Car accidents can happen at any time and almost anywhere. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that there were 5,687,000 police-reported traffic crashes on U.S. roadways in 2013.
Some accidents are caused by vehicle failure, dangerous roads, or hazardous weather conditions, but the majority are the result of driver error. If you have been injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another driver, get in touch with the skilled auto collision attorneys at The Wilhite Law Firm. We want to help you claim the compensation you deserve and get your life back on track. Keep reading to learn more about the most common types of car accidents in Denver.
Types of Car Accidents Our Firm Handles
Our Denver car crash lawyers have extensive experience with all types of car accidents. Our firm has been focused on accident and injury matters for more than 50 years, and our founding attorney has handled approximately 25,000 injury cases. We represent injured people in a wide range of car accident types, including:
Speeding Accidents
According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), speeding was a contributing factor in 29 percent of the traffic crash fatalities in 2013. A total of 32,719 crash deaths involving speeding occurred in the U.S. that year.
Any activity that takes the driver’s attention away from the important task of operating a motor vehicle is dangerous. Driver distraction can involve eating, drinking, talking to passengers, grooming, adjusting a radio, CD, or MP3 player, and a host of other activities, as well as talking or texting on cell phones.
There is no question that alcohol-impaired driving is dangerous. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in a December 2014 report notes that 10,076 alcohol-related fatalities occurred in 2013, accounting for nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities. In Colorado alone, there were 142 alcohol-related traffic deaths that year, accounting for 30 percent of all traffic crash fatalities in the state.
Drugged Driving
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, illegal or prescription drug use can make driving unsafe and is as dangerous as alcohol consumption. The Institute reports that, in the NHTSA’s 2013-2014 National Roadside Survey, more than 22 percent of the drivers tested positive for prescription, over-the-counter, or illegal drugs.
Drowsy Driving
The National Sleep Foundation reports that lack of sleep is a major contributing factor in car accidents. According to the Foundation, 70,000,000 people in the U.S. suffer from sleep disorders or are sleep-deprived, and 1 out of 10 drivers has fallen asleep at the wheel during the past year.
Reckless Driving
Cutting in and out of traffic, failing to yield the right of way, tailgating, speeding excessively, and running red lights and stop signs are examples of reckless driving. This type of driving behavior makes the roadways unsafe for all motorists and their passengers.
Texting While Driving
Although any type of driver distraction is dangerous, texting while driving is particularly alarming because it requires manual, visual, and cognitive driver attention. According to NHTSA, when drivers engage in visual-manual subtasks, such as texting while driving, the risk of an accident triples.
When drivers follow too closely and become distracted, rear-end collisions occur. This type of accident is known to cause painful whiplash injuries because of the whip-like motion of the head and neck that occurs when a vehicle is impacted from behind.
When two vehicles collide head-on from the front, the combined force of the impact of both vehicles can cause serious injuries to vehicle occupants. Head-on crashes can result from unsafe passing, losing control on a curve, or drunk, drowsy, or distracted driving.
Side-impact or “T-bone” collisions can be particularly deadly because the vehicle occupants have little more than a door to protect them from injury or cushion the impact. Injuries to the head, neck, chest, pelvis, abdomen, or limbs are likely in a side-impact crash.
The chances of an accident at a busy intersection are high unless all drivers obey traffic signals and safety rules. Many intersection accidents occur because a driver made a turn without first ensuring that the intersection was clear, or because the driver turned left into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
Interstate Accidents
Accidents can be more serious when vehicles are traveling at higher speeds on the interstates. As speeds increase, multi-car pileups are also more likely on highways.
Highway Construction Accidents
Highway construction can create road hazards that lead to serious or deadly accidents. Lack of proper signage and contractors’ failure to comply with safety regulations are frequent contributing factors to highway construction zone crashes.
Injuries and Damages in Car Accidents
Car accidents can cause serious, catastrophic, and even fatal injuries. Brain injuries, facial injuries, internal injuries, fractures, and injuries to the neck, back, limbs, and spine are common types of injuries in Denver car accidents.
If you have been injured in a car accident that was someone else’s fault, you may be entitled to file a claim for compensation. If you have lost a loved one in such an accident, you may be entitled to file a wrongful death claim to recover damages for the close family.
The damages you may be entitled to claim will depend on the circumstances of the accident and the extent of the injuries sustained. Our Colorado car accident attorneys can advise you of what those damages might be. They may include present and future medical expenses, lost wages, lost earning potential, property damage, and pain and suffering.
Have Questions About the Common Types of Traffic Collisions in Denver and How to File a Claim After One? Contact Us Now
Your best course of action after any type of car accident in Denver caused by someone else’s negligence is to consult with an experienced car accident lawyer. At The Wilhite Law Firm, we have more than 50 years of experience handling accident, injury, and disability matters exclusively.
Time is of the essence in accident and injury matters. Contact us right away to arrange for a free case consultation. When you work with our firm, we will go to work immediately to investigate your accident and begin aggressively pursuing the compensation you deserve and need to recover your life after a serious car accident.
Sources:
Colorado & Texas
N/a