What Are the Most Common Types of Accidents That Occur on Highways?
November 4, 2025 | Car Accidents
Accidents on highways can be devastating. Vehicles tend to be traveling at higher speeds on these roadways, potentially increasing your risk of suffering serious injuries. While there is often some type of divider between opposing lanes of traffic designed to prevent head-on collisions, other types of accidents happen all too often on Pennsylvania highways.
Sideswipe Accidents
These types of car accidents often occur when one driver moves into a lane currently occupied by another driver. If the lane shift was intentional, a sideswipe collision usually happens because the driver switching lanes failed to confirm whether the new lane was occupied.
Sideswipe accidents are also often the result of distracted driving. When a driver is distracted by something like adjusting their sound system or texting, their car can drift out of control. If the distraction lasts long enough, they can drift into another lane, causing an accident.
Rear-End Accidents
Highways have much higher speed limits than urban streets. Portions of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, for example, have a speed limit of 70 mph. At these high speeds, accidents become more likely because you have less reaction time.
Rear-end accidents tend to happen on highways due to tailgating. In part, this is because many drivers don’t even realize they are tailgating.
If you slam your brakes while traveling 70 mph, your car will still travel several hundred feet before finally stopping. This means you should give the car in front of you plenty of space. Generally, the recommendation is one car length per 10 miles per hour of speed.
However, many drivers on Pennsylvania highways tend to allow significantly less space between their cars and the ones in front of them. This means that if a driver suddenly stops for any reason, an accident is likely to happen as a result.
Hit-and-Run Accidents
When you are involved in an accident in Pennsylvania, you are legally required to stop your vehicle in a safe location and share information with the driver of the other vehicle. Unfortunately, it isn’t uncommon for at least one driver to flee the scene after a highway accident.
While hit-and-run accidents are illegal, it can be difficult to get justice when the other driver disappears after a highway accident. Because these crashes usually occur at highway speeds, you may not be able to see the other driver’s license plate number or other identifying information.
Similarly, any witnesses might not be able to provide much more information than the color and style of the car. Cameras may also be less common on highways. On city streets, almost every stretch of a road may have a camera on or near it. Conversely, there may not be a camera for several miles on a highway.
This is why it’s essential to reach out to a lawyer after a collision of any type. A lawyer can help you gather evidence and determine the best path forward.
Call Our Harrisburg Car Accident Lawyers at Marzzacco Niven & Associates After a Highway Accident in Pennsylvania
If you are involved in any type of highway accident in Pennsylvania, it’s important to call 911 immediately. Receiving prompt medical attention protects your health and your future claim by establishing a record of your injuries. You’ll also want to collect any evidence you can from the scene, such as photos of any damage and the contact details of any witnesses.
Finally, consulting a Harrisburg car accident lawyer as soon as possible to explore your legal options can help you safeguard your rights and obtain the compensation you need to recover.
If you’ve been injured or need a lawyer to help you with your case, please contact Marzzacco Niven & Associates at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today:
Marzzacco Niven & Associates Harrisburg
945 East Park Drive, Suite 103 Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 231-1640
Marzzacco Niven & Associates York
2550 Kingston Road, Suite 210A York, PA 17401
(717) 995-8998
Marzzacco Niven & Associates Wyomissing
833 N. Park Road, Suite 103, Room A Wyomissing, PA 19610
(717) 388-2325
Marzzacco Niven & Associates Chambersburg
79 St. Paul Drive, Suite 1 Chambersburg, PA 17201
(717) 388-2378
Marzzacco Niven & Associates Carlisle
354 Alexander Springs Road Carlisle, PA 17015
(717) 995-8732
Marzzacco Niven & Associates Carbondale
30 Lincoln Avenue, Suite 101 Carbondale, PA 18407
(717) 995-8810
Marzzacco Niven & Associates Lancaster
2173 Embassy Drive, Ste 123, Lancaster Pa 17603
(717) 616-2954