The definition of a head-on collision is where the front ends of two vehicles strike from opposite directions. While this may be easy to understand, the tragic effects of these accidents are not. Head-on collisions are among the least common but the most deadly; they make up only about 2% of traffic accidents in the United States but account for roughly 10% of the nation’s traffic deaths.
When car accidents lead to severe or even fatal injuries, there is nothing easy about pursuing an insurance claim or litigation. If you or a loved one are suffering from a head on collision injury in Southern Arizona, you may be attempting to cope with medical bills and other financial losses along with intense physical and emotional suffering. At Showard Law Firm, we are here to help you manage these and other challenges while holding negligent parties accountable for the injuries they have caused.
Causes of head-on collisions
Head-on crashes most often occur when a driver crosses the center line, and there are certain places where this is most likely to happen. Nearly 9 out of 10 head-on crashes take place on 2-lane roads, and three-quarters take place on rural roads. Head-on crashes account for 13% of traffic fatalities in rural areas.
Surprisingly, only about 4% of these accidents are caused by one vehicle trying to pass another. Instead, other unsafe actions include:
- Drunk driving
- Drowsy driving
- Entering the freeway from the wrong ramp
- Distracted driving, including texting while driving
- Speeding on a curve
- Broken down vehicle in the road
- Failure to yield during a left-hand turn
Determining the cause or causes of a crash is critically important. Knowing the cause of an accident is the first step toward understanding who may be legally responsible. At Showard Law Firm, we apply our experience and technical knowledge of complicated accidents to decipher who may be held liable for your losses.
Common head on collision injuries
When two vehicles collide head-on, the force involved is more likely to cause a fatal injury than other type of accident. Many of these fatalities are caused by ejection from the vehicle, which is more common in a head-to-head crash.
Other common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Spinal cord damage
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Facial damage
- Lacerations and contusions
- Soft tissue injuries, including whiplash
- Herniated discs
- Airbag injuries
Serious injuries are less common in newer vehicles, which are equipped with seat belts and airbags. Of course, these devices only work when they are used. By buckling up and enabling airbags, you can increase your chances of surviving a serious head on collision car accident.
Who is legally responsible for a head on collision?
Arizona is a fault-based auto insurance state. This means that the party whose negligence causes an accident is also liable for paying the damages.
Legal liability is not always obvious. Further, if you do not sue the correct parties or do not prove every necessary element of your claim, you can lose your case. Your lawyer will examine your head-on collision facts for signs of negligence by other drivers, defects related to the vehicles involved, and even errors by employees or contractors of local governments that made the road more dangerous.
Your lawyer will build a strategy designed to prove your case against the potentially liable parties. This will include drafting pleadings to carefully focus the issues for the court, conducting discovery to gather evidence that supports each element that you need to prove, and advocating for you in settlement negotiations. It also includes taking your case to trial if the defendants are not willing to reach an agreement that provides fair compensation.
Contact us today for a free consultation
When you or a loved one are injured in a serious accident like a head-on crash, take the time to talk to an experienced lawyer about your situation. Choosing the right lawyer is the first step toward securing the resources you will need to recover physically and financially.
At Showard Law Firm, we are committed to helping those in Southern Arizona who have suffered because of someone else’s negligence. In addition to taking the lead on developing your case, we will help you connect to the other resources you need and handle communications with aggressive insurance representatives.
However, the law limits how long you have to file a lawsuit, so do not wait to talk with an attorney. Call Showard Law Firm today to schedule a free consultation.
Additional resources:
- NHTSA, National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA) Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Data Resource Page, https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/#!/
- NHTSA, Correlation Of NCAP Performance with Fatality Risk in Actual Head-On Collisions http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/regrev/evaluate/808061.html