Important Things to Know About Sideswipe Car Accidents in Texas
Car accidents are often known by the angle of collision – there are front-end collisions, rear-end collisions, T-Bone crashes, and sideswipe accidents, among others. Below we take a look at sideswipe accidents: what they are, how they happen, and where and when they are more likely to occur. If you or a loved one was hurt in a sideswipe accident in the Dallas metroplex, call the Turley Law Firm to discuss the details of the incident with an experienced personal injury lawyer and find out what rights you might have for compensation from the negligent driver who caused the crash.
What Is a Sideswipe Accident?
A sideswipe accident occurs when the side of one vehicle collides with the side of another vehicle. Often, the two cars are heading in the same direction and one driver drifts or swerves into the other vehicle’s lane. Sideswipe accidents can also occur when the two vehicles are heading in opposite directions and scrape alongside one another on a narrow road.
Although sideswipes are not always as dangerous as T-bone accidents or head-on collisions, they can still lead to serious injury. A sideswipe at high speeds can cause either or both vehicles to lose control, swerve into other lanes of traffic, and collide with obstacles or other vehicles. Any collision on the freeway automatically carries severe risks due to the speed of the vehicles involved as well as the high speed of surrounding traffic.
What Causes Sideswipe Accidents?
Sideswipe accidents and other car crashes are most often caused by driver negligence, although additional factors outside of the control of any driver can sometimes be involved. The most common issues that contribute to sideswipe accidents include:
● Drunk or intoxicated drivers
● Drowsy drivers
● Distracted drivers
● Heavy winds
● Ice, snow, rain, or fog
● Road hazards like potholes, felled trees, uneven roads, or unmarked bumps in the road
● Aggressive driving maneuvers such as lane-splitting or passing on the shoulder
● Speeding
● Road rage
● Defective brakes or other car parts
● Tire blowouts
Certain Situations Are High-Risk for Sideswipe Accidents
The factors discussed above greatly increase the risk of a sideswipe crash. There are also certain additional circumstances under which sideswipes more commonly occur. Most often, sideswipe accidents happen in the following situations:
- Changing lanes. Sideswipe accidents are not always caused by a drunk or drowsy driver accidentally drifting into another lane. Often, drivers deliberately change lanes but do so irresponsibly; they fail to signal, they swerve suddenly, they fail to check their mirror or blind spots, etc. Unsafe lane changes, as well as drivers in other lanes failing to pay attention to the vehicles around them, greatly increase the risk of a sideswipe. The likelihood of an unsafe lane change is also compounded when either driver is in an altered state of mind due to drug or alcohol intoxication.
- Parked cars. Multiple lanes of traffic on Dallas roads like Mockingbird Lane can quickly narrow into just two lanes, restricting travel and increasing the likelihood of a sideswipe, especially on streets where cars are allowed to park on either side of the road. Many sideswipe accidents involve a moving vehicle and a parked car, or two vehicles heading in opposite directions on a narrow road where parked cars further limit the space.
- Merging onto the highway. Drivers who merge onto the freeway without properly checking blind spots and ensuring they have enough room to merge are much more likely to wind up in a sideswipe accident. When the entrance ramp is short or curvy, the risk is that much greater. Drivers in the right lane approaching a freeway entrance must also be wary of new vehicles merging.
Call Our Dallas Personal Injury Law Firm After a Sideswipe Car Accident in Texas
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Texas sideswipe accident or other car crash caused by a negligent or reckless driver, please contact the Turley Law Firm online or call 214-691-4025 or email turley@wturley.com today to schedule your free consultation. Our seasoned Dallas attorneys serve clients throughout Texas and multiple Southern and Southwestern states.
