You don’t have to look past the headlines to know that head-on collisions often end in tragedy and loss of life. Although these types of accidents are not as common as others, they do account for about 13% of all rural fatal crashes and some 7% of wrecks in urban areas. And, as evidenced by the statistics, they do cause very serious injuries.
What are the most common causes of head-on collisions?
There are many reasons for head-on collisions, however. The most frequent ones are:
Distracted driving
How many times does everyone need to be warned about the dangers of using technology while driving? And still, it’s very common to find drivers that are texting and driving, using their hands to hold their phones or reading emails. It’s also common to find drivers interacting with their children or other passengers while driving.
Extreme weather
Severe weather conditions do play havoc on driving conditions. Heavy rain and thick fog affect visibility while rain also leads to slippery roads. If you do not take these considerations into account, you may find yourself in a head-on collision when you least expect it.
Driving while tired or intoxicated
Drinking, using drugs, or not having slept enough are all responsible for this category of crashes. If you need to get behind the wheel, take these factors into consideration to avoid the unthinkable consequences. Otherwise, your decision-making abilities will be hampered and you risk falling asleep behind the wheel.
Other reasons
These include speeding, failing to obey traffic signs, not following new traffic patterns due to construction, aggressive driving, driving on the wrong side of the road, and not having enough experience driving.
What are the most common injuries sustained in head-on collisions?
The speed at which the cars are moving has a direct impact on the injuries that result from a head-on crash. The most common injuries are:
- Head injuries
- Broken bones
- Burns
- Internal injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Contusions
As you can imagine, many of these injuries result in life-altering realities for those who experience them. The amount of money and time spent trying to recover from them can become a permanent condition in anybody’s life.
And if a person fails to wear a seat belt, they can also either be thrown from the moving vehicle or lose their lives.
How do you determine who is at fault in a head-on collision?
Statistics show that head-on collisions do result in greater harm and even fatalities to either drivers or passengers. However, since the impact of the crash might send each car in a different direction, it may be hard to determine which driver is responsible for the crash. That is why it is so important for you to hire an Austin head-on collision attorney. By hiring an accident reconstruction specialist, your lawyer may help you determine who was at fault.
Unfortunately, the burden of proof falls on the person that was injured or on their survivors in case the accident resulted in their death. This means that it would be up to you to establish elements such as:
Cause
You must prove that your injuries happened directly as a result of this collision.
Negligence
You must prove that the other party was negligent because they were driving in a way that fell outside of what is expected of a reasonable person.
Duty of care
All drivers have a legal obligation to avoid causing harm to others. If they are driving while intoxicated, are not alert, are tired, or are not paying attention to the road while driving, they are not exercising a duty of care.
Damages
It must be established that you have injuries that were caused by the crash.
Have you or your loved ones been involved in a head-on collision in Austin, TX?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a head-on collision, you may be suffering from untold injuries. You may require extensive medical treatment, including surgeries and medications. Recovering your health may become a long-term, intensive project that can drain your savings, prevent you from going back to work, and alter your life permanently.
Your head-on collision lawyer in Austin will not only help you with establishing the burden of proof, but they will also help you determine the damages you may be entitled to receive. An experienced Austin head-on collision attorney will help you strengthen your case by gathering additional evidence, retaining experts, and helping you every step of the way.