Basics
Review by Client Seriously Injured in Car AccidentOf all the types of car accidents, the head-on collision is among the most fatal. A head-on collision occurs when two cars or other motor vehicles move towards each other from opposite directions, and the front of one vehicle collides with the front of the other vehicle.
Head-on crashes often transpire on straight roads where one vehicle crosses into oncoming traffic unintentionally – often on undivided two-lane roads. This type of car accident also sometimes happens on highway ramps and construction zones.
When it comes to head-on crashes, drivers and passengers in both vehicles are at risk of severe injuries and even death. After all, when two moving vehicles are speeding directly towards each other and collide, the force of the impact is doubled. Since a driver and usually a passenger are seated near the point of impact, they become more at risk of sustaining life-threatening injuries.
Potential Causes
Driving too fast and distracted or inattentive driving are two common causes of head-on collisions. Other factors are speeding around a curve, illness or fatigued driving, mechanical defects, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, crossing the center line, not following or reading road signs properly, bad weather conditions, and falling asleep while behind the wheel and drifting into oncoming traffic.
Prevalence
According to Fatal Analysis Reporting System statistics from 1999, 75 percent of head-on collisions tend to happen on rural roads, and 75 percent of head-on collisions also happen on undivided two-lane roads. The same report showed that 83 percent of crashes on two-lane undivided roads also occur on rural roads.
Studies also show that while head-on crashes comprise only two percent of total motor vehicle accidents, they account for roughly 10 percent of all traffic fatalities.
Injury Potential
Being a victim in a head-on crash can be catastrophic, especially for those situated in the front part of the involved vehicles. Victims can sustain serious and even life-threatening injuries such as head injuries, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, whiplash, contusions, lacerations, paralysis, and broken bones. Unfortunately, fatalities can also result.
If you or someone you love was seriously injured, disabled, or killed in a head-on crash or any other form of car accident, call Flick Law Firm right away. We have been successfully handling car accident cases since 1993, and as your car accident lawyer will strive to get you fair and full financial compensation for your accident-related damages, including medical bills, rehabilitation expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering.
