What Does It Mean to Be Sideswiped?

July 9, 2025 | Sagi Shaked | Car Accidents

Lines divide lanes of traffic and help direct the flow of traffic and maintain order on roadways. Unfortunately, they can’t physically stop vehicles from moving into lanes already occupied by other drivers, which can result in car accidents.

Although rear-end collisions are the most common crashes, sideswipes can also occur in multiple lanes of traffic. What does sideswipe mean? It’s an accident involving two vehicles traveling in the same direction where the side of one vehicle collides with the side of another in a glancing or swiping blow.

There are several reasons why such accidents might occur. When you are involved in a sideswipe collision, you need to understand fault and what you should do in the aftermath.

Why Do Sideswipe Accidents Occur?

Whether a sideswipe occurs on a multi-lane highway or in a grocery store parking lot, there could be any number of causes for a sideswipe car accident. Lane changes are a common event leading to sideswipes. A driver might fail to check a blind spot before merging or changing lanes, or they might be unable to see other vehicles in the blind spot.

Aggressive driving could be another cause, with a merging driver assuming other drivers will move or brake to avoid an accident. Some drivers may cause an accident due to distractions such as phone calls, texts, or passenger interactions that lead them to drift into another lane. A driver might also swerve due to a road hazard ahead in their lane.

Determining Fault in a Sideswipe Accident

Florida is a no-fault insurance state, meaning that each driver involved in a car accident relies on their insurance policy to cover damages. All drivers typically must carry a personal injury protection (PIP) policy to cover injuries to themselves and their passengers.

Unfortunately, this coverage may not account for all damages, which is why the Florida Financial Responsibility Lawf requires that drivers carry liability coverage. Liability insurance must cover up to $10,000 per person and $20,000 per crash for bodily injury, as well as up to $10,000 for property damage. 

Determining fault is essential to ensuring coverage for significant injuries or damages, and Florida follows a modified comparative negligence rule for personal injury cases. If you are 50% or less at fault, you may still recover some damages.

What to Do After a Sideswipe Collision

There are many different types of car accidents, but what you should do in the aftermath is roughly the same, whether you’re side-swiped or hit head-on. The first steps should be to assess yourself and your passengers for injuries, call for emergency services, and seek medical attention if necessary.

If possible, you should gather contact information from other drivers, passengers, and witnesses at the scene, along with evidence like photos and/or videos. The evidence you collect could be crucial in determining fault and supporting your version of events. 

From there, you’ll want to report the accident to your insurance provider and contact a qualified car accident attorney to discuss your case.

When to Contact the Authorities

When an accident results in injuries or side-swipe car damage, you need to know whether you’re required to contact the authorities. When in doubt, it’s best to err on the side of caution. 

Additionally, Florida law requires that drivers who are involved in accidents resulting in injury, death, and/or $500 or more of property damage report the crash to the local police department as soon as possible.

Call Our Miami Car Accident Attorneys at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers for Help After You’ve Been Sideswiped

A serious accident can cause major upset to your life, leaving you overwhelmed and unsure of how to look out for your own best interests. With help from an experienced and compassionate Miami car accident attorney to fight for fair compensation, you can focus on recovery. Call Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers to set up a free consultation. 

Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers
20900 NE 30th Ave Suite 715 Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 937-0191
Open 24 hours