Head-On Car Accidents
We have all become accustomed to driving or riding in cars moving at fast speeds. Going 55, 65, or 75 miles an hour feels perfectly normal, so much so that it can be easy to forget what that actually means. Sadly, thousands of Americans find out every year when they are involved in a head-on car accident and need the services of a Tampa car accident lawyer.
Whether running head-on into another vehicle also traveling at high speed or hitting a stationary object like a light post or wall, these type of car accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries and deaths. While head-on collisions account for only 2% of U.S. car accidents, it is estimated that they are responsible for approximately 10% of all U.S. traffic fatalities.
How Do Head-On Collisions Happen in Florida?
When travelling down a large, divided, multi-lane highway like I-75, it can be hard to picture how another car could be traveling in the opposite direction. Indeed, most car-on-car head-on wrecks happen on smaller, undivided roads.
On such roads, a car can easily drift into the opposite lane because of driver impairment, distraction, or fatigue. A driver could head into a tight turn too fast and wind up over-correcting into the other lane. Poor road conditions such as faded dividing lines or poor lighting can make it difficult to distinguish between lanes. When attempting to pass slower traffic ahead, a driver crossing the dotted yellow line – and speeding up while doing so – may not be able to get back into their lane in time to avoid hitting an oncoming car.
Driver impairment or confusion can also cause a car to go in the wrong direction on a one-way street, or to get on a highway off-ramp they believe to be an on-ramp.
Not all head-on car wrecks involve two vehicles. Crashes with stationary objects can cause just as much devastation. A driver could lose control and careen into a light or signpost, a barrier wall, a building or any other immovable object that may be just off the road. Also, the negligence of another driver may cause a driver to hit such an object while trying to avoid a collision with the other driver’s vehicle.
Injuries Caused by Head-On Car Accidents
It doesn’t take much imagination to understand how a head-on collision can cause extraordinarily serious injuries or fatalities. A vehicle’s front-end crumbles and can compact the passenger compartment. If a driver or occupant isn’t wearing a seat belt, they could be thrown from the vehicle through the front windshield. The impact can be so severe as to cause one or both vehicles to explode.
As a result, head-on car accidents can lead to:
- Spinal injuries and paralysis
- Traumatic brain injury
- Severe burns and disfigurement
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
Call Alley, Clark & Greiwe to Discuss Your Head-On Collision Case with a Tampa Car Accident Lawyer
At Alley, Clark & Greiwe, our Tampa car accident lawyers have seen the struggles and challenges faced by individuals who have been injured or families who have lost a loved one in a car accident, including head-on collisions. Seemingly endless and difficult medical treatments and rehabilitation, the mounting bills, loss of work, and a life that may never be fully the same – all can follow in the wake of a serious car accident. That is why our experienced and dedicated car accident attorneys work tirelessly to get compensation and justice for those who have suffered because of others’ negligence on the road.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a car accident, please call one of our Tampa car wreck lawyers today at 813-222-0977 or contact us online to arrange for your free initial consultation and case evaluation. We look forward to assisting you.
