Broderick Law Firm, LLC

Sideswipe Accident Attorney

sideswipe accident attorney near me

Serving Injury Victims in Massachusetts and New Hampshire

“Sideswipe” sounds minor, and in many cases it is. A quickly-corrected sideswipe at a low rate of speed in an uncrowded area may result in nothing more than a scratched and dented door. But, sideswipe accidents can be much more serious, causing serious injury. In fact, sideswipe collisions cause hundreds of deaths each year.

What is a Sideswipe Accident?

A sideswipe accident happens when a vehicle makes contact with another vehicle or a stationary object along its side. The most serious sideswipe accidents generally involve two vehicles that are traveling next to each other.

While every traffic crash is different, sideswipe accidents are often most serious when:

  • There is a significant difference between the sizes and weights of the vehicles
  • The contact between vehicles pushes one vehicle into another car or into a fixed object like a concrete barrier
  • One driver overcorrects, swerving into traffic

What Causes Sideswipe Accidents?

One of the most common causes of sideswipe collisions is distracted driving. A driver who is distracted can easily drift into the next lane, making contact with another vehicle. Any of the common types of distracted driving may contribute, including:

  • Texting while driving
  • Eating or drinking on the road
  • Turning to speak to passengers
  • Looking at GPS devices or changing music

Some other common causes of sideswipe accidents are:

  • Driving under the influence
  • Fatigued driving
  • Failure to account for blind spots
  • Swerving to avoid a hazard in the road

Avoiding Sideswipe Accidents

Drivers can cut down on the likelihood of a sideswipe accident in the same ways they avoid other types of accidents: keeping their attention on the road, observing the speed limit and other traffic laws and regulations, and refraining from driving while exhausted or under the influence.

Some vehicle features also help reduce the risks. For example, sensors and 360 cameras can help drivers avoid hazards they didn’t see, or warn when they move too close to another vehicle or to an object. Side air bags can prevent or reduce the severity of some injuries sustained in sideswipe accidents. But, these enhancements are far from a full solution.

One weakness of sensors and expanded visibility is that they only work when drivers are attentive. In traffic, especially at high speeds, the window a driver has to react after a warning may be very, very small. A distracted driver likely won’t be able to adapt in time.

In other words, there’s no substitute for an attentive driver.

Liability in Sideswipe Accident Cases

Like most motor vehicle accidents, most sideswipe accidents are avoidable. When a driver drifts over the center line because he is distracted by his phone or fails to check her blindspot or negligently contributes to an accident in any way, that driver may be responsible for any damages caused.

Some common types of damages awarded in car accident cases, including sideswipe cases, include:

  • Reimbursement for medical expenses
  • Anticipated future medical costs
  • Lost wages
  • Projected future lost earnings
  • Costs of rehabilitation
  • Compensation for property damage
  • Pain and suffering

If you’ve been injured in a sideswipe accident or other motor vehicle accident that was someone else’s fault, you should speak with an experienced car accident attorney as soon as possible. Insurance companies may seem friendly and helpful, but it’s important to remember that the insurance company representative’s job is to save the company money. It’s often in their best interest to talk you into a quick settlement, before the true extent of your injuries is known.

Attorney Kevin P. Broderick has devoted his practice to helping injured people in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He knows you need accurate information to make good decisions about your next steps. So, he offers free, no-obligation consultations. You can schedule yours right now by calling 978-459-3085 or filling out the contact form on this site.

Have you been injured?

Let Attorney Kevin Broderick answer your questions and evaluate your personal injury or vehicle accident case for free!

CALL TODAY 978-459-3085

Kevin Broderick Law serves clients in Massachusetts and

New Hampshire.

 

Areas of service in

Massachusetts

 

Lowell

Lawrence

Littleton

Billerica

Andover

Chelmsford

Westford

Groton

Acton

Tyngsborough

Dracut

Methuen

 

Areas of Service in

New Hampshire

 

Hudson

Nashua

Pelham

Disclaimer

The information you obtain on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters, and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.

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