What is a Sideswipe Collision, and How Does it Occur?

A sideswipe car accident happens when two vehicles traveling parallel to each other make contact, typically scraping along their sides. These accidents often result from driver errors during lane changes, merging, or distractions.

Understanding the causes and consequences of a sideswipe accident in Utah can help you navigate its legal and physical aftermath.

What Is Considered a Sideswipe Accident?

While not explicitly defined in the official Manual on Classification of Motor Vehicle Traffic Crashes, a sideswipe accident is understood to mean a collision from the side, involving the side of one vehicle striking or scraping that of another. Unlike head-on or rear-end collisions, sideswipe crashes occur when vehicles are moving in the same or opposite directions but not directly aligned.

These incidents are common on multi-lane roads, highways, or during merging.

How Sideswipe Collisions Differ From Other Crashes

A side-impact crash, such as a sideswipe, is distinct from other types of crashes due to its glancing nature. Unlike T-bone or frontal collisions, which involve direct impacts, sideswipes often result in less severe structural damage but can still cause significant injuries or trigger chain-reaction crashes.

Their unique mechanics make determining fault more complex, as both drivers may share responsibility.

Common Vehicle Damage in Sideswipe Crashes

Sideswipe accidents typically cause scratches, dents, or paint transfers along the sides of vehicles. Damage may affect doors, fenders, side mirrors, or wheels.

While often cosmetic, severe sideswipes can misalign frames or damage internal components, leading to costly repairs.

How Do Sideswipe Collisions Happen?

Sideswipe collisions stem from a variety of driver errors or road conditions, as evidenced by the Utah Department of Public Safety’s crash statistics. Identifying the cause is critical for determining liability and preventing future incidents.

Lane Changes and Blind Spot Errors

One of the most common causes of sideswipe crashes is a lane change collision due to improper lane changes. Drivers who fail to check their blind spots or signal their intentions may collide with vehicles in adjacent lanes.

Blind spot accidents are particularly prevalent with larger vehicles, such as trucks or SUVs.

Distracted or Aggressive Driving

Failure to maintain lane due to distractions, such as texting or adjusting the radio, can lead to a sideswipe. Similarly, aggressive driving behaviors, such as tailgating or weaving through traffic, increase the risk of side-impact collisions.

Merging Without Yielding

A merge lane accident often occurs when merging onto highways or changing lanes without yielding to oncoming traffic. Drivers who misjudge gaps or fail to yield to right-of-way rules may collide with vehicles already in the flow of traffic.

How Dangerous Are Sideswipe Accidents?

The risks associated with a sideswipe car accident depend on several factors, including vehicle speed, the size and weight difference between the vehicles involved, road conditions, and the driver’s response. While many sideswipe incidents result in minor damage, such as scratches or dents, the potential for serious consequences remains, particularly in specific scenarios.

These collisions can affect not only drivers and passengers but also pedestrians, cyclists, or nearby property if vehicles veer off the road. Understanding the specific risks associated with sideswipe accidents highlights the importance of defensive driving to prevent sideswipes, including maintaining proper lane discipline and situational awareness.

Injuries Associated With Side-Impact Collisions

Passengers on the struck side of the vehicle are particularly vulnerable to sideswipe crash injuries due to their proximity to the impact zone, and the risks are amplified for motorcyclists or pedestrians who lack the protective structure of a vehicle. Prompt medical evaluation is critical, as some injuries may not be immediately apparent but can worsen without treatment.

Common injuries include:

• Whiplash: A sudden lateral jolt can strain neck and shoulder muscles, causing pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility that may persist for weeks or months.
• Bruises, Cuts, and Lacerations: Contact with the vehicle’s interior, shattered glass, or deployed airbags can lead to superficial injuries, which may require stitches or carry infection risks.
• Broken Bones: The force of a sideswipe can fracture arms, ribs, or legs, especially if the vehicle’s structure is compressed, with recovery potentially requiring surgery or prolonged rehabilitation.
• Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs): High-speed or heavy-vehicle collisions can cause concussions or severe brain damage, even without direct head impact, leading to cognitive or neurological issues.
• Spinal Injuries: Impacts may result in herniated discs, fractures, or other spinal damage, potentially causing chronic pain, mobility limitations, or permanent disability.

The likelihood and severity of these injuries are influenced by vehicle design, including side-impact protection, as well as the use of safety features. Older vehicles with weaker structural integrity may exacerbate risks, underscoring the importance of modern safety standards.

Multi-Vehicle Chain Reactions

One of the most dangerous aspects of sideswipe accidents is their potential to trigger multi-vehicle chain reactions, escalating a single incident into a complex and hazardous event. When one vehicle sideswipes another, it may cause the struck vehicle to swerve, leading to loss of control or veering into adjacent lanes, where it may collide with other cars, trucks, or even roadside barriers.

This domino effect is widespread in high-traffic areas, such as highways or urban intersections, where vehicles are closely spaced and drivers have limited time to react.

Chain-reaction crashes significantly increase the likelihood of severe injuries and fatalities due to the cumulative impact forces and the involvement of multiple vehicles. For instance, a sideswipe that pushes a car into oncoming traffic could result in a head-on collision, one of the deadliest types of crashes.

Who Is at Fault in a Sideswipe Collision in Utah?

Determining fault in a sideswipe accident in Utah requires careful analysis of the circumstances and the state’s traffic laws.

Understanding Utah’s Fault and Comparative Negligence Laws

Under Utah traffic laws, Utah follows a “fault” system, meaning the at-fault driver’s insurance typically covers damages. However, Utah also uses comparative negligence, allowing compensation even if you’re partially at fault, as long as your responsibility is less than 50%.

Your recovery is reduced by the percentage of fault attributed to you.

Proving Liability in a Sideswipe Crash

To determine who is at fault in a sideswipe accident, evidence like police reports, witness statements, dashcam footage, or traffic camera recordings is crucial. Demonstrating that the other driver failed to signal, check blind spots, or yield can establish their negligence.

An experienced attorney can help gather and present this evidence in an effective manner.

What to Do After a Sideswipe Accident in Salt Lake City

Taking the proper steps after a sideswipe collision can protect your health, safety, and legal rights.

Steps to Take at the Scene

• Ensure Safety: Move vehicles to a safe location if possible and turn on hazard lights.
• Check for Injuries: Call 911 if anyone is hurt and seek medical attention.
• Exchange Information: Collect names, contact details, insurance information, and vehicle details from all parties.
• Document the Scene: Take photos of vehicle damage, skid marks, and road conditions. Note the time, weather, and location.
• File a Police Report: In Utah, you must report accidents involving injuries, deaths, or significant property damage.

How to Protect Your Injury Claim

Avoid admitting fault or discussing the accident in detail at the scene. Seek medical care promptly, even for minor injuries, to document your condition.

Notify your insurance company and ask about insurance coverage for sideswipe accidents, but consult an attorney before giving recorded statements to avoid jeopardizing your claim.

Contact Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers for Help

Navigating the aftermath of a sideswipe collision can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to face it alone. As experienced Salt Lake City car accident lawyers, Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers is here to guide you through the legal process..

How Our Salt Lake City Car Accident Attorneys Can Support You

Our experienced attorneys will investigate your accident, gather evidence, and negotiate with insurance companies to secure fair compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. We understand Utah’s fault laws and will fight to protect your rights.

Don’t let a sideswipe accident derail your life; schedule a free consultation today. Contact Valley Law Accident & Injury Lawyers when you need a sideswipe crash attorney in Salt Lake City.

Call us at (801) 810-9999 to schedule your appointment today. Let us help you get the justice and compensation you deserve.