Why Sideswipe Accidents Are Dangerous

When you think about types of dangerous car accidents, you’re likely thinking of rollovers, head-on collisions, or T-bone accidents. Sideswipe collisions might not come up on your list of serious accidents, but they can be deadly. What makes a sideswipe accident so dangerous, though? When a car comes into your lane, you might expect a scary experience but minor damage. Unfortunately, you could lose control of your car and be left with major injuries. Make sure you’re taking care to avoid these serious accidents.  

You Could Lose Control

Sideswipe accidents usually happen when another car unexpectedly tries to enter your lane. In some cases, this action might be the result of a road hazard or an attempt to avoid another accident. Other times, the driver might not have been looking for you or didn’t see you in their blind spot. Often, such a side impact causes the other driver to jerk the wheel to compensate. Unfortunately, that means you might overcompensate and completely lose control of the car. Now, you’ve been hit once, and you’re at risk of crashing into something else. That leaves you struggling to stop your car as you lose control, which can be impossible. Now, you’re in much more danger than a simple sideswipe would initially cause, especially if you’re moving at high speed.    

More Serious Accidents Can Happen

Unfortunately, the loss of control means that you’re at risk for a more serious accident type. The impact to the side of your car might not have caused major damage, but a second impact can lead to a much worse outcome. For example, you might have been driving down the highway when another car tried to merge into traffic. You were moving at high speed when they sideswiped you, and the accident caused you to lose control of your car. You ended up rolling over in the median, causing much more serious injuries, such as head trauma and broken bones. Unfortunately, it’s often not the initial crash that causes the most damage in a sideswipe accident. Instead, it’s the damage that follows that leaves you injured and struggling to recover.    

Speak to a Lawyer When You’ve Been Hit

A sideswipe accident may not seem serious at first, but the end results can be dire. These accidents can leave you with painful injuries, a damaged car, and trauma that will affect you for a long time. That’s difficult to overcome without help. Fortunately, a Manhattan car accident attorney from Greenstein & Milbauer, LLP can give you the legal guidance you need. We’ll determine the cause of your accident and who’s at fault. That way, you can get the compensation you need from the responsible party. If you’re not sure who that is, reach out for a free consultation. When you’re ready to get started, reach out for help. You can reach us at our website or by calling 1-800-VICTIM2 (842-8462).