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What Are the Most Common Types of Car Collisions?

Car crashes in DC aren’t just happening more often—they’re happening in more ways than ever before. Rear-end collisions on K Street. T-bones at Georgia Avenue intersections. Multi-car pileups on the Beltway. Every crash is different, and those differences matter when it comes to your personal injury claim.

The way your accident happened can shape every part of your case: how serious your injuries are, who’s considered at fault, and how much compensation you may be entitled to. That’s why it’s important to work with a DC car accident lawyer who understands the details and can build the right strategy from day one.

At Regan Zambri Long PLLC, our team has been fighting for injured drivers, passengers, and pedestrians across the DC metro area for over three decades. We know what it takes to get results, no matter what kind of accident you were in.

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Different Types of Car Accidents We Handle

While every crash has its own facts, certain types of collisions tend to raise common issues in personal injury cases. Some are more likely to cause severe injuries. Others make it harder to prove fault. Here are a few examples our Regan Zambri Long team sees regularly in the District:

Rear End Collisions

Car accident in Washington, DCThese are some of the most common crashes, and they might seem simple. But rear-end accidents can still lead to serious injuries like whiplash, back trauma, or concussions. And in DC’s heavy traffic, determining fault isn’t always cut-and-dry. Was the lead driver brake-checking? Was the other driver distracted or speeding?

T-Bone or Side-Impact Crashes

Often happening at intersections, these crashes are dangerous because the side of a car offers little protection. They can lead to head, chest, and internal injuries. Figuring out who had the right of way is key, and we often use surveillance footage, black box data, and witness accounts to get the facts straight.

Head-On Collisions

These are among the most devastating and deadly crashes. High-speed impact, often caused by distracted, impaired, or wrong-way drivers, can leave victims with life-altering injuries. In these cases, we work closely with crash reconstruction experts to establish fault and damages.

Single-Vehicle Accidents

Single-vehicle crashes are more common in DC than most people realize. Rollovers, often caused by swerving to avoid animals or debris, are a frequent example. Other accidents may involve hitting trees, poles, or parked cars.

While only one vehicle is involved, factors like poor road conditions, bad weather, distracted driving, or mechanical issues can play a role. That means the driver isn’t always at fault, and legal help may still be an option.

Multi-Vehicle Pileups

Chain-reaction crashes are rarely straightforward. You might be struck multiple times, and several drivers could share the blame. Insurance companies often shift responsibility to avoid paying. At Regan Zambri Long, we cut through the noise, identifying everyone at fault and making sure they’re held accountable.

Hit-and-Run Accidents

If the other driver fled the scene, your own uninsured motorist coverage may have to step in. But getting your insurer to pay fairly isn’t always easy. We help clients report hit-and-run crashes properly and fight for full compensation through their policies.

What Causes Car Accidents in Washington, DC?

Car accidents can happen in the blink of an eye—especially in a city like DC, where busy intersections, aggressive drivers, and unpredictable road conditions all collide. But most crashes aren’t random. They happen because someone made a choice or a mistake that put others at risk.

At Regan Zambri Long, we’ve handled every kind of crash you can imagine. Below are some of the most common causes we see in personal injury claims across the District.

Distracted Driving

Many behaviors can be categorized as distracted driving. Using a cell phone, changing the radio station, looking for an item, putting on makeup, eating, and talking to your passengers are all distractions. Anytime a driver is not paying attention to the roadway, for whatever reason, the risk of a car accident increases.

Fatigued Driving

Fatigued driving can cause tragic car accidents. Sleeping drivers have zero control over the car and, unfortunately often result in serious injuries and death.

Speeding

Speed limits are created for a reason. Engineers evaluate the roadway and establish speed limits that allow motorists to drive safely. Driving at unsafe speeds does not allow a driver to have enough time to react to dangerous situations on the roadway, potentially causing major car crashes.

Wrong Way Driving

Driving on the wrong side of the road or in the wrong direction on a one-way street toward oncoming traffic can cause a head-on collision as well as other types of accidents.

Poor Road Conditions

Unsafe roadways are a common factor in many car accidents. Hazards like potholes, lack of signage, uneven pavement, and poor drainage can make driving dangerous and increase the likelihood of a crash. In some cases, government agencies or contractors responsible for road maintenance may be held liable.

Reckless Driving

Reckless driving is defined as the blatant disregard for the safety of other drivers and their property. This can include excessive speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, texting and driving, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and many more. Driving recklessly can result in thousands of dollars in fines as well as time in jail. Call our lawyers at Regan Zambri Long to help you file a lawsuit against a reckless driver.

Common Injuries After an Auto Accident

Car accident aftermath in Washington, DC

A car accident can turn your world upside down in an instant. Beyond the physical pain, crash victims often face staggering medical bills, time away from work, and months—or years—of recovery. At Regan Zambri Long, we’ve helped clients across DC fight for justice and fair compensation after suffering serious, life-altering injuries.

Here are some of the most common injuries we see in Washington, DC car accident cases:

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)

Head and brain injuries are some of the most devastating outcomes of a serious car crash. Even a “mild” concussion can affect memory, focus, and emotional regulation. More severe TBIs can cause permanent cognitive and physical disabilities, sometimes requiring full-time care. Over a lifetime, these injuries can cost victims and families millions of dollars in medical treatment, rehab, and lost income.

Spinal Cord Injuries

Injuries to the spinal cord can result in limited mobility, nerve damage, or full paralysis. Victims may lose their ability to walk, work, or live independently. The cost of care, especially if ongoing physical therapy, in-home assistance, or adaptive equipment is needed, can easily reach hundreds of thousands per year.

Broken Bones

Fractures are common in car accidents and can range from minor breaks to complex compound fractures. Many require surgery, physical therapy, and weeks or months of recovery. In some cases, broken bones lead to chronic pain or long-term complications, especially when joints or nerves are involved.

Burns

Car fires, airbag deployment, or exposure to hot surfaces and chemicals can lead to burn injuries. Severe burns may require multiple surgeries and specialized treatment at burn centers. On top of hospital bills, families often face out-of-pocket costs for hotels, travel, meals, and long-term cosmetic procedures like skin grafts or plastic surgery.

Lacerations and Scarring

Shattered glass, metal debris, and seatbelt impact can cause deep cuts and lacerations. While some heal quickly, others leave behind permanent scars or require stitches and plastic surgery. Scarring—especially on the face or hands—can have lasting emotional and psychological effects.

Wrongful Death

In the most tragic cases, a loved one may not survive the crash. When a death is caused by someone else’s negligence, surviving family members have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. While no amount of money can bring someone back, compensation can help with funeral costs, lost income, and the emotional toll of a preventable loss.

If you’ve lost a loved one in a DC-area crash, Regan Zambri Long can help you hold the responsible party accountable and seek justice for your family.

Should You Hire a DC Car Accident Lawyer?

You’re not legally required to hire a lawyer to file a car accident claim, but handling it alone can be overwhelming, especially when the stakes are high. Insurance companies are not on your side, and without legal representation, they’ll likely offer far less than your case is worth.

The attorneys at Regan Zambri Long have decades of experience representing injured clients in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. We understand how local insurance laws work. We know the strategies insurance companies use. And we know how to fight back.

When you hire our team, you get:

  • Thorough investigations into the cause of your accident
  • Consultations with medical experts to understand the full extent of your injuries
  • Negotiation with insurers to push for every dollar you’re owed
  • Trial-tested attorneys ready to take your case to court, if necessary

We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we win your case. We’ll front all costs so you can focus on what matters most—your recovery and your future.

Talk to a DC Car Accident Lawyer Today

You’ve already been through enough. Let our attorneys handle the legal fight for you. Call Regan Zambri Long for a free, confidential consultation and find out how we can help you move forward after a serious crash.

Schedule a Free Consultation

Have you or your loved one sustained injuries in Washington DC, Maryland or Virginia? Regan Zambri Long PLLC has the best lawyers in the country to analyze your case and answer the questions you may have.

Call 202-960-4596

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