Sideswipe Accidents

Sideswipe accidents can happen out of nowhere, but unfortunately, they occur quite often on Wisconsin roads and highways. These types of accidents happen between vehicles traveling in the same direction, as well as with those traveling in opposite directions. A sideswipe car accident can happen in many different scenarios, and sometimes these accidents cause serious injuries along with a great deal of property damage. If you have been in a sideswipe accident, an experienced car accident attorney can help you recover damages from the responsible party.

To speak with a Wisconsin personal injury lawyer about your accident, call Studinski Law, LLC. Contact us today at (715) 343-2850 to schedule a free consultation.

Causes of Sideswipe Accidents

As car accident lawyers, we understand that no two accidents are the same. A sideswipe collision in a parking lot may result in costly vehicle repairs even though the cars involved were traveling at a low rate of speed. However, most of the sideswipe accidents that we see happened on busy streets or highways. Common scenarios that can lead to cars being sideswiped include:

• A car is merging onto a highway from an on-ramp.
  This accident can occur if the merging car fails to yield to highway traffic, or if the vehicle on the road fails to switch to the opposite lane if doing so is reasonably safe.
• Someone is making a lane change and fails to notice another driver.
  A person is responsible for monitoring their surroundings when changing lanes, and that includes making sure that nothing is in their “blind-spot”.
• A driver is going too fast in rainy or winter conditions.
  Slipping on ice is a very common cause of sideswipe accidents in Wisconsin.

Most sideswipe accidents occur when at least one of the drivers involved is unaware that they are about to collide with another vehicle. A careless driver might be looking ahead intermittently, but may be completely ignoring what is to the sides of their car. A driver may be distracted by things such as:

• Using a cell phone to text or view an application
• Speaking with a passenger in their car
• Speaking with someone over the phone, even when they are using a hands-free mobile device
• Experiencing fatigue or even falling asleep
• Being intoxicated
• Not being aware of weather or road changes that require them to adjust their driving

Injuries in Sideswipe Accidents

Many people think that sideswipe accidents commonly result in vehicle damage with little to no physical injuries for the people involved. This is unfortunately far from the truth, and sideswipe accident injuries can be considerable, requiring months or years of medical treatment. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety has found that there are almost 250,000 sideswipes in the United States every year, and about 2,500 of these accidents result in fatal injuries. The left and right sides of your car do not have a bumper to protect you from a collision, and many times the door itself collapses into the vehicle resulting in injuries to the passengers. Sideswipe accidents can result in many injuries such as:

• Broken bones
• Brain damage
• Spinal and neck injuries
• Shoulder damage
• Knee or hip damage
• Serious punctures or lacerations
• Eye injuries

Many cars do not have side airbags, but even if your car does, your side airbag may fail to protect you depending on the angle and speed of your sideswipe accident. The accident lawyers at Studinski Law, LLC, have experience in helping our clients recover compensation to help them and their families recover from their injuries. To show who was responsible for your accident, we are prepared to interview witnesses, request police and insurance records, and study data from accident reconstructions.

Studinski Law, LLC, Can Help After a Sideswipe Accident

Sideswipe car damage can be very expensive, but sideswipes often include severe physical injuries to those involved. Your lawyer will need sufficient time to investigate the causes of your accident, and for this reason it is important to contact your accident lawyer as soon as possible if you or a loved one has been involved in a sideswipe accident. Wisconsin’s statute of limitations law could lead to your case being dismissed if you wait too long to seek damages.

We have years of experience in representing clients seeking compensation from those responsible for their car accident and injuries. Our lawyers have helped many families negotiate with the insurance companies involved to recover damages, and we will be prepared to handle your case from start to finish.

If you would like to speak with an experienced and skilled lawyer about the injuries you sustained in a sideswipe accident, contact Studinski Law, LLC. Call us at (715) 343-2850 to schedule a free consultation.