Head-on car accidents are thankfully rare, but they are extremely dangerous when they do occur. These terrifying traffic events should never happen if both drivers exercise the proper level of care. However, when a driver makes a grave error, they can find themselves barrelling directly into the front of another vehicle, and it can change lives in an instant.
If you have suffered a serious injury or a loved one has died in a head-on car accident, you may be entitled to a substantial amount of financial compensation. You must hire a car accident lawyer to get the maximum possible settlement for your injuries, as the stakes can be high in these cases.
Seek a free case evaluation from a car accident lawyer as soon as possible.
Head-On Car Accident Statistics
Head-on car accidents comprise roughly one in every fifty car accidents in the United States, reflecting how rare they are. However, roughly 10 to 15 percent of motor vehicle accident fatalities happen in head-on car accidents. These numbers show exactly how serious head-on car accidents can be.
Causes of Head-On Car Accidents
Cars should never collide head-on because each driver should remain in their lane and yield the right-of-way to other drivers when required by law. However, one driver may be extremely careless or make a dangerous miscalculation that places them in the path of an oncoming vehicle.
Often, the other driver has little to no time to react and get out of the way, resulting in a head-on collision.
Common causes of head-on collisions include:
- A driver overestimates the amount of time and distance they have to pass another vehicle
- Distracted driving, causing the motorist to veer out of their lane or not see a traffic sign
- Drunk driving, when the intoxicated motorist cannot perceive or see a traffic sign or their proper lane, or when they drive the wrong way on a one-way road or highway
- Drowsy driving, causing the driver to fall asleep and veer across the double yellow line
- Reckless driving, which can result in a driver weaving in and out of traffic or losing control of their car
No matter the cause, head-on car accidents are extremely dangerous and often fatal. To understand why head-on car collisions are so dangerous, it helps to learn more about the physics behind them.
In many car accidents, force transfers from one vehicle to the other. In a head-on car accident, there is nowhere for the force to go. Instead, each car will internalize the force and immediately decelerate.
The quick declaration will cause a violent and sudden motion that will cause the body to jerk forward. A driver may come into contact with something hard in the car, or they may be struck by debris. Since head-on car crashes will severely damage the vehicle, the car may collapse inward on the driver.
Who Is Liable for a Head-On Car Accident?
Liability in a head-on car accident should generally be simple. The driver who was not where they were supposed to be is the one who should be legally to blame for the accident.
You can tell a lot from the position of the cars at the time of the accident. Pictures and videos from the accident scene can reveal which driver was in the wrong lane.
However, even if liability seems clear, the other driver’s insurance company may try to find a way to blame you for the accident, claiming you may have been speeding or were distracted yourself.
Your car accident attorney may need to rebut allegations that you were partially at fault because this can affect your potential compensation.
How Can I Get Compensation for a Head-On Car Accident?
You can seek compensation for head-on car accident injuries in two primary ways. Many car accident victims will first approach the responsible driver’s insurance company and file a claim for compensation.
In many cases, the insurance company will accept liability and make you a settlement offer for your injuries. This offer might start low, so you must negotiate for the full amount you deserve.
If the insurance company is being uncooperative, and your car accident lawyer advises you to do so, you can file a lawsuit against the responsible driver in court. The insurance company will still be the one to defend against this lawsuit because they owe that legal obligation to their policyholder.
How Much Is My Head-On Car Accident Case Worth?
In any car accident case, the size of your settlement check depends on the severity of your injuries and the amount of insurance coverage the responsible driver has, among other factors.
Since head-on car accident injuries are almost always serious, you will likely seek a large settlement for your injuries. However, you and your attorney must maximize the value of your claim because the insurance company will not give you every dollar you deserve at the outset of your case.
Why You Need a Car Accident Lawyer for Your Case
Even if there are no questions about who was to blame for the crash, you still need a car accident lawyer to represent you in the legal process. Everything comes down to how much money you can get for your injuries, and there is a good chance that you can get more when you have a car accident attorney on your side.
Your car accident lawyer provides value by determining how much you should receive for your injuries. Many people undervalue their losses without professional calculations. Then, the lawyer will file the claim or lawsuit that formally seeks the money you deserve.
Insurance companies fear car accident lawyers because your attorney will not let them get away with their usual tactics in the claims process. Your car accident attorney can take a tough approach in negotiating with the insurance company, which leaves them with little choice but to pay for your injuries.
The best thing you can do for yourself and your family following a head-on collision is to seek the right legal help from a car accident attorney.