A sideswipe accident typically involves two cars traveling in the same direction when they collide. These accidents frequently happen on the highway when one motorist attempts to merge with traffic but there is insufficient room. These collisions lead to serious injuries, especially where the vehicles are traveling at high speeds. Many of these accidents also stem from a failure to maintain a proper lookout, so drivers are surprised when they crash.
Fitzpatrick, Skemp & Butler, LLC, can help anyone injured in a motor vehicle collision. Reach out to us to speak with a Wisconsin car accident lawyer at our firm. We have decades of combined experience handling insurance claims for all sorts of wrecks.
Why Do Sideswipe Accidents Happen?
Sideswipe collisions have many causes, but some of the main ones include:
- Distraction. A motorist can easily drift into the other lane because they are looking at a cell phone or distracted by some other electronic device.
- Failure to check a blind spot. Sideswipes often happen on multi-lane highways, where a driver makes a lane change without checking over their shoulder. They then slam into a car in the blind spot.
- Fatigue. Tired motorists can lose control when they nod off, even very briefly. They might be unable to get their vehicle under control before it sideswipes another car.
- Refusal to yield. Some drivers refuse to yield, especially when trying to merge on the highway.
- Speeding. A motorist might see a vehicle up ahead try to merge, but they end up crashing because the driver is speeding.
- Vehicle malfunction. Something can go wrong on the vehicle, such as a tire blowing out, which suddenly makes the vehicle difficult to control.
Although these are common reasons for sideswipes, drivers often cannot agree on who is to blame.
Proving Fault in a Sideswipe in Wisconsin
The main consideration for determining whether you can receive compensation is identifying fault for your accident. In sideswipe accidents, it often is not clear which driver is at fault. Sometimes both drivers make mistakes, which means liability for the accident is shared.
For example, a driver seeking to merge should yield to a vehicle already in the lane. But there might be room for the driver to merge, so they cautiously pull into what appears to be a break in traffic. However, a motorist coming up from behind is going 20 miles per hour over the speed limit and crashes.
In this type of accident, both drivers will likely blame the other. We encourage you to hire an experienced car accident lawyer who can sift through the evidence to uncover what really happened.
Steps to Take after a Sideswipe Accident
Accident victims should take sensible steps after this type of crash to protect their rights:
- Report the accident immediately to the police. An officer should swing by and create a traffic accident report.
- Do not admit fault. You might be tempted to apologize or admit to some driving error as you wait for the police to show up. We recommend keeping these thoughts to yourself until you meet with an attorney.
- Photograph the vehicles. After pulling them to the side of the road, you can zoom in on dings and dents using your phone. These photographs help establish how the two cars collided, which can have significance when determining fault.
- Talk with witnesses. Some drivers will stop, probably because the accident blocks at least one lane of traffic. Ask for each witness’s name and what they saw.
- Receive prompt medical care. Going to the hospital when you finish at the scene is your best step. You can improve your odds of making a complete recovery; also, you will prove you attempted to mitigate your damages.
- Report the crash to your insurer. You can get the claims process rolling by calling your insurance company and providing basic details about the accident, such as the police report number and the day, time, and location.
We also must remind victims to never negotiate a settlement on their own or even give a recorded statement to insurance companies without the help of a lawyer. Those are good ways of undermining your ability to receive a fair settlement.
Call Our Wisconsin Car Accident Attorneys to Schedule a Free Consultation
Our legal team has helped many accident victims seek justice after motor vehicle accidents. They have serious injuries and feel incredible stress trying to keep up with bills when they are suffering from disabilities. Our firm can help guide your claim through the insurance process and take whatever other steps are necessary to obtain justifiable compensation. To learn more in a free consultation, contact us today.