Auto Accident

Side Impact Collision

Approximately 8,500 people die each year as a result of side impact collisions, and only head-on collisions have a higher rate of fatality. A side impact crash happens when the front of an automobile meets the side of another. The seriousness of this type of auto accident is based on the velocity and mass of the oncoming vehicle and what part of the car that vehicle hits. Victims of a side impact accident are more likely to suffer severe injuries if their vehicle is struck in the area between the tires as opposed to near the hood or trunk. Side impact collisions are commonplace in the middle of intersections due to people's failure to yield at a stop sign or red light.

Broadside collision

Otherwise referred to as a t-bone collision, a broadside collision occurs when the side of an automobile is hit by the front or back end of another automobile or by a stationary object. The destruction of the vehicle and harm inflicted upon its passengers depends on the location that the vehicle is struck, extent of its safety features, velocity and mass of each vehicle, and how its frame responds to such force.

When a car is hit broadside by another car, the crumpling effect of each vehicle will partially absorb the impact. This type of collision is normally powerful enough to spin the vehicles in a different direction from which they were originally moving. If the automobile that "t-bones" the other one is moving fast enough, the vehicle that is hit may even roll over. Even worse, it could ricochet off nearby vehicles, objects, or pedestrians. A passenger sitting on the side of the vehicle that is struck may suffer the worst injuries of all in comparison to other occupants because they will absorb the most amount of energy.

A vehicle with factory-installed side impact airbags can help reduce occupant injuries. However once they deploy, airbags cannot help you if the automobile continues in motion and subsequently collides with other harmful objects. An airbag will deflate following the initial point of impact, and when this happens, it offers about as much protection as a sheet. Nevertheless, since the first collision is usually the most detrimental, passengers will be thankful that they are riding in a car containing side impact airbags.

Sideswipe collision

A sideswipe occurs when two vehicles traveling side by side come into contact with one another. If they are moving in the same direction and merely brush against each other, the damage is minimal and will probably only affect the paint job or make a tiny indentation on one or both vehicles. On the other hand, if more than a slight bump takes place, occupants may be in for a brutal impact, especially if the driver loses control.