Which Types of Car Accidents Happen Most Often in Maryland?
Experienced personal injury attorneys helping Baltimore families move forward
Every car accident is frightening; the unexpected impact, the noise and, in some cases, the pain you experience can all contribute to that fear. Some collisions, however, can have severe consequences, affecting your health and your finances. The severity of those consequences could be linked to the type of accident you had.
Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., understands what the long-term repercussions of a serious car accident might be. For 35 years, our auto accident attorneys have represented clients in Baltimore, Columbia and throughout Maryland in trials and in negotiations. We know what kind of future you might face without support; let us help you protect yourself and your family.
Common types of car accidents
Whether you are navigating city traffic in Baltimore or Silver Spring, driving through town in Columbia or traveling on any of Maryland’s local roads or highways, your risk of an accident increases with every other car you encounter. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., our attorneys routinely represent people who have been hurt in:
- Rear-end collisions. A rear-end collision occurs when your car is hit from behind by another vehicle. These are the most common car accidents and are likely to occur if you are stuck in traffic or if a distracted driver does not notice that you have stopped at a light, stop sign or crosswalk. You may sustain injuries such as whiplash, or a traumatic brain injury if your head hits the dashboard or air bag with too much force.
- Head-on collisions. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a head-on collision occurs when “the front end of one vehicle collides with the front-end of another vehicle while the two vehicles are traveling in opposite directions.” Head-on collisions can also cause traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, and serious facial and upper body lacerations if the glass in your windshield breaks. Drivers who are not wearing seatbelts may fly out through the windshield on impact.
- Multi-car collisions. When more than two cars are involved in an accident, it is designated a multi-car collision, or chain reaction accident. They are more likely to occur in areas with heavy traffic, but construction zones are also dangerous because of the poor visibility that usually surrounds them. Because of the multiple parties involved, these are very complex cases.
- Sideswipes. A sideswipe occurs when your car brushes up against, or swipes, another object. A strong impact could shatter your windows, putting you at risk of lacerations. You may also face heavy repair costs.
- Broadside collisions. Also referred to as “T-bones,” broadside collisions occur when another car hits your driver or passenger doors. A broadside collision puts a driver at risk of broken bones and of being crushed. If the impact is great enough, a T-bone collision could potentially snap the neck of the driver or passenger who is hit.
Injuries from rear-end car crashes
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration publishes data about car accidents throughout the United States. According to their most recent data, “rear-end crashes resulted in 1,705 fatalities and represented almost half of all two-vehicle crashes” in 2012. Even a seemingly minor rear-end collision can cause serious problems; after all, a “fender bender” still has enough force to literally bend or destroy a piece of your car.
A driver or passenger in a rear-end collision may also risk serious injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries, arising from hitting an air bag, steering wheel, dashboard or head rest too hard
- Whiplash, a condition caused by the rapid “snapping” of the neck back and forth
- Paralysis, if the neck or spine is broken or crushed during impact
- Internal organ or tissue damage, if the body is crushed in the car
- Lacerations caused by broken glass
- Broken bones caused by the impact of the hit, or by being crushed in the car
Though many rear-end collisions are not fatal, a car that is hit by a speeding or reckless driver could crash into another object hard enough to lead to the death of the driver or passenger. Even a seemingly “minor” rear-end collision can cause serious problems. Rear-end accidents are also a leading cause of multi-car collisions; should your car hit another vehicle, your chances of sustaining an injury can increase as well.
At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we understand the ramifications of a serious rear-end collision and know what it will take for you to recover after the accident. For 35 years, our personal injury law firm has been a beacon of hope for auto accident victims in Baltimore, Columbia and throughout the state of Maryland. When you need help, we work swiftly to obtain the compensation you need and the justice you deserve.
Why are head-on collisions so deadly?
To understand why head-on collisions are so deadly, we can look to the laws of physics: An object in motion tends to stay in motion unless that motion is arrested in some way. Thus, when a car rear-ends another car, only the moving object has the momentum to go forward. Most likely, the car that is hit will be forced forward by the car behind it. But when two cars are traveling toward each other, and they collide, both cars are being propelled by their own forward momentum. To put it simply: there is twice the amount of energy involved in head-on collisions, which makes them, in essence, twice as dangerous.
Head-on accidents lead to serious injuries
While any kind of car accident might lead you to suffer serious injuries, the risk is greater when you hit another car head-on. At Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., we have successfully represented car accident victims who have sustained serious, long-term and sometimes permanent injuries, including:
- Head injuries leading to permanent brain damage or coma
- Permanent spinal cord damage, including partial or full paralysis
- Lacerations and burns, which may lead to permanent scarring
- Crushed limbs necessitating amputation
- Permanent vision or hearing loss
- Broken bones
- Internal organ or tissue damage
Head-on collisions are among the rarest type of car crashes, but they are also among the deadliest: According to the NHTSA, about 10% of head-on collisions are fatal, and more than 50% led to serious injury. With a risk that high, it is imperative that you seek legal counsel after you have been involved in a head-on collision.
After a car accident, you should immediately seek medical attention. If you have sustained injuries, the car accident lawyers at Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., can help you obtain the compensation you need for your medical expenses, your lost time at work and your pain and suffering. If you lost a loved one in a collision, we can file a wrongful death lawsuit on your behalf and help you recover the costs of funeral expenses as well.
Learn more about the causes of car accidents in Maryland
Road Rage and Aggressive Driving
A Few of the Most Dangerous Roads in Maryland
New Study Warns of Dangers of Reflective Signs
Protecting the victims of car accidents of all kinds
Recovering after a car accident is hard; choosing the right lawyer to represent your future need not be. The car accident attorneys of Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., have the skills, resources, and experience you want on your side when you have been hurt in a collision. Please call us at 410-730-7737 or contact us online to schedule your consultation. We are proud to serve clients in Baltimore, Columbia, and throughout Maryland.