How Do Sideswipe Car Accidents Occur in Atlanta?

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If you have been in a sideswipe car accident, you may be wondering how to proceed. There are multiple parties involved in every sideswipe crash, which means if you’ve been injured, there are numerous people who will be liable. The last thing you want to do is make things worse for yourself by not knowing the laws of the road.

Our injury attorneys are experienced at taking sideswipe car accident cases through the entire legal process, whether you need to complete a claim with your insurance company or seek compensation for past and future medical bills. Contact Ali Awad (833) 254-2923 for your complimentary consultation.

A sideswipe collision occurs when two vehicles are traveling next to each other, and the passenger side of one vehicle collides with the driver’s side of another. This can be jarring because both drivers may not realize that a collision will occur. In some cases, the outside vehicle that causes the damage may collide with a guardrail or another car.

As both the driver and the car are moving, a tremendous amount of momentum will be involved in the impact. As a result, the collision becomes a chain reaction for others nearby, especially when drivers attempt to correct their vehicles, usually when they overcompensate.

Causes Why Sideswipe Car Accidents Occur in Atlanta

Sideswipe accidents can be severe and dangerous because you’re not only dealing with an impact on the vehicle itself but also the possibility of a secondary accident — or even a chain reaction — causing additional vehicles to swerve into your lane and hit your parked car.

Even worse, if your parked car is hit due to a sideswipe accident, your vehicle may be struck again by any cars that swerved to avoid the initial accident. In some cases where there have been fatalities, entire families have been killed due to one sideswipe. This is why it’s so important to understand what causes sideswipe accidents and how you can prevent them from occurring in your area:

1. Distracted Driving
One of the most common causes of sideswipe car accidents is distracted driving. Distracted driving is not just limited to texting while driving or answering calls, but it includes anything that takes the driver’s eyes off the road. This can be anything from grooming oneself, reading, drinking coffee, or even adjusting the car’s temperature. Regardless of speed and distractions present outside of the vehicle, though, drivers should always be focused on what’s happening on the road ahead of them. Undivided attention is the only way to ensure a safe road experience for yourself and others.

2. Intoxication
People react differently to alcohol. What may appear to be little more than a buzz can be more severe than it seems. Prescription and recreational drugs can impair your ability to steer and react while driving on country roads or highways. Drugs can cause you to lose concentration, overreact, and delay response time while driving, leading to sideswipe car accidents.

3. Reckless Driving
When you’re in a rush and pressed for time, it can be tempting to exceed the speed limit. Speeding increases the severity of crashes and is proven to be fatal most of the time. When you’re recklessly driving, your response time and ability to brake and maneuver the vehicle will be hampered. It is unwise to drive beyond legal limits because you’re running late.

4. Disobeying Traffic Rules
Running a red light is never acceptable. Whether you’re driving on a busy street or a quiet one, running red lights is just asking for trouble. It’s illegal to go through a red light, whether vehicles are approaching or not. Even if your excuse is good enough to justify going against the law, it’s still not worth risking your life to avoid a mere fine for breaking a traffic rule. Unlike fines, life comes with no price tag.

Sideswipe collisions can occur for numerous reasons, under all driving conditions, and during the day or at night. The best you can do is pay attention while driving and be alert to other cars on the road. However, other drivers’ actions are not entirely within your control. If you get into an accident with one of these drivers,talk to an experienced Atlanta car accident attorney about your rights and how to proceed.

Injuries Caused in a Sideswipe Accident

Side impact accidents leave behind a trail of destruction. In fact, nearly all sideswipe crashes result in some form of injury to the drivers and passengers. Victims suffer broken ribs, collarbones, arms, and legs (legs are particularly vulnerable due to their proximity to the ground), head trauma (such as concussions), back and neck injuries (including paralysis), amputation, and death. In addition, many times during sideswipes, passengers are ejected from their seats.

Their bodies go through windshields or out windows after hitting head-on against these glass panels. A sideswipe can also cause severe soft tissue injuries. The immediate pain and aches may not be felt for several days or weeks after the collision. Delayed soft tissue injuries include muscle strains and ligament sprains. These types of injuries may not be apparent right after an accident has occurred but could become debilitating long-term effects.

After a sideswipe accident, a victim’s concerns are usually directed to physical injuries. However, in some instances, the emotional side of things can be just as severe. For example, in cases where a victim was forced into the car in front of them, they may have been left with the intense emotional trauma that others often take lightly, which could potentially affect their lives for years down the road.

Others may experience anxiety or depression, or even PTSD after a sideswipe collision. Knowing what to look for and how to approach these issues before and after can make all the difference.

Liability in a Sideswipe Accident

When two vehicles collide in a sideswipe crash, who’s to blame? It’s a question that doesn’t always have an easy answer. Several factors come into play when assigning liability in such cases. First, you mustn’t leave the scene of a sideswipe collision scene unless you are told to do so by the police. You must stay at the scene and do what you can to organize information, secure evidence, and ensure that anyone who needs medical help gets it.

Under Georgia’s modified comparative negligence law, as long as you were less than 50% responsible for the accident, you may be entitled to partial compensation for property damage and personal injuries caused by the collision. But, if you are found to be more than 50% responsible for the crash, then that means that the other party was only partially at fault and is therefore entitled to compensation from your insurance.

Georgia state law requires drivers to use turn signals before switching lanes or making other changes. All drivers should use their blinkers whenever they plan to exit, turn at an intersection, or move into another lane.

The signal must be on for at least five seconds before executing the maneuver and clearly indicate that the vehicle will turn or change lanes. When a driver does not correctly announce to other drivers that they intend to change or merge lanes, this can result in one or more vehicles moving into the same lane as the negligent driver.

What To Do After You’ve Been Sideswiped?

Always try to avoid sideswipes and collisions in the first place. Look over your shoulder when you are changing lanes, even if it is just for a short distance. Be aware of what’s happening around you, including vehicle speed. If you’ve been the victim of a sideswipe or caused a collision, it’s essential to remain calm and avoid unnecessary movements.

You will have seconds to react, and the key to avoiding disaster is to make minor adjustments until you’re able to separate from the other vehicle. A drastic over-correction can cause you to swerve into another lane of traffic or hit another car. Instead, apply your brakes slowly and use your emergency lights to alert any oncoming vehicles.

Why Choose Ali Awad Personal Injury Law Firm?

Sideswipe accidents occur where your car does not collide head-on with another vehicle, but it’s just a slight graze or double brushing that displaces your vehicle from the collision. Sideswipe collisions are generally less severe than a head-on crash, but they can still be very damaging, causing severe injuries and damage to your vehicle.

After a sideswipe collision, one of the biggest concerns you will have is the other party’s insurance company, which may try to downplay or push aside your injury claim because it wasn’t a head-on crash.

At the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm, our injury and accident attorneys know what it takes to win a sideswipe collision claim, and we can put our experience and knowledge to work for you if your accident caused your personal injuries. We understand what it takes to help our clients win cases and how to settle cases ahead of time — sometimes before we even go to court — to help accident victims begin the healing process as quickly as possible. Get in touch with us today at the CEO Lawyer Personal Injury Law Firm to schedule a consultation and learn if you’re eligible for compensation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

After a personal injury, you're bound to have legal questions. The CEO Lawyer Ali Awad can provide you with answers to these questions, just as he's given answers to his millions of curious social media followers. Take a look at some of the most common personal injury law questions for general information, and then reach out to one of our seasoned attorneys for specific guidance on your case!

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Help Negotiating with Insurance Carriers

To quickly resolve matters following an accident, insurance companies will offer you less than you deserve in compensation for your injuries. Many victims feel pressured to accept these offers as the bills begin to pile up, but that is rarely a good idea. The insurance company is looking to protect its bottom line; and will offer injured victims less than they deserve. An experienced personal injury attorney understands how to negotiate with the insurance company and can look out for your best interests by getting you the compensation you deserve after an injury. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, it is important to avoid negotiating or providing recorded statements to the insurance company without first seeking help from a qualified personal injury attorney.

Do You Have a Personal Injury Case?

The best way to determine if you have a personal injury case is to speak with a knowledgeable attorney. Our legal professionals have the expertise to evaluate your case and determine a strong legal strategy so that you can obtain the greatest amount of compensation possible under the law. We will enlist investigators, assistants, and other specialists to collect accident reports, speak with witnesses to your accident, and put together a plan. While you focus on your physical recovery, we will remain committed to fighting for the compensation that you deserve.

Georgia's Personal Injury & Accident Firm

Accident victims have a limited time to file a personal injury lawsuit. This time period is referred to as the statute of limitations, and in Atlanta, it lasts only two years. This means that if you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, you have only two years to pursue a personal injury suit. If you wait too long to reach out to an experienced attorney, you might be forever barred from seeking the compensation you deserve.

What to Expect From Your Initial Consultation With a Personal Injury Attorney?

During your initial consultation with CEO Lawyer team, we will go over the important details of your personal injury accident, which include the nature and extent of your injuries, how your injuries have impacted your ability to earn a paycheck, the cost of your medical treatment, and whether further medical treatment will be required. We will answer any questions you might have, as well, in regards to our experience, our track record of success, and what to expect from the legal process. Many personal injury victims wonder if they will be able to afford the legal fees required to pursue a lawsuit. CEO Lawyer injury and accident attorneys will not ask for any type of upfront fee unless we are successful in obtaining compensation for you. That means that if you have been harmed in a motor vehicle accident, slip and fall accident, defective product accident, or any other type of personal injury accident, you can absolutely afford to contact our law office today for assistance. In fact, you cannot afford to wait. Reach out today. We understand that some accident victims might have already obtained the assistance of an attorney but may be dissatisfied with the services provided. We are standing by and prepared to help you change legal representation, regardless of where you are in the process.

Speak to an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney Today

If you or a loved one has been injured in any type of personal injury accident, you should not hesitate to speak with the experienced attorneys at CEO Lawyer personal injury law firm. Call, email, or fill out our online contact form today so that we can begin helping you pursue the compensation you deserve.