Head-on Collision

A head-on collision is one of the more devastating kinds of car accidents because when the two vehicles collide it is usually at speed, which amplifies the force of the impact even further. That can cause serious injuries to the occupants of each car as well as heavy damage to their vehicles. That means the costs associated with a head-on collision can be quite high since the medical and repair bills can get very expensive.

However, it is possible to get an insurance settlement to cover those expenses, but before that can happen, the insurance company needs to find out who was at fault. In some cases, it is clear, but in other situations it can get more complicated. No matter the case, a personal injury can help to straighten things out and give you the best chance of getting the compensation needed to take care of any accident-related expenses. If you live in the St. Louis area and need a personal injury attorney, then you should contact the Hipskind and McAninch law offices.

What is a Head-on Collision?

As the name suggests, a head-on collision is when two vehicles collide while they are traveling in opposite directions. This can be among the most dangerous kinds of car accidents because both vehicles are likely to be traveling at a high rate of speed when the collision occurs. That can mean the force of the impact can be much higher than if one of the vehicles was at a standstill or driving slowly.

A head-on collision can cause injuries like whiplash or a concussion as well as injuries to the chest. Those injuries can be even worse if any of the occupants of either vehicle is not wearing their seatbelts. Fortunately, head-on collisions occur less frequently than other types of car accidents because someone usually has to be driving on the wrong side of the road for it to happen.

Determining Fault in a Head-on Collision

Since head-on collisions typically occur when someone is driving in the opposite lane, the fault of the accident usually falls on them. That is because driving in the wrong lane is typically due to the driver being inebriated, distracted, or asleep at the wheel. Recklessness or a lack of care can also play a role in cases where a driver goes the wrong way on a one-way street or attempts to pass a vehicle on a two lane road by driving in the opposite lane.

However, some head-on collisions may not start out that way. For example, it is possible that two vehicles traveling in the same direction collide and the impact sends one of them spinning out into the opposite lane where they collide head-on with another car. It is also possible for someone to suffer a medical emergency while driving which causes them to lose control of the car. The same thing could happen if the car suffers an event like a tire blowout or brake failure that causes the driver to lose control of their vehicle. A driver could also swerve out of the way to avoid an obstacle on the road and end up in the opposite traffic lane.

Proving Fault in Head-on Collisions

In many cases, it is obvious which driver was responsible for the head-on collision based on whether they were out of their lane when the collision occurred. However, there are some circumstances where it can be a little trickier to assign fault. If a road has no centre lane markings, then that can make it more difficult to figure out if a driver was out of their lane or not, in fact even the drivers may not be sure.

There could also be extenuating circumstances that caused a driver to veer out of their lane and into oncoming traffic, such as if they were swerving to avoid colliding with something or someone in the road. In those cases, the fault could lie with the person responsible for placing that obstacle in the road. In order to prove who was at fault for a head-on collision, a driver can help their case by taking pictures of the accident scene if they are able to do so. The damage to the cars as well as details like skid marks can help professional accident investigators determine who was at fault.

A Personal Injury Attorney Can Help You With a Head-on Collision

As you can see, finding out who was at fault for a head-on collision can be simple or complicated depending on the situation. That is why you need the help of a personal injury lawyer if you have been in a head-on collision and need to prove that the other driver was at fault. Regardless of how simple or complex the case is, a personal injury attorney will give you the best chance of getting the compensation that you need to take care of the expenses caused by the accident.