Lakewood Ranch Head-On Collision Attorney
According to the National Safety Council’s Injury Facts, head-on collisions caused 138,000 injuries nationwide in 2018 and 4,900 fatalities. While these types of crashes are rare, the consequences can result in life-long disability or even death for the victims involved. This is because in frontal collisions both vehicles are traveling in opposite directions, which means the force at which they impact each other is greater than in other crashes. For instance, if one driver is traveling down the road at 45 mph and the other at 55 mph, the impact of a head-on collision would be comparable to a driver crashing into a brick wall at 100 mph.
CAUSES OF HEAD-ON COLLISIONS
Head-on collisions are caused when one vehicle ends up traveling the wrong way down a street. This can happen if a driver fails to see signage indicating a one-way road or it can happen when a driver has lost control over their vehicle and crosses the double yellow lines. Distracted drivers who take their eyes off of the road, drowsy drivers who are falling asleep, and drunk drivers who have impaired vision are all likely to cause a head-on collision.
FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE SEVERITY OF A FRONTAL COLLISION
How severe the injuries are after a head-on collision depends on several factors both inside and outside of the vehicles themselves. For instance, according to the Insurance Information Institute, seatbelts alone reduce the risk of fatal injury to a front seat passenger by 45 percent. When combined with a vehicle that is equipped with functioning front airbags, the risks decrease even more drastically. Other common factors that will determine how deadly or severe a head-on collision is include:
- The height and weight of both vehicles involved;
- The speed at which both vehicles were traveling prior to impact;
- What safety features exist in each vehicle such as airbags, seatbelts, crumple zones, and more;
- If any other vehicles or stationary objects were involved in the crash; and
- More.
If one vehicle is significantly taller or weighs significantly more than the other, the smaller vehicle and its occupants will inevitably bear the brunt of the injuries and property damage.
COMMON INJURIES SEEN AFTER A HEAD-ON COLLISION
Since there is so much force going into a head-on collision, it is likely for drivers and passengers inside both vehicles to be injured from the crash. Common injuries include:
- Whiplash;
- Spinal cord injuries;
- Deep lacerations from window glass;
- Broken bones;
- Internal bleeding;
- Traumatic brain injuries; and
- More.
With these injuries, victims will require medical care such as surgeries, a hospital stay, and physical therapy to recover. A personal injury claim will help reduce the financial burden and ensure that the victim is able to get appropriate medical care to make the best recovery possible.
CONTACT LAKEWOOD RANCH HEAD-ON COLLISION ATTORNEYS AT HALE LAW TODAY
Being involved in a head-on collision is likely to bring about some serious psychological distress, not to mention severe physical injuries. If you or a loved one was hit head-on, reach out to the Lakewood Ranch head-on collision accident attorneys at Hale Law We have the experience needed to get you the best compensation possible. Contact us at 1-800-800-1414 to schedule your free consultation today.