Head on collisions are the most dangerous car accidents, with an especially high rate of serious injury and death. They are also nearly always the result of driver error, often in the form of carelessness, aggressiveness, or intoxication. The victims of these collisions can demand compensation from the at-fault driver, and engaging experienced New London car accident lawyer can help them do so. [lwptoc title="Head On Car Collisions Guide"]
Causes of Head On Car Collisions
Head on car collisions often occur because of avoidable negligence or recklessness on the part of motorists. Some of the top causes of head on collisions include:- Distracted driving: A driver distracted by their cell phone, food and drink, grooming, or their fellow occupants has a higher chance of causing a head on collision. They pose a higher risk of drifting over the center line into opposing traffic lanes or ending up on the wrong side of the road after traveling through an intersection.
- Drowsy/fatigued driving: Drowsiness or fatigue makes drivers more likely to doze off or fall asleep behind the wheel and veer into the opposing side of the road.
- Driving under the influence: Intoxication reduces attention span, impairs fine motor skills, and increases drowsiness, increasing the likelihood that a driver zones out, drifts out of their lane, fails to notice a traffic control, or simply falls asleep at the wheel.
- Speeding: A speeding driver has less time to react to hazardous conditions, which could cause them to blow through an intersection or swerve out of their lane to avoid an impending collision.
- Poor road conditions: Faded road markings and other poor road conditions increase the risk that drivers might end up on the wrong side of the road by accident.
- Inadequate signage: Without signs warning of one-way streets or adequately guiding traffic, drivers could merge where they shouldn’t or travel the wrong way down one-way streets.
- Bad road design: Complicated road designs might make it difficult for drivers to navigate intersections, potentially leading them onto the wrong side of the road without them realizing it.
What Makes Head On Car Collisions So Dangerous?
Head-on car collisions are the single most dangerous types of road accidents, often causing severe, life-threatening injuries due to the forces they unleash. When vehicles collide head-on, they impart the full force of their momentum into each other. These violent forces can cause car occupants to suffer severe trauma. According to the Federal Highway Administration, head on collisions lead to approximately 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. Head on car collisions can cause life-threatening and fatal injuries such as:- Internal organ injuries and internal bleeding
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis, especially cervical spinal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries, including penetrating brain injuries, brain hemorrhage, or diffuse axonal injuries
- Penetrating injuries caused by accident debris
- Severe lacerations or degloving injuries and excessive bleeding
- Burns and smoke inhalation injuries from post-collision car fires
- Traumatic amputations or dismemberment
What Steps Should You Take After a Head On Car Collision?
You can take these proactive steps to protect yourself and your right to compensation after a head on collision:- Follow your treatment plan and recovery instructions. Do not put off procedures or rehab appointments or engage in activities your doctor has instructed you to avoid.
- Notify your auto insurance provider about the accident and confirm coverages available under your policy.
- Keep copies of bills, invoices, and receipts of your expenses from the accident, and gather your pay stubs/income statements to calculate lost income if you miss work or suffer a reduction in your earning capacity.
Pursuing Financial Recovery for a Head On Car Collision
If another driver caused the head on collision that injured you, they could owe you money for the harm you suffered as a result. Your financial recovery might include reimbursement for repairs for your car or reimbursement for your car’s cash value if the head on collision totaled it. You could also recover compensation for your medical treatment and rehabilitation expenses, including surgeries, prescription pain medications, and physical therapy. Furthermore, you can demand compensation to offset lost income when you cannot work due to injuries or disabilities or earn less in a modified duty position required by medical restrictions. Compensation in a head on car collision claim might also provide you financial recovery for personal loss and suffering you endure because of your injuries, including physical pain, emotional trauma/distress, or lost quality of life caused by disabilities or disfigurement/scarring.How an Attorney Might Help You Recover From a Head On Car Collision
The recovery process following a head on car collision can take months or potentially longer. However, you have limited time to pursue a legal claim against the driver responsible for the crash. You don’t want to take all of the time and deal with the stress of a legal claim while focusing on your medical recovery. Hiring an experienced car accident attorney can lift the legal burden from your shoulders, handling the details of your head on car collision claim while you devote time and energy to your treatment and healing. Your lawyer will investigate the crash to secure evidence that proves that the other driver caused the head on car collision. They will also obtain documentation of your injuries and losses. By preparing a compelling legal cause, your attorney gives you a better chance of recovering the full compensation you need to rebuild your life after a devastating accident.Head On Car Collisions Cause Some of the Most Devastating Traffic Accidents
