Car Accident vs Car Crash

Car accident vs car crash. Is there a difference? We all tend to use the terms “car accident” and “car crash” interchangeably, however, there is a difference.

Accidents Are Rare

Oxford defines an accident as “an event that happens by chance or that is without apparent or deliberate cause.” 

Accidents Are No One’s Fault

An accident refers to something that is no one’s fault. However, this is a rare situation. It is usually possible to determine what caused a crash. In most cases, one or more drivers are doing something risky which directly contributes to, or causes, the crash. This puts every single person on the road at risk.

What Qualifies as a True Accident?

As mentioned above, a car accident is a collision without any person being at fault. This is less common than a car crash. Certain circumstances or situations may lead to a true accident. But, real accidents are uncommon. It’s more likely one or more drivers caused the crash.

What is a Car Crash?

A crash is the actual event of one thing colliding with another. While “accident” implies no one was responsible, “crash” describes the event. However, when lawyers use “crash” it’s because someone did something wrong.

At-Fault Driver

When looking at a car accident vs car crash, there are similarities. Crashes aren’t intentional. Most drivers don’t want to cause a crash, but the at-fault driver engages in dangerous driving behavior. These behaviors put other drivers at risk.

Here are some behaviors that may lead to a car crash:

• Texting while driving
• Daydreaming/distractions
• Driving under the influence
• Speeding
• Following too closely
• Ignoring stop signs or red lights 
• Not checking blind spots before merging lanes
• Driving while fatigued/falling asleep at the wheel
• Not wearing corrective eyewear if your vision is impaired 

These behaviors put every single person on the road in danger. If a car crash occurs due to one or more of these behaviors, it could have been avoided.

Haggerty & Silverman Is Here To Help

Regardless of the situation, getting into any car collision is traumatizing. At Haggerty & Silverman, we are here to help. Call us for a free consultation. We’ll help you understand your options and get you the money you deserve.