Traffic safety experts often classify two-vehicle collisions based on the type of impact that occurs. Doing so makes it easier to identify trends and potential safety solutions that could reduce the number of fatal and injurious crashes that occur each year.
The National Safety Council (NSC) analyzes nationwide collision data and identifies two-vehicle collisions based on the way the vehicles approach each other in traffic. When looking at fatal crashes, in particular, one type of crash is clearly more deadly than others, according to NSC data.
T-bone collisions are the deadliest
Head-on collisions are dramatic and can cause devastating damage to vehicles, as well as catastrophic injuries. However, they are actually only responsible for 29.9% of reported two-car collision fatalities.
Despite people thinking of them as fender-benders, rear-end collisions account for another 17%, while sideswipes and other collisions are the underlying cause of approximately 8.2% of fatal crashes. T-bone collisions, also known as angle or side impact collisions, account for the remaining 44.8% of traffic fatalities.
There are multiple reasons why T-bone collisions are more likely than other crashes to prove deadly. The frequency of their occurrence is one factor. Design standards for modern vehicles generally do not prioritize side impact protection. Additionally, these crashes often occur while one driver accelerates to turn or proceed through an intersection.
Serious crashes that cause injuries can leave families struggling with vehicle replacement expenses, overwhelming medical bills, lost wages and possibly the costs associated with the tragedy, such as funeral expenses. Filing a lawsuit is sometimes necessary when motor vehicle collisions generate major expenses that insurance simply cannot cover.