Types of Car Accidents in Rhode Island

The trauma of a serious car crash can haunt you for the rest of your life. You will never forget the image of a car barreling toward you, a truck swerving into your lane, or an SUV running a red light and slamming into the side of your vehicle.

Although these memories may stay with you, you shouldn’t be haunted by debt due to another driver’s negligent behavior.

At Gemma Law Associates, our dedicated Rhode Island car accident lawyers have years of experience helping victims recover full and fair compensation after all car accidents.

We know the pain and stress that crash victims face when coping with serious injuries.

Medical bills missed paychecks, and vehicle repair costs all take a toll on your financial stability, adding to the physical and emotional pain and suffering.

Schedule a free consultation now with our compassionate team of Rhode Island car accident attorneys. We will review the details of your crash and discuss all your options for pursuing the compensation you need and the justice you deserve.

Most Common Types of Auto Accidents

The circumstances surrounding each car accident are unique. However, a majority of crashes fall into the following categories:

Rear-End Collisions — One of the most common types of car accidents, a rear-end crash is caused by one car slamming into the back of another vehicle.

Rear-end collisions often occur because one driver was tailgating or following too closely and could not stop in time when the driver in front braked. Rear-end crashes may also involve a third vehicle if the force from the first impact is enough to push the victim’s car into another vehicle.

Side-Impact Collisions — Also known as T-bone crashes, side-impact collisions typically occur at intersections when one driver runs a red light or fails to yield. The cars crash at a perpendicular angle, forming a T-shape.

Sideswipe Crashes — Several factors can cause a sideswipe crash. Typically, one driver drifts into another driver’s lane, scraping (or swiping) the side of the other vehicle.
Or a driver may not check blind spots before changing lanes, resulting in a crash. Sideswipe crashes can start a chain reaction of traffic accidents as vehicles swerve to avoid a hit or are pushed into other lanes.

Head-on collisions — When two vehicles slam head-first into each other, the impact often leaves everyone involved with serious injuries. Head-on collisions may be caused by wrong-way drivers or drivers who mistakenly swerve (or are pushed) into oncoming traffic.

Rollover accidents — Rollovers are one of the deadliest types of auto accidents. Vehicles with high centers of gravity (such as trucks and SUVs) are more susceptible to rolling over in crashes.

Single-vehicle crashes — Contrary to popular belief, a single-vehicle accident is not always the fault of the driver involved. Defective auto parts, poorly designed roads, and other careless drivers can lead to a single-vehicle crash and serious injuries.

Multiple-vehicle crashes — Often referred to as pile-ups, crashes involving more than two vehicles can leave victims with severe injuries and complicated personal injury claims.

It takes a skilled car accident lawyer to investigate and determine who was at fault in wrecks involving several drivers (and several insurance companies).

No matter what you were injured in, you need to speak with the knowledgeable auto accident attorneys at Gemma Law Associates today about your legal options. Our attorneys will want to launch an investigation into your wreck right away so we can collect all the evidence before it is lost or destroyed.

Schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help with your car accident claim.

Size of Vehicles Affects Severity of Crash

The injuries and damage caused by an automobile accident can be compounded when the vehicles involved vary in size. For example:

Truck accidents can leave passenger cars and smaller vehicles crushed, even when the vehicles are not traveling at high speeds. Victims may face life-threatening injuries, or they may not survive. To complicate matters, there are many companies (and insurers) involved in a commercial truck’s operation, so determining liability requires an experienced truck accident attorney.

Motorcycle accidents often result in serious injuries or death because the rider is not protected by the frame of a car like other drivers. Motorcyclists who are read-ended, sideswiped, T-boned, or hit head-on may face extensive hospitalization time, surgeries, rehabilitative therapy, and ongoing pain and suffering.

Bicycle and pedestrian accidents involve the most vulnerable people on the road. When a motor vehicle crashes into a person who is walking or riding a bike, the results can be devastating and often deadly.

You may be entitled to compensation if you have been hurt or lost a loved one in a crash involving a negligent driver.

Our experienced Rhode Island personal injury lawyers can discuss your options for pursuing a car accident claim or a wrongful death lawsuit during a free consultation.

Common Causes of Car Accidents

Distracted driving
Speeding or driving too fast for conditions
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Driving while drowsy or fatigued
Reckless driving
Failure to yield the right of way
Improper turns
Road rage or aggressive driving
Dangerous or defective auto parts (such as brakes, tires, steering systems, etc.)
Construction zone hazards
Wrong-way driving
Weather-related conditions (such as rain or icy roads)
Poorly designed or maintained roadways

In some cases, there may have been more than one contributing factor in a crash. Only a thorough investigation will reveal the cause of a crash and who should be held liable.

Compensation After a Car Crash

One of the first questions clients typically ask us is: How much is my car accident claim worth?

The answer depends on several factors. As part of building a strong case for you, we will document all the ways in which your injuries have affected and will continue to affect your life. We may demand compensation for:

Medical bills, including hospitalizations, surgeries, rehabilitative therapy, medications, and assistive mobility devices such as wheelchairs
Future health care costs related to your injury
Lost wages if you had to miss work or take sick pay/vacation days
Reduced earning capacity if you are forced to take a lesser-paying job or cannot return to work at all
Damage to your vehicle
Physical, emotional, and psychological pain and suffering
Punitive damages, which may be awarded in cases where the at-fault party showed extreme misconduct

As we investigate your car accident claim, we may consult with medical and financial experts to ensure our team has a comprehensive view of how your injuries have changed your life. We will negotiate aggressively with insurance companies to demand maximum compensation for your injuries.

If you have already been contacted by an insurance company about a car accident settlement, do not sign anything or accept payment until you speak with our knowledgeable attorneys.

Insurance adjusters know that you may be feeling pressure from mounting medical bills and time off work, and they will try to take advantage of you by offering a quick but lowball settlement. Protect yourself and your future by scheduling a free consultation with our team today.

Contact Our Rhode Island Auto Accident Lawyers Today

Do not wait to learn about your legal rights if you or a family member has been injured in a wreck. The experienced personal injury attorneys at Gemma Law Associates have earned a reputation for fighting for the rights of crash victims throughout Rhode Island. We take an aggressive stance against insurance companies that try to deny claims or bully crash victims into accepting less than they deserve.

Schedule a free consultation with our legal team today by calling or filling out our online form. We do not charge any fees to get started on your case, and we only get paid if and when we recover money for you.

Serving the Greater Providence metro area, including Warwick, Cranston, Pawtucket, North Providence, South Kingston, Coventry, Cumberland, Woonsocket, and East Providence.