In Milwaukee and elsewhere in Wisconsin, car accidents happen for a wide variety of reasons and include a wide variety of circumstances and factors that make every accident a unique situation and resulting case. Most types of car accidents fall into 8 or so main categories, however, or “types”.
These categories are used by law officers and accident investigators to determine how the accident was caused and what the drivers and vehicles involved were doing before the crash occurred. If one driver crashes into the back of another vehicle, for example, investigators will be able to tell by the wreckage of the vehicles. This information is then taken one step further to determine whether the vehicle in front was braking or stopped or whether the vehicle in the back was perhaps speeding or distracted.
Here are 8 of the most common types of car accidents that occur in Wisconsin:
- Pedestrian Accidents – Pedestrian accidents are becoming increasingly common because there are more pedestrians and joggers on Milwaukee streets as well as more motorized vehicles. A pedestrian accident can be caused by a driver who is distracted or fails to see a pedestrian or by a pedestrian who steps out into a crosswalk early or fails to see a car.
- Bicycle Accidents – Many Wisconsin residents are taking the healthy route by commuting to work by bicycle. Cyclists and drivers alike need to be cautious. Drivers, especially, need to watch out for bikers who share the road with larger vehicles and can easily be missed.
- Motorcycle Accidents – When a motorcycle and passenger vehicle get into a collision, the motorcyclist almost always suffers from serious injuries. Like bikes, motorcycles can be difficult to see on a busy street. Drivers must be aware of this fact. Wisconsin motorcyclists also have the same rights as passenger vehicle drivers. Proper right-of-way must be considered at all times.
- Hit-and-Run Accidents – When a vehicle causes any type of crash then leaves the scene of the accident, we call this a hit-and-run accident. Leaving the scene of any type of accident is a federal offense and can lead to criminal charges in addition to any civil charges already in place.
- Head-on Collisions – When a speeding vehicle crashes directly into the front of another car, we call this a head-on collision. Head-on crashes are rare, but can lead to serious injuries or even death.
- Rollover – When a vehicle hits a curb, piece of debris in the road, or another vehicle and flies into the air and rolls over or is turned over from the force of the accident, we call this a rollover accident. These types of accidents can be incredibly dangerous.
- Rear-end Accidents – When a car crashes into the back of a vehicle that’s in front of them, we call this a rear-end accident. These types of crashes are often caused by a driver who is distracted or is driving too fast and unable to stop in time when the traffic in front of them comes to a slow or stop.
- T-bone Accidents – T-bone accidents are common and result when one vehicle crashes into the side of another, forming a “T” shape. These accidents are often caused when one vehicle fails to stop at an intersection or when one vehicle swerves into another.
If you or a loved one has been injured in any of the above accidents and feel that you are being offered an unfair settlement or that someone else was at fault for the crash, you may be eligible to file a car accident lawsuit against the guilty party. Doing so may make the recovery process infinitely easier. To learn more, get in touch with the Milwaukee car accident lawyers at Urban & Taylor today.
