Head-on accidents are scary events. One minute you are driving down the road uneventfully and the next you see a motorist careening straight at you. At impact, many people suffer devastating injuries that send them to the hospital in the back of an ambulance. Each year, thousands of people will also die from this type of collision.
If you or a loved one was involved in a head-on collision, contact a Pueblo head-on accident lawyer at McCormick & Murphy, P.A. today to begin your case. We promise to have your back.
Where Head-On Accidents Occur
A head-on collision can happen anywhere. However, we tend to see the most head-on collisions in the following places:
- Two-lane highways. One driver will swerve or veer into oncoming traffic and cause a crash.
- One-way streets. A person who enters the wrong way can crash into other traffic that is traveling the correct direction.
- Intersections. A motorist running a red light can lose control and smash into vehicles. They might also hit a motorist who is turning.
- Parking lots. A motorist can be turning and suddenly turn straight into oncoming traffic. Head-on collisions also sometimes happen when a driver is pulling out of a parking spot.
- Parking garages. People drive much too fast when going up or a down a parking garage and can slam into another vehicle going the opposite direction.
Regardless of where the accident occurred, remember to call the police to come out to the scene to write a police report. This report serves many purposes and can make filing an insurance claim much easier since you have documented when and where the accident happened.
Head-On Accident Injuries
Given the speeds involved, head-on collisions can cause more serious injuries than other types of car accidents. Our Pueblo head-on accident lawyers have seen clients with the following injuries:
- Back injuries. Motorists can suffer traumatic injuries to their vertebrae or the nerves in the back, leading to immobilizing pain.
- Brain injury, including intracranial bleeding and bruises. These types of brain injuries often require immediate medical intervention, otherwise swelling can set in and many victims will end up dying.
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI), which can cause serious symptoms, including impaired memory, loss of balance or coordination, slurred speech, sensory problems, and difficulty thinking. A TBI might not seem serious since many are “closed” injuries where nothing penetrates the skull. However, many of our clients have struggled for years with serious TBIs.
- Spinal cord injury. Any damage to the spinal cord can cause weakness or paralysis below the point of the injury. Some accident victims will never walk again.
- Organ damage. The force generated by a head-on collision can damage internal organs such as the lungs or heart, even if a person was wearing a seat belt.
- Facial injuries. Scarring and other disfigurements might not be life-threatening, but they can lead to severe embarrassment and depression. Reconstructive surgery is sometimes only partially successful at getting people back to normal.
- Fractures. Any bone could break from the trauma, but we tend to see cervical fractures in the neck, broken ribs, and fractured arms and legs. Fractures have many complications and can lead to amputation when serious.
No matter how relatively “minor” you think an injury is, you should still receive prompt medical attention. Some injuries start as only minor aches and pains but soon worsen.
Causes of Head-On Collisions
Head-on collisions are relatively rare. But there are some well-known causes of these accidents. One major cause is impaired driving by drugs or alcohol. An impaired driver can easily drift into oncoming traffic in a two-lane road and slam head-on with another vehicle because they lost focus or fell asleep.
Another cause is fatigue. When a driver is tired, he might nod off for a few seconds. This is long enough for the driver to lose control of the vehicle and drift into another lane.
Other causes of head-on collisions include confusion, especially when drivers are unfamiliar with a road and enter one-way traffic. Sometimes, criminals fleeing the scene of a crime will swerve into traffic or enter one-way roads and collide with innocent motorists. Distracted driving can also lead to crashes, with motorists looking down at their phones when they should be focused on the road.
Regardless of the cause, head-on collisions are serious accidents. Even motorists who are buckled up will possibly suffer a serious injury, possibly even death. After a crash, it is difficult to piece together how and why it happened but meet with a Pueblo head-on accident lawyer to review what you know.
Head-On Accidents & Wrongful Death
Unfortunately, a large percentage of head-on accidents end up killing someone. According to federal statistics, head-on collisions cause over 3,500 deaths a year, even though they are a relatively rare type of accident. This makes head-on collisions much more dangerous than the typical fender bender.
If a loved one died in a head-on collision, then you should meet with an attorney to review your case. Colorado has a wrongful death law that allows certain family members to receive compensation when their loved one dies due to the negligence or recklessness of another person. Many head-on collision deaths will qualify under the statute.
Family members can receive a range of damages for:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Medical bills to treat their loved one’s injuries after the crash
- Property damage
- Lost wages and lost future income
- Lost benefits
- Punitive Damages
The amount of compensation family can receive will depend on many factors, such as your loved one’s age at the time of death, as well as his or her education and career. Meet with one of our Pueblo head-on accident lawyers to fully review your situation.
Contact Us Today to Schedule a Free Consultation
McCormick & Murphy, P.A. has developed a reputation as the leading “go-to” firm for car accidents. For a free consultation, please call us at 719-225-1737 to contact one of our head-on accident lawyers in Pueblo for more information and a free case review.