A sideswipe car accident might not have the same heavy impact or high death rates common in head-on vehicle collisions, but these accidents are far from harmless. Sideswipe car accidents are one of the most devastating types of car accidents. Usually, you can identify cars that have been involved in this type of accident by the damage, including scrapes and dents, on the side of the involved car. Sideswipe accidents can result in serious injuries, costly vehicle damage, or even death.

These are accidents that happen when the side of one car collides with the side of another car. The two vehicles could be traveling in the same direction or different directions; however, this collision needs the sides of both cars to come into contact. If the front of one vehicle hits the side of another vehicle, the accident is categorized as a T-Bone collision. Although the sideswipe accident might seem like a near miss, an accident has still occurred, and the victim is owed compensation. 

Sideswipe accidents can also be called “lane departure” crashes or “lane drifting crashes.” A sideswipe accident can happen when a driver intentionally changes lanes or when a driver drifts into the wrong lane unaware. The driver might change lanes without looking or might miss a car in the blind spot.

If you have been injured or a loved one has been injured or killed in a sideswipe accident in the area, it is essential that you take action right away to protect your legal rights.

Who Is To Blame For The Sideswipe Accident?

If you were injured in a sideswipe collision, you are eligible to claim compensation to cover your medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and other damages. However, it can be challenging to determine the at-fault party in a sideswipe collision. This is because it is not always easy to find a witness to the crash. 

Other drivers on the highway may not have seen what happened during the accident. With no one to back up your account of the accident, it can be challenging to place the other party at fault. 

Hiring an experienced Norcross lawyer to file your lawsuit will help identify the liable party, determine the damages you should seek compensation for, and put forward a strong claim for your claims.

In some cases, the sideswipe may have occurred due to specific dangerous behavior that the other driver was engaged in. For example, the other driver may have been:

  • Texting, talking on the phone while driving, or otherwise distracted, and veered into the wrong lane as a result.
  • Failed to check blind spots before changing lanes.
  • Drowsy and nodding off, causing him or her to drift into your lane.
  • Intoxicated.
  • Driving too fast for road conditions.

If the other driver exhibited these or other negligent behaviors leading to your crash, you might be able to use this information to help bolster your case that the other driver was at fault and should be considered legally responsible for paying your damages.