Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Types

South Florida Personal Injury Lawyers Represent Clients Injured in Various Types of Car Accidents

Any car accident is likely to leave you feeling shaken and frustrated. Depending on the car accident type, it could leave with serious injuries and a totaled vehicle.

The type of car accident can influence not only the severity of the damages or injuries, but it can also impact which driver was at fault. This is important because fault will determine who is financially responsible for the accident. 

Regardless of the type of car accident in which you were injured or who you believe was at fault, you need a strong legal advocate by your side. An experienced and knowledgeable car accident attorney from Lawlor, White & Murphey will help ensure you receive a compensation package that is fair and fully accounts for the cost of your injuries and damages.

More Common Types of Car Accidents in South Florida

There are numerous ways in which you can fall victim to a car accident, whether it takes place in Broward, Dade or Palm Beach County. The following is a description of some of the more common car accident types, most of which our office sees on a regular basis.

Rear-End Collisions

The rear-end car crash is one of the most common types of car accident. They generally occur when one vehicle follows another too closely or when the driver in the rear vehicle is distracted. Generally speaking, the driver in the rear is responsible for this type of car accident. 

But this is not always the case. For example, a driver may unexpectedly pull out in front of your vehicle and leave you with insufficient time to avoid rear-ending them.

Head-On Collisions

Head-on car crashes can result in some of the most severe injuries from a car crash. That’s because the speed of the vehicles on impact are virtually doubled.

In a rear-end collision, if the first vehicle is moving at 20 miles per hour and the rear vehicle is moving at 50 miles per hour, the impact will be the equivalent of a 30 miles per hour crash. But if these vehicles hit head-on, then the impact would be of a 70 miles per hour accident.

Airbags were designed to reduce the injuries that typically occur in a head-on-collision. However, they don’t always prevent other injuries from taking place. Additionally, the airbags themselves can cause injuries to the driver or passengers in the vehicle.

Rollover Accidents

Single-vehicle rollover accidents can be caused by a number of factors. These include a defect in the vehicle or other conditions on the road itself. 

This type of car accident is most commonly associated with taller vehicles, such as larger SUVs. But rollover accidents can occur in any type of vehicle, especially one moving at high speed or making a sharp turn.

Side-Impact Collisions

This type of car crash is also known as a “T-bone” accident. It occurs when one vehicle strikes the side of another. 

These can be especially devastating when the vehicle strike occurs in a perpendicular fashion as opposed to at an angle. Depending on the accident, the angle of impact can make the difference between life and death.

Sideswipe Accidents

Sideswipe accidents are a type of collision where vehicles move in the same general direction and their sides violently rub up against each other. These types of accident typically occur when a driver is merging, leaves insufficient space for the cars around them or fails to check the blind spots.  

If neither driver loses control, injuries may be minor, although vehicle damage can be quite expensive to fix. However, side swipe collisions can lead to more severe accidents when a driver loses control. 

For instance, a driver may overcorrect and run off the road, hit a tree or pole, or end up in a rollover accident. 

Multi-vehicle accidents

Multi-vehicle accidents are especially tricky. That’s because they not only have the potential to cause severe injury and but also present complications in determining liability. In some cases, fault may have to be distributed among several drivers. 

One of the more common types of multiple-vehicle accidents is the chain reaction vehicle pileup. This is especially common during wet or foggy conditions when roads are slick and visibility poor. 

Fender Bender Accident

This is another very common type of car accident. But the name refers mostly to the severity of the accident as opposed to the manner in which it occurred. In most fender bender accidents, there are few to no injuries. 

Despite the non-serious nature of fender bender accidents, the costs to make repairs can still be significant. They can also sometimes lead to later discovered injuries that are painful and costly to treat.

Single-Vehicle Accidents

Accidents involving just one vehicle happen all the time in South Florida. The good news is that only one vehicle was involved. 

The bad news is that they are no less serious than an accident with two or more vehicles. One of the risks of single-vehicle accidents is that because only one vehicle is involved, if the driver is unconscious, it may take many hours before medical help arrives.

Intersection Crashes

Intersections are some of the most dangerous locations on the road. That’s because intersections can involve two vehicles traveling at full speed when they hit head-on or in T-bone fashion. 

Intersection accidents are often the result of someone making a mistake. Perhaps they were reckless or simply negligent in missing the stop sign or red light. In a few situations, there may be multiple drivers who are at fault for the intersection crash.

Less Common Car Accidents Seen in Florida

While it’s more likely you’ll find yourself in one of the above types of the car accidents while driving in Florida, other types of accidents still occur. And just because they occur less often, that doesn’t mean the following types of accidents are any less serious:

• Crashes with bicyclists
• Crashes with animals 
• Commercial vehicle crashes 
• Lane change crashes
• Run-off-the-road crashes
• Hit-and-run crashes
• Accidents on private property
• Later-discovered accidents

Need Help Handling Your Fort Lauderdale Car Accident?

At Lawlor, White & Murphey, our skilled personal injury lawyers have decades of experience handling South Florida car crash cases. It’s an unfortunate fact that we’ve seen practically every type of car accident type.

If you’ve been in an accident, whether it’s in Cooper City, Boca Raton or Pembroke Pines, don’t hesitate to contact us. You can call or fill out this online contact form describing your case. 

The initial consultation is free, so you have nothing to lose by learning what your compensation rights might be. During this consultation, we can help you explore your legal options and how to recover full compensation for your injuries.

Areas Nearby in Broward County:

• Coconut Creek Car Accident Lawyers
• Cooper City Car Accident Lawyers
• Coral Springs Car Accident Lawyers
• Dania Beach Car Accident Lawyers
• Davie Car Accident Lawyers
• Deerfield Beach Car Accident Lawyers
• Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyers
• Hollywood Car Accident Lawyers
• Lauderdale Lakes Car Accident Lawyers
• Margate Car Accident Lawyers
• Miramar Car Accident Lawyers
• Oakland Park Car Accident Lawyers
• Parkland Car Accident Lawyers
• Pembroke Pines Car Accident Lawyers
• Plantation Car Accident Lawyers
• Pompano Beach Car Accident Lawyers
• Sunrise Car Accident Lawyers
• Tamarac Car Accident Lawyers
• Weston Car Accident Lawyers

Areas Nearby in Palm Beach County:

• Boca Raton Personal Injury Lawyers
• Palm Beach Personal Injury Lawyers
• West Palm Beach Personal Injury Lawyers

Lawlor, White and Murphey have office locations available by appointment located at:

• 2211 Davie Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
• 8362 Pines Boulevard, #410, Pembroke Pines, Florida 33024
• 3014 Indian Trace, #164, Weston, Florida 33326
• 6574 North State Road 7, #349, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073
• 43 South Pompano Parkway #228, Pompano Beach, Florida 33069
• 1802 N. University Dr., #212, Plantation, Florida 33322

Contact one of our offices today for a free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Car Accident Types