There are many different types of crashes. Some people end up in single-vehicle collisions because a tire blows out or they hit a slick patch of pavement. Others may end up in crashes involving a commercial vehicle.
However, most wrecks involve two passenger vehicles. There are several subcategories of passenger vehicle collisions. One type is clearly more dangerous than any of the others. According to data from the National Safety Council (NSC), angle collisions cause more fatalities than rear-end crashes or head-on collisions.
What makes an angle collision where the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another so dangerous?
Side-impact safety systems aren’t universally standard
The single most serious safety concern in an angle collision scenario is the lack of mandatory safety systems for such crashes. Seat belts and the airbags in the dashboard of a vehicle help protect those involved in head-on collisions.
Some vehicles do have side impact airbags for both rows of seats. However, side-impact airbags in the front and passenger sections of vehicles are not yet universal safety features. Many vehicles, especially older models, lack safety systems designed to protect occupants in an angle collision scenario.
There may not be appropriate safety systems to protect the occupants in an angle collision. There’s also less vehicle infrastructure to absorb the force of impact when the crash comes from the side rather than the front. The way the vehicle crumples in such crashes can also cause severe injuries to the people inside, including comminuted fractures and traumatic amputations.
Drivers often can’t avoid an angle collision
In some crash scenarios, one driver can swerve or apply their brakes to prevent a wreck. In an angle collision, the party not at fault may not notice the approaching vehicle until it is dangerously close. They may not be able to swerve or stop to avoid the wreck.
The silver lining of an angle collision might be that fault for such wrecks is often quite obvious. Holding the driver who caused an angel collision responsible might involve an insurance claim or a civil lawsuit. Those who suffer significant losses in a crash caused by another motorist may be able to pursue compensation for property damage losses and any expenses related to their injuries.