May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of safe riding practices. Every year, thousands of motorcyclists are involved in accidents that can lead to serious injuries or even fatalities. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motorcyclists are 22 times more likely than passenger car occupants to die in a crash.

Common car accidents cause injuries to more than three million Americans every year.  Although not every car accident is fatal, most include damage to your vehicle and potential injuries. While common car accidents can be avoided by certain safety precautions, they still happen.

Most car accidents fall into several common categories. If you experience one of the following common car accidents, be sure to notify the police and explore your legal options.