Sideswipe Car Accident Injury Lawyers

Traffic accidents, including sideswipe car and truck collisions, are considered one of the leading causes of injuries and deaths in Los Angeles, California and the United States. In 2022, California recorded a total of 216,366 road collisions, which resulted in 3,854 fatalities with potential wrongful death accident claims and 165,978 injuries. According to the California Highway Patrol, 13% of these accidents—more than 28,000—were sideswipe collisions. Being involved in a sideswipe crash can be devastating. It is important to reach out to skilled personal injury sideswipe car and truck accident lawyers to help you move forward and seek the compensation you deserve.

If you, or your loved one, have been involved in a sideswipe collision in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley or anywhere in California, we encourage you to contact our very experienced personal injury attorneys for immediate help. We have been winning injury and wrongful death accident cases for over 45 years, recovering millions of dollars for our injured clients, and we offer an absolutely FREE consultation and case evaluation. Please call now because there are time deadlines.

What is a Sideswipe Collision

A sideswipe collision is a type of traffic accident that takes place when a car, truck or other vehicle makes contact with or crashes into the side of another motor vehicle. This accident can occur between two moving vehicles or between a vehicle in motion and a stopped or parked vehicle. The vehicles may travel in the same (the usual occurrence) direction or opposite (less frequent) directions when they become involved in a sideswipe crash.

A sideswipe collision can be very catastrophic. It sometimes happens when the impact of the crash between the two vehicles forces one or both to swerve off the lane traveling in and hit a third vehicle or a structure in the area or just go off road.

Causes of Sideswipe Accidents

A sideswipe accident can happen anywhere, especially at intersections, on the freeway – such as the Ventura 101 Freeway or San Diego 405 Freeway and or busy streets like Topanga Canyon, Sepulveda, Ventura Blvd., Victory Blvd. and Sherman Way in the San Fernando Valley and Wilshire Blvd., Olympic Boulevard, Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard, Sunset Boulevard or Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles.

It is necessary to determine the exact cause of a sideswipe collision to identify the at-fault party responsible for the injuries and damages suffered by the victim or claimant. The most common causes of sideswipe accidents include the following:

• Distracted driving. This involves drivers who are distracted, not paying attention while operating their vehicle and often using technology such as mobile cell phones, navigation, etc. These motorists may carelessly drift into another lane and potentially sideswipe another vehicle.
• Driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol. Alcohol and/or drugs can impair the motor functions of a driver. An impaired motorist may fail to maintain their lane and be more likely to sideswipe other vehicles.
• Fatigued drivers may temporarily fall asleep at the wheel. Drowsy motorists may then unintentionally swerve into the other lane and into the side of another vehicle.
• Aggressive driving. This covers aggressive actions of a driver, like tailgating or weaving between lanes. A deliberately reckless motorist may cut-off another driver, who may drift and sideswipe another vehicle.
• Mechanical failures. A driver may lose control due to vehicle defects like brake failure, broken mirrors and turn signals, tire blowouts, defective tires, and steering problems, and then sideswipe other vehicles.
• Unsafe lane changes. A motorist who fails to properly signal or check their blind spot before changing lanes can sideswipe another vehicle. Many newer vehicles come equipped with a wonderful safety device, often called a blind spot warning system, that helps to prevent such collisions. We strongly recommend getting, activating and using this system when available.
• Speeding. A driver who travels at a high rate of speed and or speeds unreasonably or unsafely for conditions may lose control of their vehicle and hit other motorists in parallel lanes.

Common Sideswipe Collision Injuries

Sideswipe collisions can lead to a range of injuries from minor pains and wounds to severe injuries for the parties involved. Most of the time, the momentum of the vehicles, that is the speed of the vehicle and its size (speed multiplied by weight equals momentum) affect the severity of the injuries sustained in the accident. Potentially, the greater the speed and weight of the car and or truck, then is the greater the momentum, then the greater the chance for not only injuries but more severe injuries. The following are some of the common injuries associated with sideswipe crashes:

• Neck injuries often referred to as whiplash
• Back sprains and strains
• Lacerations, contusions, and bruises
• Burns
• Sprains or strains to knees, shoulders and hands
• Bone fractures and dislocations
• Nerve damage
• Spinal cord injuries
• Concussions and traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
• Internal injuries
• Facial, jaw (TMJ) and other head injuries

Some of these injuries can have a drastic and prolonged impact on one’s ability to function and live their normal lives. Victims of sideswipe collisions may experience long-term physical pain and emotional distress, requiring the care of expert doctors, therapists and psychological counselors.

Determining Liability, Responsibility and Negligence in Sideswipe Accidents

Identifying who is at fault in a sideswipe accident can be challenging and complicated. It depends on the specific circumstances of the collision. Determining negligence and legal responsibility involve collecting evidence at the crash site, taking photographs and video footage of the accident scene, gathering statements from the parties involved as well as various witnesses, and examining vehicle damage. Liability can also sometimes be determined based on the location of each vehicle, how they were traveling at the time and their respective property damage. Some specific things to look for in determining fault in a car or truck sideswipe collision include the following:

• In general, when a driver fails to maintain a safe distance from the other vehicle or changes lanes without checking their blind spot, they may be at fault.
• When a driver of a moving vehicle sideswipes another vehicle that is legally parked in an area, then the moving motorist is usually at fault for the crash.
• When a driver crosses the center line and collides with another vehicle traveling legally in its own lane, then the first motorist is usually negligent and held responsible for causing the collision and all resulting damages. However, in the rare situation when both vehicles cross a painted line, then both may be at fault for the accident. This is called comparative negligence.

California utilizes the comparative fault rule for car accidents. This allows a person who suffered injuries or damages in a sideswipe accident to recover compensation, even if they are partially liable for the collision. The total liability is divided by a percentage, and each party involved takes a percentage of the blame proportionate to their negligence or fault. Under California comparative negligence law, the compensation of a person who files a claim will be reduced by their percentage of fault, if any.

If you, or your loved one, have been the victim of a sideswipe collision, it is important to ask for legal advice from an experienced professional. We, at the Law Offices of Gary K. Walch, A Law Corporation, have extensive experience with sideswipe collisions and offer an absolutely FREE consultation to assist our clients. Our personal injury lawyers will help you receive the maximum compensation for your injuries and losses to obtain the justice you deserve, while providing exceptional advice and personal service. Simply click here to contact us for your FREE case consultation and evaluation.

Finding an Experienced Sideswipe Car Accident Personal Injury Lawyer

Our sideswipe personal injury accident attorneys and legal staff are seasoned, skilled, and knowledgeable in dealing with and winning sideswipe collisions. We have represented many injury victims in Los Angeles, the San Fernando Valley, and throughout California for over 45 years. We have won thousands of car and truck accident cases, recovering millions of dollars for our injured clients. In addition, our firm has:

• Over 98% success rate in car accident injury cases
• Over $150,000,000.00 verdicts/settlements recovered
• Been awarded as the Personal Injury Law Firm of the Year 2011, among many other awards

For more information about our law firm and our skilled personal injury lawyers, we invite you to visit our Home Web Page, Client Reviews and Attorney Profiles. Call us now at 866 INJURY 2 or simply click here to Contact us for a FREE case evaluation now – there are time deadlines and mandatory DMV and insurance procedures to follow so please do not delay.

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