Car accidents happen in South Carolina every day. Because you know these incidents occur, you may often have some apprehension about traveling the roadways. Many factors could contribute to an accident, and you may want to do your best to remain a safe driver and work to avoid crashes to the best of your ability.
It may help you to avoid collisions more easily if you understand the different types and know how they commonly occur and what action you could take to protect yourself.
Rear-end crashes
While rear-end accidents are often referred to as fender-benders because they sometimes only cause minor damage, they can still lead to severe outcomes. Substantial vehicle damage, serious injuries or even fatalities could result from a rear-end crash. Some common causes of these accidents include aggressive driving and failing to utilize a proper following distance.
You may be able to help yourself avoid such accidents by leaving enough space between your car and the one in front of you. Of course, sometimes, the issue can involve a vehicle behind you traveling too closely to your vehicle. If you fear that the person may hit your car, it may be wise to safely move over and allow the vehicle to pass you.
Front-end collisions
Front-end collisions may or may not involve multiple vehicles. When more than one vehicle is involved, it is common for these incidents to be referred to as head-on collisions. Unfortunately, these incidents have a high risk of proving fatal. However, front-impact crashes could also occur when a single vehicle hits a telephone pole or other object.
Because weather conditions are a main factor in this type of incident, you may keep yourself safe by driving more slowly when roads are wet or icy. Avoiding distractions can also help you lessen the likelihood of being involved in this or any other type of crash.
T-bones and sideswipes
The sides of vehicles can also be struck during crashes. T-bone collisions commonly occur at intersections when the front of one vehicle collides with the side of another car. Failure to heed traffic signs and signals and not knowing who has the right of way can often contribute to these accidents. When it comes to a sideswipe, the side of one vehicle may hit the side of another, which tends to happen when individuals change lanes without checking their blind spots.
To stay out of such accidents, you should always check for oncoming traffic at intersections, even if you have a green light or otherwise have the right of way. You should also make sure to check your blind spots before changing lanes and try to stay out of other drivers’ blind spots when possible.