Common Types of Car Crashes in Knoxville

Strong advocacy for drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicycle riders injured or killed in East Tennessee

Car accidents can occur on any type of road and any stretch of that road. They can occur when you’re in the same lane, when you shift lanes, when you merge, and when you turn. The faster you travel, the greater the odds of an accident. Drivers who drive while drunk, distracted, or tired are much more likely to cause a car accident than sober and cautious drivers. The way an accident happens (the type of accident) often determines who is liable and how serious a victim’s injuries are. At Bank & Jones, we have 30 years of experience and an impressive record of verdicts and settlements in all types of Knoxville and East Tennessee car accidents.

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How dangerous are car accidents?

According to the National Safety Council (NSC), in 2023 there were 44,450 traffic accidents. According to USA Today, car accidents are the leading cause of death in the US for people between the ages of one and 54. Teenagers are especially at risk. In Tennessee, in 2022, there were 1,330 fatalities due to car accidents.

What are the different types of two-vehicle accidents in Knoxville?

Most Knoxville car accidents fall into one of the following categories:

  • Rear-end accidents. These common accidents usually occur when one car is stopped at an intersection while waiting for a light to change or for traffic to proceed through a stop sign. Rear-end crashes can also occur while two cars are in motion and the car in front needs to stop. The common causes of rear-end crashes are that the car in the rear was speeding or distracted. Common injuries include neck and shoulder pain, broken bones, and whiplash. The injuries can be more serious if the rear car was speeding and/or was a large car. The rear car is almost always at fault in these accidents.
  • Head-on accidents. This crash usually occurs because one driver is in an opposite lane of travel and veers into your lane or because a car driver is in the wrong lane due to drunk driving, driver distraction, or other irresponsible behavior. The car going the wrong way is almost always at fault. These Knoxville car accidents are often very serious or deadly because the impact of the collision is usually based on the combined speed of both vehicles.
  • Broadside accidents (T–bone accidents). These crashes involve the front of one car striking the side of another car. Usually, the driver of the car whose front side is damaged is at fault – but not always. These accidents are common at Knoxville intersections (such as when a driver runs through a red light or stop sign) and when one car tries to enter the highway from a side street or a parking lot. The people in the car whose side is struck often suffer more severe injuries because the side of a door provides less protection than the hood of a car. Victims in both cars are likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, traumatic amputation, broken bones, and many other types of serious injuries.
  • Sideswipe accidents. These crashes involve the sides of two cars striking each other. They’re common when cars merge or when one car tries to pass another. They can also occur when one driver veers into another lane for any reason. A common cause is the failure of one driver to check for blind spots. These accidents require a thorough investigation to determine which driver is responsible. The accidents may be minor or severe, depending on whether the collision causes one vehicle to spin around or to be struck by any other nearby vehicles.

How do single-vehicle accidents occur?

These car accidents involve just one car. Normally, the passengers are the only people who can file a Knoxville personal injury claim, unless a pedestrian or a bicycle rider is struck. These accidents usually occur because the driver of the single car is intoxicated, distracted by a cell phone or another type of electronic device, or is tired. Injuries or deaths may occur if the car veers off the road, strikes a median, or strikes any other object on the road.

Single-vehicle accidents may also occur when a car strikes a deer or another animal, and when a car strikes a pothole or some other roadside object.

What are the different types of multi-vehicle accidents in Knoxville?

Multi-vehicle accidents involve three or more vehicles. These dangerous accidents require skilled Knoxville car accident lawyers because the liability issue is likely to be very complex. Each driver is likely to blame the other. Multi-vehicle accidents generally occur in one of two ways:

  1. A chain reaction accident. A common example is when two cars are waiting for a traffic light to change. A rear driver who is speeding or distracted crashes into the last car waiting in line. That car then strikes the car ahead of it, and so on.
  2. There are two separate accidents involving at least one common car. For example, a car that is turning at an intersection may be broadsided by an oncoming car that is traveling straight and also rear-ended by a car behind the turning car.

The injuries part of your case can be more complicated because questions may arise about which crash caused the injuries. Our experienced Knoxville accident lawyers are skilled at sorting out these complexities.

Pedestrian, bicycle accidents, and rollover accidents

Pedestrian and bicycle accidents often cause very severe injuries or fatalities because neither type of traveler is protected in the same manner as a passenger car. These accidents often occur because a driver is speeding, texting while driving, distracted for some other reason, or tired. Some drivers fail to stop before the crosswalk or try to run through a yellow light without seeing a walker or a bicycle rider. Occasionally, the pedestrian or bicycle rider may be at fault because they cross against the light or in the middle of a street.

Another type of car accident that can involve one driver, two drivers, or multiple drivers is a rollover accident. SUVs and Jeeps are especially prone to rollovers because of the location of their centers of gravity. Cars that are involved in broadside accidents are generally more prone to rollover accidents than other types of accidents.

Do you have a Tennessee car accident lawyer near me?

Whatever type of accident you’re in, we’re ready to help you. At Banks & Jones, we meet car accident victims at our Knoxville office located at 2125 Middlebrook Pike. We make alternate arrangements if you’re too ill or immobile to come to our office. Phone and video consultations are also an option.

We’ll calmly and clearly guide you through each phase of the claims process. We’ll Fight 2 Win you all the compensation you deserve.

Talk with our accomplished Knoxville car accident lawyers now

Our Knoxville personal injury lawyers have obtained many verdicts and settlements for hundreds of thousands and millions of dollars. We’re respected by former clients, insurance companies, and defense lawyers. At Banks & Jones, we understand how scared you are about your health and your finances. You have the right to hold the drivers who caused your injuries accountable. Please call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.

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