If you’ve been involved in an Indianapolis car accident, you’re not alone. Each year, thousands of accidents occur in the state, some of them more often than others. By knowing some of the common car accidents in Indiana, you not only will be better able to protect yourself but you may be able to shed light on what led to your accident in the first place.
An Indianapolis car accident attorney will tell you that this is significant because determining fault for an accident may impact your ability to file a personal injury claim if you sustained bodily harm in the crash.
For instance, if you were involved in a single vehicle crash, an Indianapolis car accident attorney will tell you that the chances that someone else may be at fault for your accident are less than if you had been involved in a rear-end accident in which someone hit you from behind.
These are all important considerations to make in the days following a serious Indianapolis car accident.
Indiana Roadway Departures are Some of the Most Common Car Accidents
Out of the 693 fatal car accidents in 2009, Indiana roadway departure crashes were second only to single vehicle crashes, according to numbers from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. This has been a trend in the state for the last several years.
Perhaps the state’s expanse of rural roadways may account for this type of accident, which can often be caused by drivers trying to avoid animals. Urban areas are not immune; however, even a serious Indianapolis car accident could involve a roadway departure if a motorist attempts to avoid another vehicle, person or object. These common car accidents often end with the vehicle crashing into a tree, street sign, pole or other stationary object.
If you have been seriously injured in a roadway departure that occurred because you were trying to avoid a careless motorist, you’ll want to talk to an Indianapolis car accident attorney. This is just one of many situations in which the other driver may be held liable for your injuries and losses.
Other Common Car Accidents in Indiana
Common car accidents in Indiana are not limited to roadway departures.
An Indianapolis car accident could just as easily involve:
- Speeding
- Rollovers
- Head-on collisions
- Truck underrides
- Drunk driving.
While Indiana is not necessarily unique in some of the common car accidents listed above, the potential for serious or fatal injuries from one of these crashes should not be discounted. For instance, rollover crashes, one of the more common car accidents in Indiana, claimed 179 lives in the state in 2009 and collisions with large trucks accounted for nearly 100 lives.
Common Car Accidents in Indiana Often Occur at Intersections
Intersection-related car accidents are quite common to the state, whether it’s an Indianapolis car accident or a crash in a surrounding community. Intersection-related crashes can take on a number of forms but often liability is simpler to determine.
For instance, when you’re rear-ended at an intersection, an Indianapolis car accident attorney will tell you the other driver will almost always be found at fault, since motorists are always required to keep a safe distance from the car in front of them and be prepared to stop.
In other situations, liability can be a bit trickier, such as when you are injured in a side impact intersection crash involving stop signs. You may need an Indianapolis car accident attorney’s help to assess tire skid marks and evidence from the scene to determine which driver had the right of way.
Common car accidents are unfortunately a part of driving in Indiana, or anywhere, for that matter. But when an Indianapolis car accident has left you with severe injuries for which you shouldn’t be to blame, having an Indianapolis car accident attorney’s experience when sorting through the details can bolster your potential claim.