An Overview of Dangerous Head-on CollisionsAll traffic accidents are capable of producing serious injuries; however, head-on collisions are one of the most dangerous traffic accidents that drivers can become involved in. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported in 2019, frontal impact collisions were responsible for 57% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths, accounting for 12,785 of the 22,416 traffic deaths that year. Head-on collisions are the deadliest type of frontal impact crash.

What is a head-on collision?

A head-on collision is a traffic accident where two vehicles which are traveling in opposite directions collide. The force of the impact when the vehicles collide is what makes head-on accidents so dangerous for motorists. Both vehicles are traveling at a particular speed and at the time of collision, they are forced to come to a sudden, complete stop, meaning there is no place for the energy to safely disperse. The collision is equivalent to colliding with a brick wall; and the faster that one or both of the vehicles are traveling, the greater the impact of the collision.

What are some common causes of head-on collisions?

Just like all traffic accidents, most head-on collisions result from driver negligence. One of the common causes of head-on collisions is a wrong-way traffic accident. Drivers who travel in the opposite direction on a one-way street or a highway entrance are in danger of being in a head-on collision. Oftentimes, drivers travel on the wrong side of the road due to other negligent behaviors, like drunk driving. Driver distraction can also lead to a wrong-way crash.

Another common cause of head-on collisions is crossing the center line while driving. Drivers who fail to pass safely on a two-lane road or decide to improperly pass in a no-pass lane are at risk of colliding with another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Drivers who speed around curves can find themselves veering over into the center lane, risking the chance of colliding with another vehicle. That driver is also at risk of losing control of the vehicle when they speed around a curve.

Fatigue is an all-too-common cause of head-on collisions. When drivers become drowsy behind the wheel, they are in danger of falling asleep and losing control of their vehicle. Drivers can drift off into oncoming traffic and easily collide with another vehicle traveling in an opposite direction.

Not all head-on collisions are the result of driver negligence, however. A defective auto part can cause the steering or brakes to fail in a car or truck, and road defects – potholes, missing signage or lighting, roadway debris, etc. – can also cause a driver to swerve or a car to skid.

What are some common injuries caused by head-on collisions?

The majority of injuries created by head-on collisions are serious and life-threatening. The size of the vehicles involved in the head-on collision, as well as the speed at which they are traveling at the time of the collision, determine the severity of the injuries drivers and passengers sustain.

Unfortunately, because both vehicles are usually traveling at pretty fast speeds, some of the common injuries created by head-on collisions are:

Even if drivers or passengers are fortunate to walk away from a head-on collision, they can experience injuries like whiplash, herniated discs, or other injuries that become worse hours and even days after a traffic accident.

Who can be held liable for the injuries sustained in a head-on collision?

In a head-on collision, the circumstances of the accident determine who can be held liable for any injuries sustained. The driver who drifted over into oncoming traffic or whose negligence behind the wheel contributed to the accident will usually be categorized as the liable party.

Depending on certain factors, such as whether the accident occurred as a result of a vehicle defect or a pothole, there are additional third parties who can be held liable for a head-on collision. On those particular occasions, the driver who caused the head-on collision may not be held solely liable for the accident. A manufacturer or even a government entity may be liable, too. If a pedestrian unexpectedly enters a lane and the driver approaching the pedestrian swerves and collides with another vehicle in an attempt to avoid hitting the pedestrian, the pedestrian can be held liable for the accident.

How is liability determined in a head-on crash?

The investigation of a head-on collision begins when a law enforcement officer arrives at the scene. The law enforcement official may take photographs of the scene, take note of any apparent causes or influencing factors that led to the accident, and collect the insurance information from each driver. After collecting all evidence, the law enforcement official will record their information in an official crash report. The crash report is an essential piece of evidence for determining liability.

Attorneys also conduct investigations into the accident. Part of the job of your lawyer is to show who was in the correct lane of travel at the time of the accident. Attorneys will use several resources, such as physical evidence from the accident (marks left by tires, the position of the cars at the collision, black box data from commercial vehicles) or the help of an accident reconstructionist to recreate the head-on collision and determine which vehicle drifted off into which lane of traffic. When video surveillance is available, we may use that, too.

How are head-on collisions investigated?

Motor vehicle accidents can make your life difficult, choosing the right auto accident lawyer serving Sevierville, Seymour, Gatlinburg, or Pigeon Forge shouldn’t be. If you were hurt while in your car, on your motorcycle, or by a commercial truck, we have the skills, experience, and resources you want on your side. Please call our office at 865-428-8780 or complete our contact form to learn more about the benefits of working with a local Sevierville auto accident lawyer after you have been hurt in a car accident.