Today, modern vehicles are designed to absorb the force of impact of a collision in the front and rear. Specifically, cars are designed to “crumple” to protect occupants when there’s a serious crash. However, more than 39 percent of all car accidents in Santa Rosa are side impact collisions - including sideswipes, T-Bone, and broadside accidents.

Vehicle occupants are offered very little protection in Santa Rosa sideswipe accidents. Even when vehicles are equipped with side airbags, the driver and vehicle passengers can suffer catastrophic injuries in these types of wrecks.

As the victim of a sideswipe car accident in Santa Rosa, it’s important to know that you have rights. This can include the ability to seek compensation from the driver who caused your accident, a vehicle manufacturer, or an insurance company. The experienced Santa Rosa car accident lawyers at Singleton Schreiber are here to help you fight for the maximum financial recovery you deserve.

Sideswipe Accidents in Santa Rosa

Singleton Schreiber is a fearless advocate for car accident victims and families in Santa Rosa and throughout the state of California. Putting decades of combined experience behind every case, we’ve helped clients win over $2.5 billion in jury verdicts and privately negotiated settlements.

Call our Santa Rosa law office to discover how we can help you make things right after a sideswipe collision, too. Your first consultation is free.

What Causes Sideswipe Accidents?

Sideswipes are a type of side-impact accident where the sides of two vehicles collide. In Santa Rosa, about 9 percent of all car accidents are classified as sideswipes.

Some of the most common causes of sideswipes include:

Unsafe Lane Changes

Drivers have to check their vehicle’s blind spots carefully before changing lanes. When a driver is distracted, drunk, drowsy, or experiencing road rage, they might neglect to make sure it is safe to move into another lane of traffic. As the driver begins to change lanes, they may collide with a vehicle in the lane next to them.

Improper Merging

Many sideswipe collisions occur when a vehicle is merging into traffic. Sideswipes can happen if the driver who is attempting to enter the flow of traffic doesn’t time their entry properly, fails to check blind spots for oncoming motorists, or just assumes that another driver will let them enter the lane. Alternatively, drivers on the main road can cause or contribute to sideswipes if they don’t adhere to the “zipper” method of merging, refuse to allow a vehicle to enter traffic, or aren’t paying attention.

Parking Lot Accidents

Sideswipes are also commonly reported in Santa Rosa parking lots. These collisions can occur if two vehicles attempt to drive down a narrow corridor at the same time or when a driver attempts to park in a spot that’s too small for their vehicle.

No matter where and when sideswipes happen, the most common underlying factors include distracted driving, drunk driving, drowsy driving, aggressive driving, and failing to check blind spots.

Who’s Liable For a Sideswipe Accident in Santa Rosa, CA?

While auto defects and road defects can potentially contribute to sideswipe accidents in Santa Rosa, most are the result of driver negligence.

So, most often, the driver whose negligent actions cause a sideswipe will be liable for resulting damages.

How do you know which driver caused the sideswipe?

Determining liability begins with a prompt and thorough investigation into the crash itself. At Singleton Schreiber, our car accident attorneys in Santa Rosa will dive into the details of your crash, evaluate the scene of the wreck, and consult with experts as we work to understand what happened.

We’ll gather critical pieces of evidence that will be needed to support your case, including:

Property damage
Photographs of the scene of the accident
Dashcam footage
Medical records
Accident reports
Eyewitness statements and testimony
Accident reconstruction reports
Forensics reports, including assessments of tire tracks and damage to property

Once our team determines which driver caused the sideswipe, we’ll actively begin to build a claim that forces the liable party to take full responsibility for the extent of your physical injuries, financial costs, and emotional distress.

How Do I Get Compensation After I’m Sideswiped in Santa Rosa?

California follows a fault-based system of liability. After a crash, you’ll have the opportunity to seek insurance benefits from the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

Compensation can include economic damages and non-economic damages for:

Current medical bills
Future medical expenses
Property damage
Nursing assistance
Rehabilitation
Lost wages
Temporary and/or permanent disability
Funeral expenses
Chronic physical pain
Disfigurement
Physical scarring
Reduced quality of life
Pain and suffering
PTSD
Loss of consortium

While California has strict insurance minimum requirements, there’s a chance that your damages will exceed what the at-fault driver’s insurance company will pay. In these situations, you’ll have the ability to seek additional compensation directly from the at-fault driver and/or another liable party.

Choosing Singleton Schreiber to represent you means not having to worry about how to recover compensation or from whom. Our Santa Rosa personal injury attorneys will be ready to handle all aspects of your sideswipe accident case on your behalf, working hard to get you every cent you need and deserve.

Singleton Schreiber Can Help You Maximize Your Recovery After a Sideswipe Accident in Santa Rosa

Sideswipes can cause debilitating physical trauma - including broken bones, brain injuries, crush injuries, spinal cord injuries, amputated limbs, and wrongful death. While you’ll have the right to seek compensation if someone else’s negligence caused your sideswipe accident in Santa Rosa, this opportunity won’t be without limitation.

California has a strict two-year statute of limitations for most car accident lawsuits.

You can preserve your rights and increase the odds of a meaningful financial recovery by calling Singleton Schreiber after your sideswipe. Our Santa Rosa car accident lawyers are local litigators with national resources at their disposal. We’ve helped clients win billions from insurance companies, government agencies, and manufacturers.

Now, we’re ready to help you make things right after a sideswipe, too. Get started by calling our Santa Rosa, California, law office today. There’s no charge for your first case evaluation.