Although head-on collisions are rare, they often result in severe or catastrophic injuries when they occur. Head-on collisions make up roughly 10% of all traffic fatalities. When two cars traveling towards each other collide, the impact that occurs is twice as severe. In addition, most passengers sit in the front of the vehicle where the impact occurs. As a result, these passengers are more vulnerable to life-threatening injuries such as brain trauma, damage to vital organs, and spinal cord injuries.
How Do Head-on Collisions Occur?
Typically head-on collisions are a result of one driver traveling outside their proper lane, over a median or double-yellow line, or traveling the wrong way down a one-way street. One of the most common reasons for this occurring is because the driver of the vehicle is impaired in some way – by drugs, alcohol, lack of sleep, cell phones or some type of distraction. Wet or slippery roads can also cause a vehicle to slide in front of another vehicle resulting in a head-on collision. In addition, an unsafe driver that takes a turn too fast can lose control of the vehicle causing it to enter into the wrong lane and incoming traffic. Many drivers fail to realize that only a few seconds of losing focus while driving can cause them to lose control of their vehicle and drift into oncoming traffic.
Recovering Damages
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed in a head-on collision caused by another driver, you may be able to receive monetary compensation for your losses. These may include past medical bills and future medical bills that are expected to continue into the future. Since head-on collisions often result in catastrophic injuries, you may need to recover an amount sufficient enough to cover long-term medical expenses.