If you’ve been hurt in a sideswipe collision, you may be struggling financially with medical bills, missed time at work, and costly vehicle damage. Thankfully, many personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t owe any money up front if you decide to sue for your injuries. Still, you need to pay your other bills now.
That’s where Rockpoint Legal Funding comes in. If you qualify, we will give you a legal loan to help you make ends meet while recovering from your sideswipe accident injury. Because we offer non-recourse funding, you don’t have to repay the money if you don’t win your case. It’s that simple.
The Dangers of Sideswipe Accidents
Most vehicles have side airbags to reduce the dangers of side-impact crashes. However, sideswipe collisions are still a major cause of injuries on US roadways. Unlike front or rear-end collisions, side-impact collisions lack the protection of a bumper or crumple zone.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 863,000 sideswipe collisions occurred in 2018. While sideswipe accidents accounted for a much lower percentage of fatal crashes (2.7%) than head-on collisions, they made up a larger percentage of injury collisions (6.8%). Over 129,000 sideswipe accident injury crashes occurred in 2018.
When it comes to collisions with large trucks, sideswipe accidents are an even bigger factor. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, same-direction sideswipe accidents accounted for over 16% of large-truck injury crashes in 2020 — or 18,000 accidents.
Five Common Causes of Sideswipe Accidents
Sideswipe accidents can either be same-direction or opposite-direction collisions. Same-direction sideswipe crashes often occur when someone changes lanes or attempts to merge onto the highway.
Opposite-direction sideswipe crashes occur when two vehicles travel in opposite directions without a median separating them. Opposite-direction crashes often have more severe injuries as the vehicles have higher relative speeds. Sideswipes can cause chain reactions, where the colliding vehicles hit other cars or objects on the road.
1. Unsafe Lane Changes
While the criteria can be somewhat subjective, states have various violations related to unsafe lane changes. Unsafe lane changes may involve failure to use a signal, neglecting to check blind spots, or endangering other vehicles when passing.
2. Improper Merging
Proper merging is a skill that not all drivers have mastered. When merging with another lane of cars, drivers should match the flow of traffic, check for surrounding vehicles, use their turn signals, and only change lanes when it is safe. When merging onto the highway, drivers should yield to vehicles already there.
3. Limited Visibility
Limited visibility can play a big role in sideswipe vehicle accidents. Many states prohibit passing within a certain distance of hills, blind curves, intersections, railroad crossings, bridges, and tunnels because of restricted visibility. In addition, certain types of vehicles, such as SUVs and pickup trucks, have larger blind spots.
4. Aggressive Driving
Like any other type of car accident, aggressive driving can contribute to sideswipe collisions. Speeding, for example, increases the chance of drivers losing control and reduces the time they have to react to other vehicles. Risky maneuvers like weaving in and out of traffic or cutting too closely in front of other cars also raise the chances of a crash.
5. Drowsy, Distracted, or Intoxicated Driving
While driving is an everyday occurrence for many people, it’s a dangerous activity that requires our full attention. Unfortunately, many people drive while distracted, tired, or intoxicated. Every year, distracted driving kills about 3,000 people, drowsy driving kills about 6,400, and drunk driving kills over 13,000.
Common Injuries in Sideswipe Accidents
If you landed here by researching lawsuit loans, you likely have already suffered a sideswipe accident injury. Sideswipe collisions can cause the following injuries:
Brain Injuries
One of the most potentially devastating consequences of a sideswipe collision is a traumatic brain injury (TBI). In some accidents, you may suffer only a mild temporary concussion. A severe brain injury, however, can have life-altering, long-term consequences like seizures, cognitive difficulties, and trouble communicating.
Spinal Injuries
Another potentially catastrophic injury is spinal damage. You may sustain anything from a herniated disc to a spinal fracture and even paralysis. Severe pain, weakness, and limited range of motion from a serious back injury can prevent you from working, which makes securing lawsuit funding an even more pressing need.
Whiplash
While more commonly associated with rear-end collisions, whiplash can also happen in sideswipe accidents. The forceful impact causes your head and neck to move beyond the normal range of motion, leading to neck pain, headaches, and dizziness. Some people may experience further issues such as memory problems, trouble focusing, and depression.
Other Injuries
Sideswipe accidents can cause a multitude of other injuries, from severe bruising to organ loss. You may suffer internal bleeding, serious burns, joint damage, or crushed limbs. In some cases, side-impact collisions can cause lacerations, penetrating injuries, and even amputations from glass or metal.
How Can Personal Injury Funding Help Me?
As a sideswipe accident victim, you may struggle to pay your bills. If the lawsuit defendant makes you a lowball offer early in the negotiations, you may be tempted to accept it to make ends meet.
Litigation funding can help bridge the gap while you wait for your case to resolve. When taking out a pre-settlement loan from Rockpoint Legal Funding, you’ll receive cash fast — without credit checks or application fees.
You can use your personal injury settlement loan for anything you need, including the following:
- Medical treatment or medical devices
- Personal assistance with daily activities
- Groceries
- Rent or mortgage payments
- School tuition
- Vehicle costs
- Utility bills
- Credit card payments
Contact Rockpoint Legal Funding Today
For more information about funding for your sideswipe accident injury lawsuit, call (855) 725-1187 to schedule a free consultation. To get the process started right away, apply online today.
The Rockpoint Legal Funding team will review your lawsuit to see whether it qualifies. If you have a strong enough case, you’ll receive financial relief quickly — perhaps in as little as one day!
