According to the National Safety Council, 44,762 people died in motor vehicle accidents in 2023. 5,800 of these people died in head-on collisions that year, representing 29.9% of collisions with other motor vehicles. Even when these are not fatal accidents, they can still cause devastating effects.
Understanding what a head-on collision is and how it happens helps to reveal why these crashes are among the most severe.
What Is a Head-On Collision?
A head-on collision occurs when two vehicles strike each other head-on. One vehicle may be traveling in the wrong lane, or the vehicles may be crossing paths, such as at intersections.
Common Causes of Head-On Collisions
Head-on car crashes can occur for many reasons, but driver error and reckless driving are some of the main reasons for these deadly crashes. Drivers might make mistakes or drive in an unsafe way that puts them in the path of other motorists.
If you were injured in a head-on collision that you think was someone else’s fault, our car accident lawyers can investigate if any of the following reasons caused or contributed to the crash:
- Speeding: Drivers who speed are more likely to lose control of their vehicles. They may also be unable to stop in time once they notice a hazard.
- Unsafe passing: Drivers may pass unsafely in lanes where they are not supposed to cross or around vehicles when there is not enough time to get back into the lane without colliding with another motorist.
- Distracted driving: When motorists are distracted by cell phones, passengers, kids, pets, food, or other sources, they are not paying as much attention to their driving. They may start to drift into the oncoming lane or fail to notice traffic signs, such as stop signs. This
- Drunk driving: Impairment by drugs or alcohol is also a common cause of frontal impact crashes. Drunk drivers may have slower reaction times, impaired judgment, problems with hand-eye coordination, and loss of motor function that make them more likely to cause head-on crashes.
- Fatigued driving: Tired drivers may exhibit some of the same symptoms as drunk drivers. They may drift into other lanes or even fall asleep at the wheel.
- Failure to yield the right of way: Drivers who ignore traffic signs or don’t wait for oncoming traffic when they’re supposed to can cause deadly head-on crashes.
- Disobeying traffic signs: Negligent drivers may disregard traffic signals and signs, including red lights, stop signs, and one-way signs. Their failure to obey traffic laws can leave other motorists surprised and without sufficient time to stop and avoid a collision.
Our personal injury lawyers can investigate your case to determine the factors that contributed to your case and how they affect liability determinations.
What Injuries Often Occur After a Head-On Crash?
Head-on collisions tend to result in serious injuries due to this type of crash’s violent nature. Some of the most common injuries involved in head-on crashes include the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries: A traumatic brain injury can occur when a vehicle occupant hits their head on a hard surface in the car, such as the dashboard, windshield, seat in front of them, or door. Sometimes, even without striking a hard surface, these injuries can occur because the brain crashes into the interior of the skull due to the force of the impact. Traumatic brain injuries can lead to consciousness disorders like coma, loss of mobility, and altered personalities.
- Spinal cord injuries: Due to the high speeds and strong impact often involved in these types of auto crashes, car accident victims may suffer spinal cord damage. The spinal column may be compressed or fractured, which can lead to complete or partial paralysis.
- Neck and back injuries: Neck and back injuries are also common in head-on crashes, which can cause chronic pain, stiffness, and limited mobility.
- Broken bones: The combined speed of colliding vehicles is often more than the human body can withstand, leading to fractures. These injuries can require surgical intervention and long recovery periods.
- Internal organ damage: Head-on vehicle crashes can also cause significant internal injuries, including internal bleeding and damage to the liver, spleen, lungs, and other organs.
- Soft tissue injuries: Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash, can be incredibly painful and result from tears in tendons, ligaments, or muscles.
- Psychological injuries: In addition to physical injuries, head-on collision victims may suffer from psychological trauma. They may have felt their life was in danger and may relive the experience as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The emotional trauma from a head-on crash can sometimes affect victims’ quality of life and relationships with loved ones.
For many head-on crash victims, the consequences of these collisions can be lifelong, making it necessary to seek medical and legal help.
Who Is at Fault for Head-On Collisions?
To make a claim with another driver’s liability insurance provider under full tort or limited tort, you will have to show that they were responsible for the accident. Additionally, other parties can share blame for the accident, so it’s essential to work closely with an experienced Philadelphia accident lawyer who can help prove fault. Some of the parties who may be responsible for a head-on collision include:
- Other drivers: If the accident was caused by distracted driving, drunk driving, or driver error, the other driver may be held liable for it.
- Car manufacturers: Auto manufacturers can be held legally liable for car accidents caused by defective parts that led to the driver losing control of the vehicle, such as tire blowouts or brake failures.
- Governmental entities: If poor road signage, dangerous road design, or poor road maintenance contributed to the accident, the government agency responsible for maintaining or designing the roadway could be responsible for the crash.
Evidence to Prove Fault
One of the most critical roles of your auto accident lawyer is identifying and gathering relevant evidence to prove fault. Your car crash attorney can gather evidence such as:
- Accident reports: If police responded to the scene, they may have prepared an official report of the accident. This report may contain valuable information, such as statements that other drivers or witnesses made, the law enforcement officer’s initial impressions about how the accident occurred, and whether the other driver was cited for violating a traffic law.
- Surveillance footage: Traffic cameras or business surveillance cameras may have recorded the accident. Your car accident lawyer can try to obtain this evidence before it is lost or recorded over.
- Witness statements: Objective witnesses may be able to explain what they say.
- Photos: Pictures you or someone else took after the motor vehicle accident can help illuminate how the accident may have happened and its impact.
- Event data recorders: Most modern cars are equipped with event data recorders, similar to the black boxes in semi trucks and airplanes. These devices record crucial information, such as vehicle speed, braking patterns, and direction of travel, that can help determine how the accident happened.
- Drug and alcohol testing reports: Because many head-on traffic crashes are caused by impaired driving, it’s often important to obtain drug and alcohol testing reports. These reports may show the driver had a blood alcohol content above the legal limit or recreational drugs in their system.
- Medical records: Your medical records can help show the severity of your injuries and link them to the motor vehicle collision.
- Maintenance records: Maintenance records may show that the other driver failed to change a tire or fix their brakes, which led to the crash.
- Expert witness reports: In some cases, expert witnesses are hired to analyze the speed, vehicle crush patterns, skid marks, angle of impact, and the chronology of events to determine how the crash happened and who was at fault.
What Damages Can You Recover After a Head-On Accident?
Accident victims can seek compensation for the damages they suffered in the accident, which may include:
- Medical bills for ambulance rides and hospital stays
- Ongoing medical treatment for rehabilitation and physical therapy
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages and loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Your personal injury attorney can determine which damages to include in your personal injury claim and negotiate for fair compensation with the insurance company.
Why Head-On Collision Cases Often Reach Policy Limits
One of the factors that can limit the potential value of your car accident claim is the amount of car insurance available. Insurance companies will only pay up to the maximum limits of the insurance coverage the insured purchased.
Many drivers choose only to carry the minimum required amounts of auto insurance, which are:
- $15,000 in bodily injury coverage for one person
- $30,000 in bodily injury coverage for more than one person
- $5,000 in property damage coverage
- $5,000 in medical benefits coverage
Anyone who has ever gone to the hospital knows that this amount can easily be exhausted by a single visit. Because head-on accidents tend to result in severe injuries, insurance coverage alone is often not enough to cover victims’ expenses. An experienced lawyer can help prepare a personal injury lawsuit to help you recover full and fair compensation.
Contact Our Philadelphia Head-On Collision Attorneys for a Free Consultation
If you’d like to learn more about your legal rights and options for recovering compensation, contact Cousin Benny Personal Injury.
