Head-on collisions between vehicles leave very little chance of people inside the vehicles escaping unhurt. In most cases, there are fatalities, serious injuries and almost complete damage to the vehicles. The recent crash in Muskoka was one such head-on collision between two SUVs traveling at high speed that resulted in the death of a Toronto father and son. Such cases are more common than people realize and leave a trail of destruction, devastation, financial burden and unimaginable grief and loss.

Head-on Collision Facts and Information

These are the most serious type of vehicular accidents and though they occur quite rarely, the fatalities that result are much higher in comparison to other severe accidents. Head-on crashes are similar to run-offs and side-swipe crashes, as they are all lane-departure or road-departure incidents. A vehicle typically crosses the center-line or median line due to any number of reasons and crashes into a vehicle in another lane traveling in the opposite direction. Wrong-way entry crash is another type of head-on collision. Such a crash occurs when the driver inadvertently or mistakenly travels the wrong way on a road, runs off the road, or deliberately causes an accident due to negligent maneuvers like overtaking on a two-lane road.

According to many studies, a high percentage of head-on crashes occur on rural roads, undivided two lane roads, construction zones, intersections and junctions. Other potentially hazardous conditions include:

• sharp curves
• faulty road geometry that includes imprecise super-curvature, elevation or widening
• inadequate pavement markings
• insufficient shoulder which prevents recovery during a skid
• absence of rumble strips at appropriate locations
• road and weather conditions
• absence of warning signs regarding road and weather conditions
• absence of signs regarding animal crossings
• absence of signage at ramps, divided arterial roads, intersections on freeways

Causes

While the word “accident” implies that the event was not deliberately caused, there are grey areas in every collision. Some of the most common reasons why such fatal accidents happen include:

• Distraction
• Fatigue
• Tire blow-outs
• Over-speeding
• Impaired driving due to alcohol/drugs/prescription drugs
• Reckless/negligent drivers
• Bad weather
• Breaking traffic rules
• Inexperienced teenage drivers
• Design problems with the vehicle
• Night driving
• Risky behavior like improper turns, tail-gating, wrong-way entry, street-racing, stunt driving etc
• Road rage
• Incautious driving on bad roads and in poor weather
• Unfamiliar location

An important aspect of head-on collisions is that it involves one or both drivers breaking a law. Either one or both could be drowsy, driving impaired, distracted due to cellphone, children, co-passengers, texting or ignoring warning signs inadvertently or deliberately.

Apart from fatalities, head-on collision can result in serious injuries like brain/spine trauma, facial and dental damage, burns, internal bleeding, organ damage, air-bag injury, bruising, concussion and/or broken bones. Additionally, people may suffer from long-term physical and emotional trauma. Nightmares, phobias, fear of driving, memory loss, dizziness, epileptic attacks, headaches, depression, anxiety attacks, mood changes, vertigo etc could be the aftermath.

What to Do In Case of Head-on Crashes

Immediate medical attention is crucial for the survivors. They may be critically injured and every moment of delay can mean the difference between life and death. However, it’s also essential to get the right legal representation in the circumstances. Statutory benefits are available to all victims of an accident in Ontario, but a criminal/civil case can also be filed. Our catastrophic injury lawyers can assist survivors to gauge whether they have a valid case for claiming compensation from a negligent driver.

Our law firm recognizes the need to look at a head-on collision case from different angles, since survivors may require psychiatric and psychological care, physiotherapy, speech and occupational therapy, long-term nursing care, home and vehicle modifications. Apart from these, there is loss of income, medical expenses, care-giver and visitor expenditure etc that can put a huge financial burden on the family and individual. Our no win no fee lawyers can give you a genuine assessment of the merits of your case and put up a strong claim for the maximum benefits.

Types of Compensation

Pecuniary and non-pecuniary benefits can be claimed in case of both death and injury. Our personal injury lawyers can help you to claim compensation for loss of care and companionship, present and future earnings, funeral expenses, hospital and medical expenses, visitors, loss of value of the deceased etc. in case of death. In case of severe injury, several other claims like loss of income, disability, medical/psychiatric care etc can also be claimed.

Ensure that your rights are protected by hiring a skilled, experienced and knowledgeable wrongful death lawyer.

If you, your family or a friend has been injured in an accident, please feel free to speak to one of our injury lawyers for a free consultation about how we are able to assist in making a personal injury claim. We consult in all cities across Ontario with a no win no fee guarantee. Our personal injury lawyers have helped victims secure millions of dollars in personal injury cases. Call us Toll Free On our 24/7 Injury Hotline: 1 – 844 495 7333.