Any car accident is serious, but a head-on accident can result in catastrophic injuries and even death.
Thankfully, head-on car crashes are relatively rare. Only about one in every 50 car accidents is a head-on crash, but they cause nearly 15% of car accident fatalities because of the severity of the accident.
After a head-on car crash, you may recover significant compensation for your injuries. After you get medical care, contact an experienced car accident lawyer to represent you in your case because that gives you the best chance of obtaining the compensation you deserve.
Read on to learn more about head-on accidents and how a lawyer can help you after a crash.
Common Causes of Head-On Car Accidents
A head-on car accident occurs when one car is where it should not be in traffic and ends up in the path of an oncoming vehicle. Head-on car accidents often occur on two-lane roads, where one lane of traffic moves in each direction.
A driver can veer out of their lane because they lose control or are simply not paying attention. The driver may be trying to pass another car ahead of them and misjudge the time and distance they have to pass.
Common reasons for head-on car accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Drunk driving
- Fatigued driving
Regardless of the reason for the crash, the driver who left their lane may bear liability for the accident. However, this is only a presumption, and the insurance company may still try to blame you or your loved one for the accident to reduce their liability.
Common Injuries in a Head-On Car Accident
Head-on collisions often result in extremely serious injuries. A head-on car crash can throw those not wearing seatbelts through the car’s windshield.
Even those who wear restraints and have working airbags in their cars can still suffer severe injuries. Drivers and their passengers can make violent contact with a hard surface in the car, or their vehicle can collapse inward on them.
Common injuries in a head-on car accident can include:
- Fractures and broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Organ damage
- Cuts and lacerations
Given the severity of head-on car accidents, you likely received medical attention at the accident scene. You will need to follow up on your medical care to take care of your health and to satisfy your duty to mitigate your damages.
The Head-On Car Accident Legal Process
The other driver’s insurance company will be involved in the legal process regardless of whether you file an insurance claim or head straight to court.
Your car accident attorney may advise you to file a claim directly with the other driver’s insurance company. This method is often how car accident victims pursue compensation for their losses. Even though this is a more informal method, you can still expect that the insurance company will make things difficult, especially because they may need to write a large check for your serious injuries.
If your car accident attorney thinks it is your best legal strategy, you may also file a lawsuit against the driver who caused the head-on collision. You may have no choice but to open a court case if the insurance company will not settle for a reasonable sum or if they wrongfully blame you for what happened.
Insurance companies hate litigation because they lose control of the case. Juries are unpredictable, and settling a case gives them more control of the outcome.
Compensation for Head-On Car Accident Injuries
In many cases, the severe injuries associated with head-on collisions result in substantial settlements or awards.
Many head-on accident victims can obtain compensation for:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
If your loved one died in a head-on crash, the family can file a wrongful death action. In wrongful death actions, your state’s wrongful death statute will determine what damages you can pursue.
How Insurance Companies Get Victims to Settle for Less
Insurance companies employ various tactics to minimize payouts after head-on collisions. They know that accident victims are often vulnerable, in pain, and worried about mounting medical bills. They take advantage of this situation by pressuring victims to accept quick settlements before they understand the full extent of their injuries or consult an attorney.
Common insurance company tactics include:
- Rushing early settlement offers
- Requesting unnecessary recorded statements
- Disputing the severity of injuries
- Shifting blame to the victim
- Delaying claim processing
- Misrepresenting policy coverage
- Playing down future medical needs
These tactics can cost victims thousands in compensation. Insurance adjusters are trained negotiators working to protect company profits, not your interests.
Why You Need a Car Accident Lawyer to Represent You
Because there is so much money on the line, hire a car accident lawyer to fight for you in the legal process. Even if there are no questions about who was responsible for the accident, the insurance company will do everything possible to pay you as little as possible.
A car accident lawyer will protect your legal right to compensation while taking the fight to the insurance company.
Besides gathering evidence about what happened to cause the crash, your car accident lawyer can also work to estimate the value of your case. They will draft a claim to present to the insurance company.
Once the insurance company makes you an initial settlement offer (which will almost always be too low), your car accident attorney can negotiate for you to receive the most compensation possible for your injuries.
If you do not already have a car accident attorney representing you, now is the time to call one for your free initial consultation.