Head-on Car Accidents: Deadly Auto Collisions
Head-on auto collisions are the deadliest kinds crashes simply given the amount of force generated by the fronts of two vehicles colliding. These kinds of car accidents can result in catastrophic injury, disability, and death. If another party was responsible for the accident, it’s important to speak with our Sugar Land, TX attorneys about your legal options.
Attorneys Jackson Reed and Travis Terry would like to consider the basics of front-end crashes and what makes them so deadly. We will also note how an auto accident lawyer can help you after you have been involved in a crash.
Statistics on Head-On Car Accidents
According to numbers cited by from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), head-on collisions accounted for 54 percent of all passenger vehicle occupant deaths in 2016. In single-vehicle accidents, the IIHS recorded 5,684 fatalities; in multi-vehicle accidents, the IIHS recorded 7,063 fatalities.
There are different causes of head-on auto accidents. We have covered a few of the most common reasons for frontal crashes below.
Passing Vehicles on Two-Lane Roads
When driving down a two-lane highway, drivers sometimes use the opposite lane of traffic to pass a slower vehicle ahead of them. This can be a dangerous action for a number of reasons, and if you fail to notice an oncoming vehicle in the opposite lane, there is potential for a head-on crash.
Driving the Wrong Way Down a Street
One-way streets usually contain signs and signals to prevent drivers traveling down the street in the wrong direction. Yet whether it be a suburban road, a city street, or a highway onramp, drivers continue to drive the wrong way on the road. This puts themselves and other motorists at risk for a head-on crash.
Driver Fatigue
When a driver is tired, they are more likely to make costly mistakes behind the wheel. This issue is a common problem among commercial truck drivers who must take long shifts behind the wheel. Driver fatigue can also affect Uber and Lyft drivers and anyone who must be on the road late at night. Head-on crashes is just one potential risk associated with driving while you are drowsy.
Distracted Driving
Distractions are everywhere these days, especially given the reliance on smart phones and tablets for daily life. Texting and using your phone while driving could result in all kinds of crashes. Rubbernecking, grooming behind the wheel, and other kinds of actions could also be distracting. Driving distractions can be deadly. If you take your eyes off the wheel for just 5 seconds at highway speeds, you’ll have traveled the length of a football field without paying attention to potential hazards.
Who Is Liable in a Head-On Crash?
The liable party in the head-on crash is typically the driver who was careless, reckless, and otherwise negligent. Proving liability in an accident can be difficult. That is why it’s so important to work with a skilled lawyer. Their legal experience will be crucial in analyzing the evidence of a crash and building a case against the negligent party. We will offer you peace of mind as you seek legal damages for the harm and hardships you’ve endured.
Contact Reed & Terry, LLP
For more information about your legal options after a head-on collision, be sure to contact our auto accident and injury lawyers. We at Reed & Terry, LLP are here to help. You can reach our Sugar Land, Richmond, and Katy offices by phone at (281) 201-0988.