that come from them are broken bones, back injuries, concussions, and death.
Avoidance Tips
The best way to avoid these types of accidents is to review the common causes and try to avoid them. The following tips do just that.
Follow The Rules – The essential behavioral change you can make is following the rules at all times. Make complete stops at stop signs, never run red lights, and opt for slowing down rather than speeding up when a light turns yellow. You cannot control other drivers, but you can control yourself.
Waiting Before Entering an Intersection – When a light turns green, you might have a habit of hitting the gas right away. Unfortunately, there are often drivers that are still trying to make their light. Though they are a few seconds late, they dangerously run through the intersection anyway. You can avoid them by waiting a couple of seconds after a light turns green to enter the intersection.
Take Left Turns Cautiously – When you take a left turn, you put yourself in a vulnerable position. Because of this, you should be wary of danger. Look both ways and be defensive when you enter an intersection on a left turn.
Anytime you’re on the road you should drive carefully and defensively. This is especially true when you are at risk of a side-impact collision. Still, even the safest driver sometimes get hit. If this happens, it is a good idea to speak with a St. Louis car accident lawyer to assist you through the process.