Car accidents often follow familiar fact patterns. These patterns might pertain to the direction of the vehicles before the crash. They might refer to the cause of the accident. They may even identify the people or vehicles involved in the accident.
Insurance companies, lawyers, and jurors use these car accident scenarios to determine causation and assess fault. For example, after a rear-end collision, the odds are high that the driver in the rear vehicle will bear the blame for the crash.
If you’ve recently sustained injuries in a car accident, Marzzacco Niven & Associates can help you obtain compensation. Whether it’s through an insurance claim or a lawsuit, we’re here to evaluate your options and determine your best course of action. Contact us today at (717) 231-1640 for a free consultation with one of our experienced lawyers in Harrisburg, PA.
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How Marzzacco Niven & Associates Can Help You Obtain Compensation After a Car Accident in Harrisburg, PA
Marzzacco Niven & Associates is a top-rated personal injury law firm that has represented accident victims in Harrisburg and throughout the commonwealth since 2008. Our firm’s car accident attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in injury compensation for injured clients.
After an accident, our lawyers help you by providing:
- Over 120 years of experience handling all types of accident cases
- Skilled negotiators to try to settle your accident claim quickly and fairly
- Litigators to stand up to drivers and their insurers if your case does not settle
Car accident claims often require skill, knowledge, and experience to obtain the best possible outcome. Contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates for a free consultation to discuss your car accident and the injury compensation you may seek.
How Many Car Accidents Happen in Pennsylvania?
In 2021, Pennsylvania’s Crash Facts Report showed 117,899 total car accidents. These accidents included 1,153 fatal crashes and 50,684 non-fatal injury crashes.
Pennsylvania does not release car accident statistics for individual cities. But it does release statistics for counties. Since Dauphin County roughly corresponds with the Harrisburg metropolitan area, the county’s statistics provide a good picture of what happens in and around Harrisburg.
According to the Crash Facts Report, Dauphin County had 2,958 crashes in 2021. These crashes included 37 fatal crashes and 1,167 non-fatal injury crashes.
Examples of Car Accident Scenarios
Traffic experts use several criteria to classify car accidents. They might classify them by the outcome, distinguishing between fatal accidents and those that only cause property damage. They may also classify them according to the units involved with motor vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians classified separately.
But the most common classification comes from the facts of the crash, such as the cause or type of collision. Some common car accident scenarios — causes and determining fault — include:
Rear-End Collisions
Rear-end collisions happen when a trailing vehicle rams into the back end of a leading vehicle. These crashes happen for a few reasons, including:
- Distracted driving
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Changing lanes unsafely
In the front vehicle, the impact pushes vehicle occupants back into their seats. Their heads whip backward until they hit their headrests. As the driver hits the brakes or the vehicle gets pushed into the rear of another vehicle, the occupants whip forward into their seat belts.
In the rear vehicle, the reverse actions occur. The occupants whip forward into their seat belts, then back into their seats.
The whiplash motions experienced by occupants of both vehicles can injure the neck and back, causing injuries like strained necks and herniated discs.
The fault for rear-end crashes usually falls on the driver of the trailing vehicle. That driver must maintain a safe following distance. If they do not, they bear liability for any injuries they cause.
Intersection Crashes
Intersection crashes almost always happen when a driver fails to yield the right of way to the correct driver. This happens in a few situations, including:
- Disobeying a yield sign, red light, or stop sign
- Turning left before you have an adequate gap in oncoming traffic
- Turning right before you have an adequate gap in cross traffic
- Driving into a crosswalk occupied by a pedestrian or bicyclist
These crashes can cause serious injuries because the door can collapse when it gets hit. As a result, vehicle occupants can suffer broken bones and crush injuries.
Distracted Driving Accidents
Distracted driving is a growing problem due to the temptations of electronic devices like cell phones and in-vehicle entertainment systems. But distracted driving accidents can result from any type of activity that takes your eyes, hands, or mind from driving. Some examples of common distractions include:
- Eating and drinking
- Talking to passengers or on a cell phone
- Texting
- Reading
- Adjusting the sound system
The fault for distracted driving accidents falls on the distracted driver. All drivers have a legal duty to exercise reasonable care while driving. When they drive without their full attention, accidents can happen.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Harrisburg Car Accident Lawyers
Injury lawyers use evidence to prove what happened and who bears liability for any resulting injuries. Contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates for a free consultation to discuss how an experienced car accident lawyer can help you prove your case and recover injury compensation.