According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 100 people die in traffic accidents in the United States every day. In some years during the last decade, the U.S. traffic death rate was double that of other comparable nations. In addition to fatal accidents, an estimated three million people suffer injuries each year. The 2019 Fatal Crash Summary presented by the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported 1,003 in just fatal vehicle crashes alone. That value did not include pedestrians, motorcyclists, and the many other separate categories the state patrol keeps records of.
Of all accident types, head-on collisions are some of the most dangerous. If you or a loved one were involved in a head-on collision, please contact the Fitch Law Firm LLC for legal assistance. A Springfield head-on collisions lawyer can help you identify the at-fault parties responsible for the collision, estimate your losses, and put together a thorough claim for damages if your case warrants one. Please contact us today for a free case evaluation at (614) 545-3930.
The Impact of Head-On Collisions
A head-on collision is one in which two vehicles strike each other from the front. Even with advanced safety features such as airbags, crash avoidance systems, and crumple zones, head-on collisions can lead to severe bodily injuries and death.
In many types of accidents, such as rear-end or sideswipe collisions, the speed of the vehicle that strikes the other determines how much damage occurs. With head-on collisions, however, the damage is often catastrophic, and the vehicles involved are almost always totaled because the force of the accident doubles for each vehicle. For example, if two vehicles traveling in opposite directions at 55 mph strike each other head-on, the force of the impact is equal to a regular crash at a speed of 110 mph.
A head-on collision can take a very long time to recover from and can be very costly as well. Some people never fully recover from their injuries and must endure life-long therapy or the use of assistive devices.
Injuries and damages often seen in head-on collision cases include:
- Damage to roadside fixtures or roadside property
- Traumatic brain injury, or TBI
- Spinal cord injury, or SCI
- Whiplash, neck, and back injuries
- Amputations or the loss of part of a limb
- Lacerations and disfigurement
- Fractured bones
- Organ damage and internal bleeding
- Crushed limbs
- Chest and torso injuries
- Death
As a victim, you may be able to recover from some of these injuries, but some of them are permanent and can adversely affect your quality of life, your ability to perform basic tasks on your own, and your ability to work in a gainfully-employed capacity. Based on who was at fault for your accident, you may have grounds to seek compensation for these injuries. A Springfield head-on collisions lawyer can help you determine the various injuries and compensable losses you may be entitled to receive after your accident.
For a free legal consultation with a head-on collisions lawyer serving Springfield, call 614-545-3930
Causes of Head-On Collisions
There are many ways a head-on collision can occur. One can identify these accidents by the type and the extent of damage that occurs to the vehicles involved, as well as other telltale signs such as skid marks, vehicles traveling the wrong way in traffic, and accidents that occur on long stretches of road or poorly-lit roadways.
Some of the factors that can cause a head-on collision are:
- Damaged roads
- Narrow roads
- Roads that do not have dividers or a median
- Inclement weather
- Unsafe passing
- Construction zone issues
- Unclear road signs or traffic control devices
- Overcorrecting while driving
- Driver negligence, including driving under the influence, distracted driving, fatigued driving, and overspeeding
If you have suffered injuries in a head-on collision in Springfield, call the Fitch Law Firm LLC at (614) 545-3930 for a free case review.
Springfield Head-On Collisions Lawyer Near Me 614-545-3930
Medical Care and Other Damages
According to the CDC, vehicle accidents lead to over $75 billion in medical care and lost productivity countrywide every year. This value is nothing short of alarming, but it still pales in comparison to the lifelong injuries, the loss of livelihood, and the loss of a loved one that an accident can cause to a family. Depending on the extent of the damages you suffered in an accident, you may be able to seek compensation for:
- Medical care and treatment expenses
- Lost income or reduced earning capacity
- Property and vehicle damage
- Mental trauma and emotional anguish damages
Negligence and Head-On Collisions
Negligence often causes or contributes to a head-on collision, and evidence from the scene of the accident can help pinpoint whether or not negligence—and what kind of negligence—may have caused or contributed to the accident. For example, long skid marks may indicate that a driver was overspeeding, but the absence of skid marks may indicate that a driver who caused a head-on collision was driving while distracted because they would have likely applied the brakes had they expected to crash.
Many different forms of negligence can cause a head-on collision. A road maintenance crew or a local government municipality’s negligence concerning road repairs can contribute to an accident. Poor hiring practices by commercial transportation companies and the hiring of unqualified or inexperienced drivers can increase the likelihood of an accident. For drivers, negligence includes overspeeding, driving recklessly, driving aggressively, or driving while tired or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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Seeking Legal Assistance
For each of the examples of negligence given above, a different party or entity may be at fault for your head-on collision. Identifying which parties are responsible for your accident, gathering evidence to prove their fault, evaluating your damages, and filing a claim are some of the things a Springfield head-on collisions lawyer may be able to assist you in accomplishing. An attorney may also help with establishing a link between the actions of an at-fault party and your losses, damages, and injuries.
Please contact the Fitch Law Firm LLC at (614) 545-3930 for a free consultation and to learn more about how we may be able to assist you with your head-on collision case.
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