When people talk of serious or catastrophic accidents, what comes instantly to mind is “head-on collisions.” These are perhaps the most disastrous of accidents and it’s very rarely that people emerge unscathed from them. Serious injuries and/or death to at least one or two persons is inevitable because of the sheer impact and the physics involved. Though head-ons are relatively rare, the fall-out is enormous in terms of loss of life, injuries, property-damage, medical, rehabilitation and legal costs.

What Are Head-On Crashes?

Also known as lane-departure or road-departure accidents, head-on collisions happen when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions at high speed collide and the force of impact is doubled. Both vehicles suffer extensive frontal damage and all passengers, whether in the driver’s seat or in the rear seats, are affected. This happens when one of them crosses the median or central divider knowingly or unknowingly. Sometimes, head-on collisions are caused by one vehicle in a roll-over accident crosses the median and falls in the path of oncoming traffic.

Why Are They So Devastating?

In terms of physics, when there are two objects traveling in opposite directions, the momentum at the point of a crash becomes equal and opposite in direction. So there is double force sustained by both drivers and the injuries are of a much more serious nature. When the vehicles collide, they rapidly decelerate, while the bodies inside are theoretically traveling at the original speed and they crash into the solid parts of their own vehicles at that speed.

Collisions rarely happen dead-square, which means that the vehicle goes into a spin mode, endangering co-passengers and the side portions of the vehicles. This may also cause passengers to miss the airbags, which inflate square-on.

Glass, metal shards and hard-plastic are shattered into flying missiles, causing deadly injuries, while the impact of the crash may also causes the bodies to be thrown out.  Sometimes, the injuries are internal. Persons may walk away from the accident but may suddenly collapse twenty-four hours later due to severe internal damage, bleeding and organ injury.

Spinal, brain, dental and facial injuries, lacerations, whiplash, airbag injury, concussion, contusions, impact injuries to the trunk and thoracic region, limb amputation, fractures, broken bones, loss of vision, damage to skull, neck and torso are all very common injuries in head-on collisions, which is why they are usually life-threatening.

Causes

Statistics prove that head-on crashes, contrary to popular assumption, occur most frequently on rural roads, undivided two-lane roads and not always during passing maneuvers. Traffic and law enforcement authorities cite many reasons for head-on collisions:

1. Inattention: Talking on the phone, texting, sleep loss, fatigue, ill-health, chatting with co-passengers, distracted by loud music.
2. Speeding: Fatal head-on collisions almost always result from high speed driving.
3. Alcohol/Drugs: Impaired driving is one of the primary reasons.
4. Unfamiliar roads: Drivers unfamiliar with the roads, coming up on wrong ramps/inter-junctions/interchanges, traveling too fast on curves, missing warning signs, etc
5. Negligence/Loss of Control: Driver is reckless, rash and negligent, disobeys traffic signs, rules and drives dangerously.
6. Road-rage: Collisions can happen when a driver is impatient and passes a vehicle too hastily or deliberately fails to pass.
7. Road and Weather Conditions: Poor visibility, bad weather, night-time driving, thunderstorms, snow and slippery roads.
8. Construction Zone: Detours, falling debris, crowded areas and poor visibility

Compensation and Legal Aspects

Head-on collisions are terrifying in their suddenness and in the consequences that result. Often, survivors themselves may be immobilized by serious injuries. Amputation, burns, severe physical and emotional trauma etc mean long-term hospitalization. Family members of those killed are often grief-stricken but their rights may be compromised if they delay. Our serious injury lawyers can assist with the correct legal advice.

However, head-on collisions are accidents which are considered preventable and the cause of the accident can usually be clearly established. Ontario offers statutory accident benefits but apart from these, if the crash was caused by negligence, a lawsuit can be filed against those who caused the accident.

Our catastrophic injury lawyers can ensure that victims are fully and equitably compensated for:

• Present and future medical costs
• Rehabilitation
• Property damage
• Loss of present and future wages
• Loss of earning capacity
• Household expenses
• Care-giver expenses
• Vehicle and home modifications
• Counseling and psychiatric costs

In the case of death:

• Loss of companionship, care and guidance
• Loss of the services undertaken by the deceased like chores, handy-man assistance
• Funeral and death expenses
• Burial/cremation costs

Our no win no fee lawyers can ensure that a strong case is put together to back your claims.

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.