13 Most Common Types Of Road Accidents

Road accident, also called motor vehicle collision, car accident, or car crash, occurs when a vehicle collides with another vehicle, pedestrian, animal, road debris, or other stationary obstruction, such as a tree, pole or building. Traffic collisions often result in injury, disability, death, and property damage as well as financial costs to both society and the individuals involved. In the next section of this article, we will be looking into “Types of road accidents”

13 Types Of Road Accident

1. Single car accident
2. Multiple vehicle collision
3. Vehicle rollover
4. Rear end collision
5. Side impact collision
6. Sideswipe collision
7. Head-on collision
8. Accident due to DUI
9. Distracted driving
10. Hit and Run
11. Chain Reaction Driving
12. Failure to yield
13. Accident at low speed

• Single Car Accident:

This is a type of road traffic accident in which only one vehicle is involved. A majority of these types of crashes are run-off-road collisions, collisions with fallen debris, rollovers, and collisions with animals. It may be due to sleep, drowsiness or brake failure.

• Multiple Vehicle Collision

This involves three or more vehicles in a chain of events from a single event. These pileups can range from minimal to massive, resulting in a lot of confusion and multiple injuries, and fatalities. Whether you land in the mix may very well depend on your situational awareness and the distance you keep from others sharing the road.

• Vehicle Rollover:

These particular types of crashes are complex and violent in nature. More than any other type of crash, rollovers reflect the interaction of the driver, road, vehicle, and environmental factors. Although a vehicle’s type has a significant role in the accident, so does driver behavior and road and environmental conditions. Other factors include speed, alcohol consumption, and location. According to the NHTSA, data showed that nearly 85% of all rollover-related fatalities are the result of single-vehicle crashes and also reports that 2.3% of car accidents are rollovers.

Read Also: Types of accidents (With comprehensive classification)

• Rear-End Collision:

This is a traffic accident where a vehicle crashes into the vehicle in front of it. These are usually due to driver inattention or distraction, tailgating, panic stops, and reduced traction due to irregular road conditions caused by weather. Rear-end collisions are among the most common types of car accidents, amounting to 29.6% of all U.S. car crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

• Side-Impact Collision:

These accidents, also known as broadside or T-bone collisions, are where the side of one or more vehicles is impacted. These crashes commonly occur at intersections, parking lots, and when two vehicles pass on a roadway accounting for about a quarter of passenger vehicle occupant deaths, according to the IIHS. The results from a side-impact collision can be severe but can vary depending on where the vehicle is struck. Side impacts may also include single-vehicle accidents if a car hits an object such as a fire hydrant or light pole. The NHTSA reports that 28.9% of car accidents in the U.S. are side impact crashes.

• Sideswipe Collision

Whether you’re on a country road or a freeway, driving right next to another vehicle is quite risky. Any distraction by the other driver may cause them to drift from their lane — into yours — resulting in anything from a minor bump to a disabling blow. Avoid these crashes by staying clear of blind spots (yours and the other driver’s) and taking notice when others are driving too close to the lane divider.

• Head-On Collision:

This type of accident is when the front ends of two vehicles hit each other in opposite directions. Head-on collisions are often fatal road traffic accidents. Being aware of traffic signs, street conditions, and staying in your lane play a critical role in avoiding these types of accidents. Roughly 2% of car accidents in America are head-on collisions.

Read Also: Major causes of road traffic accidents

• Accident Due To DUI

Accidents that occur due to the driver being under the influence of alcohol  or other drugs which can lower the inhibitions of drivers and cause them to make poor judgments and careless driving. These are quite common and driving under influence is against the law. So if you had a night out and feel like you might not be up to driving, then let another person drive you or take a taxi or take other means of transport.

• Distracted Driving

Although driving can seem like a small thing but even losing your focus for a tiny moment can cause a lot of damage. Nowadays technology is the main distraction such as changing the music channel etc. Drivers are constantly checking their mobile phones, GPS other devices for directions. Even passengers in the car or eating, drinking coffee or any other drink can be a reason for the driver to get distracted as well.

• Hit And Run:  

Hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident and not stopping afterwards. It is considered a supplemental crime in most jurisdictions.

• Chain Reaction Accidents

Multi-vehicle accidents commonly occur when more than two cars hit each other in a chain of rear-end accidents. Typically, they happen because of the force of the first collision: the last in a line of cars (Driver D) rear-ends the second to last car (Driver C), pushing Driver C forward into the third to last car (Driver B), causing Driver B to rear-end the first car (Driver A). These types of accidents are also called “chain reactions.”

Although they can be the result of a single driver’s negligence, chain reaction accidents may involve instances of carelessness by multiple drivers. Many people, including passengers in any of these cars, may sustain injuries.

• Failure To Yield Accident

A failure to yield accident occurs when a driver fails to yield the road appropriately, causing a crash. What makes these accidents different from many other types of crashes is that often the injury victim drives into the car that fails to yield. These accidents happen in situations such as when there is a flashing yellow or red light, when a driver making a left turn fails to yield to oncoming traffic, when a car is aggressive about merging onto the highway, when a driver is entering the street from a private driveway, or when a driver fails to yield the right of way to a pedestrian already in a crosswalk.

• Accident At Low Speed

While to some this might seem unlikely but accidents at low speed can occur when a driver is slowly reversing their car and doesn’t see a person or another vehicle parked at the behind. Or if a car is coming slowly out of a parking lot and they make a turn and don’t see the oncoming vehicle. At most times accidents at low speed doesn’t cause much damage but can still be bothersome for the parties involved.

I believe from the topic “Types of Road Accidents” you have learnt something new.

Note that when we talk about types of road accidents, its is not static as there is no standard criteria for classification.