You’re driving in your lane when another driver — distracted, or not checking a blind spot — drifts into you. A sideswipe can be disorienting, and it can look minor at first glance. But the same contact that clips a mirror can also send a car out of control into something far worse. If you were sideswiped anywhere in Hampton Roads, Decker Law can sort out who’s responsible and pursue fair compensation. Call 757-622-3317 for a free consultation, available 24/7.
WHY A “MINOR” SIDESWIPE CAN TURN SERIOUS
A sideswipe happens when the sides of two vehicles make contact — whether they’re traveling the same direction or opposite ones. It covers a lot of ground: a clipped mirror, a scrape down the door while someone changes lanes, a strike while merging, or contact with a parked car. Some of these look like cosmetic damage. Others send a vehicle veering into another lane, a guardrail, or oncoming traffic — which is how a “minor” sideswipe becomes a serious injury crash.
Fault usually rests with the driver who left their lane or changed lanes improperly, but it isn’t always clean — a driver running a signal can share the blame, and the other driver rarely admits fault at the scene. That’s where evidence matters, and where Virginia’s rules raise the stakes: under pure contributory negligence, even a small share of fault assigned to you can end your claim. We gather what proves who drifted, and we hold that driver accountable.
SIDESWIPE ACCIDENTS: WHAT TO KNOW
What causes sideswipe accidents?
Failing to check blind spots, distracted driving, reckless driving, failure to signal, and merging without care — most trace back to a driver drifting out of their lane.
Who’s at fault?
Usually the driver who made the improper lane change or left their lane. Fault can be shared when another driver ignored a signal, and it’s often disputed at the scene — which is why documentation matters.
Who’s usually at fault?
Most often the rear driver, since keeping a safe following distance is their responsibility. But the front driver can be liable — for a sudden unnecessary stop, an unexpected reverse, or non-working brake lights. In Virginia’s contributory-negligence system, how fault is framed can decide the whole claim.
What should I do after a sideswipe?
Get to safety and turn on hazards, call the police and get a report, seek medical care even for minor-seeming injuries, photograph the scene and exchange information, and notify your insurer (Decker Law can do this for you). Then call a lawyer.
MEET OUR LAWYERS
Joel Weintraub
Joel Weintraub has been practicing law for over 40 years and focuses his practice on civil litigation involving disputes between individuals and corporations. Joel’s recent cases involve corporate litigation, personal injury, business law, will and trust contests and interpretation, shareholder rights, and estate administration.
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Joseph Rigney
A Chesapeake native and former prosecutor, Joseph Rigney focuses on personal injury and criminal defense, including traffic law. He tries both civil and criminal cases in the courts of Norfolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Hampton, and Newport News.
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Jeffrey Partington
A Virginia Beach native, Jeffrey Partington serves clients in personal injury, workers’ compensation, and business law, and has worked both sides of the aisle. He practices in the courts of Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Newport News, Portsmouth, Hampton, and Suffolk.
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Cole Roberts
A Norfolk native and former Public Defender, Cole Roberts represents clients in criminal defense and traffic matters, from reckless driving and DUI to serious felonies. He has tried numerous jury cases across the seven Hampton Roads cities.
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Peter Decker, III
Peter Decker, III focuses his practice on criminal, traffic, and personal injury. He regularly practices in the General District, Juvenile and Domestic Relations, and Circuit Courts of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Hampton, Suffolk and Newport News.
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Martin Thomas, Jr.
Martin Thomas, Jr. focuses on personal injury, criminal, and traffic law, along with contract law and civil litigation. He tries cases in the courts of Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Chesapeake, and serves on Norfolk City Council.
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Michelle Parker
Michelle Parker concentrates on personal injury, elder law, wills, trusts and estates, litigation, corporate law, and criminal defense. She handles civil, probate, and traffic cases throughout the seven cities of Greater Hampton Roads.
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Martin Thomas
Martin Thomas is the firm’s president and managing attorney, concentrating on personal injury, criminal, and traffic law. He handles multimillion-dollar injury cases throughout Virginia and has been named to Super Lawyers for personal injury.
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George Neskis
George Neskis represents clients charged with criminal and traffic offenses — from DUI and reckless driving to felony matters — and also handles personal injury. A former Norfolk Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney, he practices across all seven Hampton Roads cities and has been named to Super Lawyers for criminal defense.
Sideswipe fault often comes down to who drifted — and the other driver won’t concede it. Let us gather the proof and handle the insurers while you focus on healing. Reach us by text, chat, phone, or email — or call right now at 757-622-3317.
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