Colorado Springs Head-On Truck and Car Accidents

Two vehicles can collide head-to-head almost anywhere in Colorado Springs—on I-25, in a parking lot, or on one of our many side roads. If you’ve been hit head-on, you may have suffered serious injuries. 

At McCormick & Murphy, our Colorado Springs head-on accident lawyers are here to assist you in any way we can. We have extensive experience seeking compensation in an insurance claim or lawsuit and will be glad to meet with you to answer any questions you have.

Why Head-On Collisions Occur

Head-on collisions should be rare. After all, a motorist should be able to see a vehicle headed straight at them and take defensive measures in time. However, some head-on collisions happen so fast that innocent victims don’t have time to even brace for impact.

In our experience, the following are prime causes of head-on collisions:

• Driver fatigue. A motorist who is short on sleep could easily nod off behind the wheel, even if only for a few seconds. On a two-lane highway, this might be all the time needed for the driver to veer into oncoming traffic and slam into someone. Other fatigued drivers make poor decisions due to their tiredness.
• Impaired driving. A driver who is drunk or who has smoked marijuana could be too impaired to operate their vehicle properly. Impaired drivers often have slowed reflexes, which means they cannot get out of the way fast enough.
• Illegal passing. When a motorist passes without enough room, they endanger other people on the road. Someone passing around a turn, for example, could slam into a vehicle coming in the opposite direction.
• Driver confusion. A driver might be on an unfamiliar road and go down a one-way street the wrong way. Confused drivers might also be looking at a GPS instead of the road and veer into oncoming traffic.
• Missing or confusing traffic signs. Signs should clearly designate which roads are one-way. If signs are missing, defaced, or obscured, then a driver could easily enter a highway or road in the wrong direction.

• Weather. Poor road conditions can cause drivers to skid, slip, or hydroplane and lose control of their vehicles. They can hit another car head-on for this reason.
• Distracted driving. When sending a text message or arguing with someone in the back seat, a driver could inadvertently slide into oncoming traffic.

The above are only some of the more common reasons for head-on collisions. There are many more. Reach out to one of our Colorado Springs head-on accident lawyers to review the facts of your case. If someone else’s negligence is to blame, then you can often receive compensation for any injuries sustained in the crash.

Compensation for Head-On Collision

Head-on accidents can have devastating injuries that cost tens of thousands of dollars to treat and rehabilitate. Many motorists are also unable to move or leave the hospital for weeks after the accident. Some will be permanently disabled or disfigured and live with the results of a head-on accident for the rest of their lives.

Our Colorado Springs head-on accident lawyers have obtained compensation to cover the following:

• Medical bills – These include the costs of surgery, rehabilitation, prescription drugs, and doctor visits. Any reasonably necessary medical care to treat injuries sustained in a head-on collision warrants compensation.
• Lost income or lost wages – If a motorist cannot work, they need to replace their lost income or wages. Many of our clients have qualified for compensation.
• Property damage – A person’s vehicle might be completely destroyed in a head-on accident. 

• Pain and suffering – Physical injuries cause considerable pain and inconvenience including sleeplessness, anxiety, and depression. Although hard to value in monetary terms, Colorado law allows victims to receive money to make up for this type of loss.
• Disfigurement or disability – Many of our clients receive money to try and make up for the permanent disability they have suffered as a result of a head-on crash.
• Punitive Damages.

If a loved one died in a head-on accident, then surviving family members might be able to bring a wrongful death case. A good way to think of a wrongful death case is to imagine your loved one suing for his or her injuries. Because your loved one died, certain family members can “step into their shoes” and bring the case themselves. 

Most damages listed above are designed to help compensate a person for their injuries. But punitive damages, called exemplary damages, are different. They are designed to punish a motorist for engaging in reprehensible conduct, which is usually defined as intentionally or recklessly injuring someone.

Punitive damages can come into play when a motorist was impaired by drugs or alcohol or was distracted since this is risky behavior that is dangerous. If the motorist was fleeing police or a crime scene, then they could also be ordered to pay punitive damages.

Punitive Damages and Head-On Accidents

Why You Need an Attorney After a Head-On Accident in Colorado Springs

To obtain compensation, you will need to show that the driver who hit you was negligent, meaning that he or she operated their vehicle with insufficient care. Colorado also recognizes comparative fault, so the other driver could claim that you were the one to blame for the accident, which would limit or sometimes bar your ability to sue.

Reconstructing a head-on collision is not always easy. Ideally, you will have a police report and photographs from the accident in hand. Unfortunately, many accident victims were so injured they had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. Your Colorado Springs head-on accident attorney will need to build a case for compensation using witness statements, physical evidence, and whatever photographic or dashcam footage is available.