Were you injured in a collision when another driver sideswiped you? If so, contact the Sacramento car accident lawyers of Demas Law Group for the experienced legal representation you need and deserve.
Sideswipe car accidents can have a lasting impact on your health and your finances. After a severe injury accident, you may be left with mounting medical bills, lost wages, the inability to work, and significant emotional stress.
At Demas Law Group, we recognize there’s a human story behind every injury accident. We have 25 years of experience fighting for people who’ve been hurt in Northern California. Our mission is to help you get back on your feet and on with your life after a crash.
We are here to help protect your rights and seek the fair compensation you deserve. Call us or contact us online for a free case evaluation today.
What Is a Sideswipe Accident?
A sideswipe accident occurs when two vehicles are traveling in the same direction, and one vehicle enters the other lane and collides with the side of the other vehicle. This is also commonly referred to as a side-to-side collision.
A sideswipe collision could occur on city streets or at high speed on the highway. When two vehicles are involved in a crash in this manner, additional harm or damage could occur if one or both drivers are shocked or try to overcompensate and lose control of the vehicle.
For example, if a driver suddenly slams on the brakes after being sideswiped, a rear-end collision could occur if motorists behind don’t see the sideswipe collision or don’t have time to react. Steering overcorrection could cause a driver to hit another vehicle, a guardrail, or a tree, for example.
Some sideswipe accidents also become rollover accidents when the force of the impact and steering overcorrection creates enough force to overturn the vehicle onto its side or roof.
Causes of Sideswipe Collisions
There are several common ways that sideswipe car accidents happen, including:
- Driver inattentiveness – If a driver is distracted, they might not notice that they are drifting into another lane and could easily sideswipe another vehicle.
- Aggressive or reckless driving – Speeding or weaving through traffic is a common cause of sideswipe collisions. One survey found 80% of people said they had expressed anger or road rage in the past year. Drivers who are angry, in a hurry, or are driving aggressively put themselves and others on the road at risk.
- Driving under the influence – In one survey, 23% of people said they drove within two hours of having their last drink, and a shocking 53% felt they were capable of driving after consuming alcohol. However, alcohol changes how you process information and can severely impact your judgment and ability to drive. A driver who cannot stay in their lane, notice vehicles next to them, or accurately judge distances between cars could cause a sideswipe accident.
- Merging without caution – This can happen if a driver enters the freeway or merges from one lane to another without looking or exercising adequate caution when making the maneuver.
- Drowsy driving – This happens when a driver hasn’t had enough sleep, is under the influence of prescription medication, or has a sleep disorder. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated drowsy driving is responsible for 83,000 crashes and 37,000 injuries each year. A tired driver might drift into another lane or might not see vehicles next to them, and could cause a sideswipe crash.
- Failure to check blind spots – Nearly 840,000 crashes each year happen due to drivers failing to check for vehicles in their blind spots. Before merging, drivers must check both rearview mirrors and do a head check to be sure they aren’t merging into another car.
- Hydroplaning – When car tires lose traction on the road, they may skid or slide across the water, and the car could hit another vehicle nearby. Failing to reduce speed for wet conditions is a common cause of hydroplaning.
Common Sideswipe Collision Accident Injuries
Injuries from a sideswipe car accident can be catastrophic, especially if a smaller vehicle is hit by a large commercial vehicle. Some of the more common types of injuries people suffer in sideswipe accidents include:
- Head and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Back, spine, and spinal cord injuries (including partial or total paralysis)
- Broken bones and fractures
- Cuts and lacerations
- Internal injuries
Compensation for Sideswipe Collision Accidents
A sideswipe accident can have a lasting impact on your life. Severe injuries may require extensive medical treatment and long-term rehabilitation. After a particularly serious accident, victims may not fully recover.
If you are struggling under the mounting weight of medical expenses and lost wages, you have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault party. With the help of an experienced car accident attorney, you might be eligible to claim compensation for:
- Present and future medical costs
- Lost wages from time off work
- Lost future earnings if you are disabled
- Replacement or repair of damage to your vehicle
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional agony or post-traumatic stress
Legal Liability for a Sideswipe Collision Accident
California uses a pure comparative negligence system to assign liability when one or more persons are involved in a personal injury claim. In some instances, the fault for the crash will not fall entirely on one person.
Under California’s comparative negligence doctrine, drivers will be assigned a percentage of fault for the accident. This means that you could still potentially seek compensation even if your actions partially contributed to the crash. Unlike other states that cap the amount of fault at 50%, California’s courts might allow injured parties to collect compensation even if they are 50% or more at fault for the crash.
The courts will, however, reduce a plaintiff’s award by their percentage of fault. If, for example, you were found to be 30% at fault for your crash, a $100,000 award would be reduced by that percentage, so you would ultimately be eligible to collect $70,000. The higher the plaintiff’s percentage of fault, the more the amount will be reduced.
What Should You Do After a Sideswipe Accident?
The decisions you make in the hours, weeks, and months after a car accident could impact your ability to recover fair compensation. Accidentally doing or saying the wrong thing might negatively affect your claim.
It’s crucial you get immediate medical attention. Follow the instructions of your doctor for ongoing physical therapy or pain management.
Keep a file of all documents associated with the accident and your injuries. Your medical records, billing statements, the official crash report, and other relevant documents will be vital to building a strong injury claim.
Stay away from social media. Do not post details about your case or pictures of yourself in situations that could be misconstrued or used against you. Insurance adjusters are skilled at digging through social media accounts to find evidence that might diminish your claim.
Do not talk to insurance company representatives without your lawyer. You could inadvertently say something that they could take out of context, twist, and use against you.
Injured in a Sideswipe Crash? Call Demas Law Group for Help
For nearly three decades, the attorneys at Demas Law Group have worked to pursue justice for those who’ve been hurt in car accidents in Sacramento and surrounding areas. We have extensive experience helping people who’ve been injured in side-wipe accidents. We’re ready to discuss the specifics of your case when you reach out to us.
For a 100% free consultation with a knowledgeable Sacramento car accident lawyer, call us, chat with us live, or fill out a contact form today.
