Car Accident Lawyer
Head on Collisions
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Head on Collision
Car Accident LawyerGet a Free Consultation
Have you suffered from an injury in a head on car accident?
Head on collisions often lead to devastating, severe injuries. The force involved with the impact is often greater than in other types of car crashes. In head on crashes, two vehicles driving toward each other collide. When the momentums of the two vehicles strike each other, a greater impact results than if the vehicles were moving in the same direction. For example, during a rear end collision, if both vehicles are moving, they are going in the same direction. Less force is involved because the speed and force don’t clash against each other.
The Most Common Causes of Head on Collisions
Drunk Driving
A drunk driver or driver under the influence of drugs can go unconscious or lose the ability to think clearly. When a driver’s perceptions and judgement become impaired, they can cross into another lane. Or they might drive recklessly, which can also lead to a head on crash. Since drunk drivers are prone to accidents, many laws have emerged to prevent drunk driving. A drunk driver is liable for the damages they cause.
Distracted Driving
The most dangerous aspect of distracted driving is the lack of attention on the road. Statistics show the average time a driver’s attention is off the road while texting is 5 seconds. Whether texting, adjusting a GPS or radio, or talking to someone on the phone, the driver might fail to notice they are no longer in their lane. As a result, they could crash head on into another car.
Driver Fatigue
If you are tired or didn’t have enough sleep, you can nod off. If you’re driving, you’re at risk for falling asleep at the wheel. When this occurs, cars can drift into oncoming traffic without the driver realizing it. In fact, the head on impact may be the moment that jars them awake. However, at that point, it’s too late to avoid the collision.
Speeding
Speeding can lead to accidents. This is especially true when speeding around curves because a driver can lose control of their vehicle. In addition, when driving on a two-lane road, it is easy for a car to end up in the other lane. If another vehicle is oncoming, even veering over the center line for a mere second can be catastrophic.
Driving in the Wrong Direction
Driving in the wrong direction can occur on one way streets. It can also happen when a driver confuses a highway on-ramp with an off-ramp. Drivers who are subject to oncoming traffic may have nowhere to pull off the road to get out of the way. Also, there may not be enough time for either driver to fully stop. Wrong-way driving happens more often than you might think and is responsible for 1 percent of fatal crashes in the U.S., which is about 300-400 deaths a year.
Unsafe Passing
When passing another car on a two-lane road, you have to allow enough time to get back in the proper lane. Poor judgement about the speed of the oncoming car, not passing quickly enough, or passing in a no passing zone can lead to head on crashes. Passing in construction zones is typically against the law.A driver engaged in unsafe passing would be liable for an accident.
Drunk Driving
A drunk driver or driver under the influence of drugs can go unconscious or lose the ability to think clearly. When a driver’s perceptions and judgement become impaired, they can cross into another lane. Or they might drive recklessly, which can also lead to a head on crash. Since drunk drivers are prone to accidents, many laws have emerged to prevent drunk driving. A drunk driver is liable for the damages they cause.
Distracted Driving
The most dangerous aspect of distracted driving is the lack of attention on the road. Statistics show the average time a driver’s attention is off the road while texting is 5 seconds. Whether texting, adjusting a GPS or radio, or talking to someone on the phone, the driver might fail to notice they are no longer in their lane. As a result, they could crash head on into another car.
Driver Fatigue
If you are tired or didn’t have enough sleep, you can nod off. If you’re driving, you’re at risk for falling asleep at the wheel. When this occurs, cars can drift into oncoming traffic without the driver realizing it. In fact, the head on impact may be the moment that jars them awake. However, at that point, it’s too late to avoid the collision.
Speeding
Speeding can lead to accidents. This is especially true when speeding around curves because a driver can lose control of their vehicle. In addition, when driving on a two-lane road, it is easy for a car to end up in the other lane. If another vehicle is oncoming, even veering over the center line for a mere second can be catastrophic.
Driving in the Wrong Direction
Driving in the wrong direction can occur on one way streets. It can also happen when a driver confuses a highway on-ramp with an off-ramp. Drivers who are subject to oncoming traffic may have nowhere to pull off the road to get out of the way. Also, there may not be enough time for either driver to fully stop. Wrong-way driving happens more often than you might think and is responsible for 1 percent of fatal crashes in the U.S., which is about 300-400 deaths a year.
Unsafe Passing
When passing another car on a two-lane road, you have to allow enough time to get back in the proper lane. Poor judgement about the speed of an oncoming car, not passing quickly enough, or passing in a no passing zone can lead to head on crashes. Passing in construction zones is typically against the law.A driver engaged in unsafe passing would be liable for an accident.
What vehicle safety features can help lessen injuries?
New vehicles have safety features that can help to avoid or reduce injuries during head on car crashes:
- Airbags. Airbags inflate during an accident to provide a barrier between the inside of the car and occupants.
- Seatbelts. Seatbelts restrain occupants, preventing ejection and reducing the dangers of impact.
- Crumple zones. A crumple zone in a vehicle crushes during a collision. It absorbs energy and force, which lessens the amount of force in occupant areas. Typically, crumple zones are in the front and rear areas of the car.
- Forward collision warning/automatic emergency braking systems. The sensors in systems like these warn drivers against a potential crash and apply the brakes to avoid or reduce the extent of the collision.
Get Legal Help for
Severe Injury or Vehicle Damage
By consulting with an attorney, you have a better chance of recovering sufficient compensation to pay for medical treatment and damages. Typically, an insurance company will try to avoid making large payouts. However, if you weren’t responsible for causing the accident and damages were extensive, the other driver’s insurance company generally bears the legal responsibility to pay. Some states have no-fault insurance, and others have liability coverage. Even in a no-fault state, when expenses exceed no-fault coverage amounts, the other party could be liable. Based on the other party’s percentage of fault, you should receive the compensation you deserve.
To arrange a free consultation, call the Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz at (210) 225-HURT (4878) or toll free (800) 645-8553. We can discuss your accident and determine how best to pursue recovering compensation.
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Michael R. De La Paz
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The Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz has its principal office in San Antonio, Texas, however, we can represent your personal injury case no matter where you live in Texas, the U.S., or Mexico.
