Few words strike greater fear into hearts than “head-on collision.” When two vehicles collide head-on, the crash force of the accident doubles, often resulting in catastrophic injuries and fatalities. Head-on collisions are not as common as angle collisions (T-bone) accidents but they are responsible for a disproportionate number of injuries and death.
When a head-on collision occurs, survivors or family members of those fatally injured deserve the strongest possible legal representation to recover compensation for the extensive damages associated with head-on collisions like property damage, past and future medical costs, lost income, and compensation for pain and suffering or wrongful death.
How Common Are Head-On Collisions?
Intersections are the most common places for accidents to occur. Because of this, T-bone accidents are the most frequent type of collision. Head-on collisions don’t usually occur in intersections. More often, they occur on two-lane roadways. About 5,800 fatalities in head-on collisions occurred in the U.S. in 2022. Head-on collisions make up nearly 30% of all two-car accidents.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TDOT), there were 636 traffic fatalities due to head-on collisions on Texas roadways in 2022, the most recently published data.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Texas Head-on Collisions?
Most head-on collisions result from driver error or negligence, but in some cases, a defective steering or braking system, a poorly designed roadway, or a road hazard causes a head-on collision. The most common actions resulting in head-on collision accidents in Texas include the following:
- Distracted driving causes a vehicle to drift out of its lane
- Speeding around a curve
- Entering a one-way street or divided highway in the wrong direction
- Improper passing
- Swerving to avoid an animal or hazard on the road
- Making a wide turn
Occupants of both vehicles in a head-on collision commonly experience serious injuries, especially the driver and front-seat passenger.
Typically the words “head-on” collision refer to a two-car collision front end to front end, but a head-on collision may also occur between a single vehicle and an object such as a fence, tree, or road sign.
Injuries in Head-on Collisions in Austin
If two vehicles have a head-on collision at 50 miles per hour, the crash force of the accident is the same as a crash into a stationary object at 100 miles per hour. It’s for this reason that injuries are often catastrophic or fatal. Properly wearing a seatbelt and the deployment of airbags in a head-on collision saves lives. Speak to an injury lawyer in Austin to learn more. Common injuries in head-on car accidents in Austin include the following:
- Brain injury
- Facial trauma
- Dental injury
- Neck injury
- Back injury
- Shoulder injuries
- Wrist injuries
- Knee injuries
- Fractures, including of the wrists, limbs, collarbone, and ribs
- Thoracic injuries with internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries
- Lacerations, abrasions, contusions, and soft-tissue injuries
If a head-on collision results in the death of a loved one, close family members may recover compensation through a Texas wrongful death claim. Speak to a wrongful death lawyer in Austin today.
Who Is Liable for Damages in a Head-on Collision?
Most head-on collisions result from driver error such as departing from the correct lane into oncoming traffic or entering a one-way street the wrong way. In these cases, the driver who left the correct lane is liable for the damages. In less common cases, the manufacturer of a defective car part or a road-planning agency responsible for designing a confusing roadway or entrance ramp could be liable for the damages. Determining liability in a head-on collision accident claim requires an investigation.
How Can an Austin Head-on Collision Lawyer Help?
After a head-on collision, you and your family are likely dealing with significant trauma. An Austin accident attorney from Shaw Cowart LLP will investigate all aspects of your accident, compile evidence of liability, carefully calculate your damages, and negotiate for the largest possible settlement. We are also more than ready to take your case to court if required. Call or contact Shaw Cowart LLP today for a free evaluation of your Austin head-on collision case.