Car accidents affect thousands of Philadelphia residents every year. As frustrating as an accident can be, they’re incredibly common, especially in metro areas across Pennsylvania. With the frequency of collisions comes the likelihood of injury.
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reports statistics on several crash types across the state with over 8,700 reported accidents last year in Philadelphia alone. That’s the second most out of all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Out of the nearly 9,000 accidents, a whopping 5,549 resulted in an injury to one or more parties involved.
Not all of those accidents involved multiple vehicles. In fact, the most common were classified as the driver having hit a fixed object. That means that, across Pennsylvania, more drivers are involved in single-vehicle accidents than any other type. Almost one-third of reported accidents occurred when a single driver hit a stationary object like a tree, mailbox, traffic barrier, or pole.
Other common crash types classified by PDOT include:
Angle
Vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide at a junction point; for example, while entering on a ramp, in an intersection, or driveway. In all of Pennsylvania during 2022, 28.7% of all accidents reported were classified as angle collisions. Angle collisions are common when one driver runs a red light or hesitates when driving across oncoming traffic.
Rear-End
Two vehicles traveling on the same roadway collide when one vehicle strikes the back of another vehicle. Rear-end collisions can happen when both vehicles are moving slowly, like at a stop light, or when one vehicle comes to an abrupt stop while the vehicle behind it is driving at a high rate of speed and isn’t able to stop in time.
Sideswipe
One or more vehicles on the same roadway traveling in the same or opposite directions make contact with the side of another vehicle. Sideswipe accidents typically occur when a driver drifts out of his or her lane – around a curve, when failing to check blind spots, or when distracted.
Head-On
Vehicles traveling in different directions on the same roadway collide front to front. Head-on collisions, like sideswipes, occur when a driver leaves his or her lane and collides with another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction.
Hit Pedestrian
A vehicle collides with a person not in a vehicle. Not surprisingly, hit pedestrian accidents cause a disproportionately high number of injuries and fatalities. Hit pedestrian collisions in Philadelphia often happen when a driver fails to yield to a crosswalk, drives too fast for conditions, or gets distracted by things like the radio or their phone.
Other
There are several other types of accidents not classified above, including collisions while backing up and non-collision accidents. Non-collision accidents include explosions, fires, floods, or falling objects.
What to Do if You’re Injured in a Car Accident in Philadelphia
What happens if you’re injured during a collision in Philadelphia? The first thing you should do if you’re injured in an accident is to seek medical assistance. Next, you should retain an attorney to protect yourself, your interests, and your rights during a personal injury case. At the Law Offices of Jason Javie, we have years of experience in representing our Philadelphia clients in car accident cases. Contact us today for your free consultation.