All traffic accidents are stressful, but head-on collisions can be among the most terrifying. Head-on car accidents often happen so quickly that other motorists may have no time to react to avoid these wrecks. Head-on collisions injure thousands of motorists each year, leaving them with painful symptoms, piles of medical bills, and other losses.
If you are struggling with injuries caused by a head-on car accident that wasn’t your fault, you could be entitled to compensation. The dedicated legal team at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., is committed to fighting for your rights and pursuing the financial relief you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a head-on car accident lawyer in Huntsville, Alabama.
How Head-On Collisions Occur in Huntsville
A head-on collision occurs any time the front end of one vehicle collides with the front end of another, often because one driver has violated a traffic law. Some of the most common contributing factors in head-on car accidents include:
- Distracted driving – Drivers who are absorbed in text messages or other distractions are more likely to cause head-on crashes because they may drift into oncoming traffic, go the wrong way down a one-way street, or otherwise fail to obey traffic laws.
- Impaired driving – The cognitive effects of alcohol, drugs, and extreme fatigue can leave drivers dangerously impaired and susceptible to making unsafe maneuvers that lead to head-on collisions.
- Reckless driving – Reckless and aggressive behaviors like speeding, unsafe lane changes, and weaving in and out of traffic can increase the risk of a driver losing control of their vehicle and causing a head-on crash.
- Failure to yield – Drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way while turning, merging, or navigating intersections are more likely to cause head-on collisions.
- Defective car parts – When critical car parts or systems are flawed due to inadequate maintenance or poor manufacturing standards, mechanical failure may cause a driver to lose control of their car, making a head-on crash hard to avoid.
- Poor road conditions – Poor road conditions, such as insufficient water drainage, massive potholes, or missing road signs, can contribute to head-on crashes if they cause a driver to lose control, swerve to avoid a hazard, or become confused.
The Alarming Statistics of Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions are less common but often deadly.
The following statistics illustrate how tragic head-on crashes can be:
- According to the National Safety Council (NSC), head-on collisions in the United States represented only 2.7 percent of all car accidents in one recent year. However, they accounted for almost 5 percent of injuries and 11 percent of fatal accidents.
- Research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) suggests that frontal impacts accounted for 58 percent of passenger vehicle occupant deaths in one recent year. In comparison, side impacts accounted for only 23 percent.
- Per the Insurance Information Institute (III), the efficacy of modern car safety features like airbags and seatbelts diminishes as the relative speed of a vehicle increases before a head-on collision.
Injuries Often Seen in Head-On Collisions in Huntsville, Alabama
Motorists involved in head-on collisions are susceptible to severe, life-changing injuries. Blunt-force trauma, lacerations from broken glass, friction burns from direct contact with rough surfaces, and other devastating types of injuries are common in head-on wrecks.
Here are some of the injuries that victims of head-on crashes frequently suffer:
- Head and neck injuries
- Facial injuries and dental trauma
- Back and shoulder injuries
- Seatbelt and airbag injuries
- Abdominal injuries and internal bleeding
- Arm, elbow, wrist, and hand injuries
- Dislocated and broken bones
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Amputation and loss of limb
- Bruises, lacerations, and puncture wounds
- Soft tissue strains, sprains, and tears
- Leg, knee, ankle, and foot injuries
- Burns
- Emotional and psychological injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Partial or total paralysis
- Fatal injuries and wrongful death
How Liability Is Determined for a Head-On Collision
Depending on the circumstances, any of the following parties could be liable for a head-on collision in Huntsville:
- One of the drivers involved, if their behavior was negligent or if they were violating a law when the crash occurred
- Another road user, such as a pedestrian, if their actions contributed to the wreck
- The manufacturer of a defective car part that led to the head-on accident
- A mechanic or repair shop that failed to fix or maintain a part that malfunctioned, leading to the head-on collision
- A local government agency responsible for the maintenance of public roads
Your attorney can present evidence to prove another party was at fault for the crash, such as:
- Photos and videos of the accident scene
- Statements from witnesses who saw the crash
- Testimony from accident reconstruction specialists
- Information from official police accident reports
- Your medical records and other evidence of injury
How a Lawyer Can Help Your Case
Alabama laws can make it difficult for accident victims to seek fair compensation for their injuries and other losses after a head-on collision. However, you don’t have to tackle this challenge alone. The dedicated head-on car accident lawyers at Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., can help you by:
- Explaining your rights
- Investigating the head-on crash to determine who is liable
- Identifying all potential sources of compensation
- Communicating with the insurance company and other parties on your behalf
- Obtaining medical records, crash reports, and other supporting evidence
- Interviewing eyewitnesses and reliable experts for valuable testimony
- Managing important claim documents and deadlines on your behalf
- Filing paperwork and negotiating aggressively to pursue fair compensation
- Taking your case to court and representing you at trial, if the insurer will not pay
Contact Our Skilled Head-On Collision Lawyers in Huntsville
If you were injured in a head-on car accident in Huntsville, Alabama, get in touch with Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., today. We can provide the straightforward answers you deserve and evaluate your case for free when you contact us for a free initial consultation.
