Athens Sideswipe Accident Lawyer

When the side of one vehicle impacts the side of another, whether they are going in the same or opposite directions, it is known as a sideswipe accident. Many times, the initial impact causes minimal damage to the vehicles compared to other crashes, they can be extremely dangerous, especially at highway speeds.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a sideswipe accident in Athens, Brady M. Larrison and his team at Larrison Law Firm Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorneys can help. He has been serving residents in and around Athens for over a decade. He can evaluate your case and help you get the compensation you need to move forward from your injuries. Contact our Athens car accident lawyer to begin.

Common Sideswipe Accident Scenarios

Often, a sideswipe crash can cause one or both vehicles to lose control, which can cause a secondary accident involving another vehicle, guardrails, or other objects. These are often called blind spot accidents or lane-change collisions because one driver who may not see the other vehicle before changing lanes winds up sideswiping another.

Below are a few other sideswipe accident scenarios:

Inattentiveness

Distractions such as talking/texting on the phone, brushing hair, putting on makeup, changing the radio, etc can cause a driver to drift from their lane into the path of a vehicle in another lane.

Road rage

Road rage can put other drivers, bike riders, motorcyclists, and even pedestrians in danger because anger influences the driver’s decisions. Erratic behaviors associated with road rage can cause or contribute to dangerous sideswipe collisions, intentionally running other drivers off the road, not allowing other drivers to maneuver, illegal passing, and more.

Driving under the influence

Alcohol and drugs inhibit response time and decision-making. These substances can make the driver misjudge the distance between vehicles or have a difficult time staying in their lane.

Merging without caution

Many sideswipe accidents occur where roads or lanes merge into one. This is because they are either distracted, aggressive, or fail to make sure their blind spot is clear.

Drowsy driving

Drivers who are drowsy are at an increased risk of falling asleep at the wheel. This can cause the vehicle to leave the lane and sideswipe another vehicle.

This is not a full list of situations where sideswipe accidents happen — there are other possible causes. No matter what the cause, an attorney can help investigate.

Risks of Injury From Sideswipe Collisions

An accident that involves an impact between the side of one vehicle and the side of another is known as a sideswipe accident. There are several sideswipe accident scenarios that can cause this type of impact.

While the initial impact usually only causes minor damage, many times one or both drivers lose control and are involved in secondary crashes, which are the biggest danger of a sideswipe accident and is usually the cause of injuries including:

Back and spinal cord injuries, including loss of mobility, paralysis, chronic pain, and more
Traumatic brain injuries that cause cognitive, emotional, and physical impairments
Amputated/crushed limbs, usually from being pinned under or inside a vehicle
Burns, which can be painful, are susceptible to infection and leave scars
Broken bones/orthopedic injuries, often resulting in long-term disabilities that prevent victims from getting back to work

These are just a few of the potential injuries that can result from a sideswipe accident. An experienced sideswipe car accident lawyer at our firm can seek compensation for your medical costs and the long-term impact these collisions can leave.

Who’s at Fault for a Sideswipe Accident?

Georgia is an at-fault state, which means the party that caused the accident is responsible for paying for the other party’s damages.

In a sideswipe collision, usually, the party that left their lane is held liable for causing the accident. However, there are exceptions, and, in some cases, there are multiple responsible parties.

Some of the liable parties may include:

The negligent driver
Employers of the drivers who are driving a company vehicle at the time of the crash
Automotive manufacturers, if the crash is due to a malfunction with the vehicle
Restaurants or bars if alcohol was served to an intoxicated customer that was later involved in a crash
Local/state government agencies or contractors if a preventable, unreasonably dangerous road condition caused or contributed to the accident

We can investigate the crash and determine which parties should be held liable. The more parties that can be responsible parties, the harder we work to determine whether they should also be held liable.

What Is Your Sideswipe Accident Case Worth?

In order to obtain full, fair compensation in a sideswipe accident lawsuit, it’s important to understand how the accident has impacted the victim’s life. While every case is different, attorney Brady M. Larrison will evaluate your case based on the following and establish a dollar value to each:

Medical expenses for treatment of the injuries suffered- which includes emergency care, doctor visits, hospitalization, medical equipment/medications, therapy, and long-term care expenses
Non-medical expenses required to help the victim adapt/live with the injuries such as hiring help for daily living activities including transportation and childcare
Current and future lost income that the victim is unable to earn due to the injury
Physical pain, reduced quality of life, damaged personal relationships, and emotional suffering resulting from the crash and injuries
Punitive damages to punish reckless or wanton behavior that caused or contributed to the crash

By evaluating and assigning a value to these areas, your lawyer can ensure that the victim is compensated fully and fairly.

Learn More How We Can Help

In the state of Georgia, there is a 2-year statute of limitations on personal injury cases, which means it’s important that you file your case as soon as possible. If you do not file your claim within that time, you forfeit your opportunity to get compensation.

Contact our Athens office at Larrison Law Firm Auto Accident and Personal Injury Attorneys for your free case evaluation today.