What Causes Head-On Collisions?

There is an almost infinite number of ways that car accidents can occur. From minor fender-benders to the most serious motor vehicle accidents, no two accidents are exactly alike.  However, some types of car accidents have well-deserved reputations for being more serious and catastrophic than others, such as head-on collisions. The best way to avoid head-on collisions is to understand how and why they happen. If you have been injured in a head-on collision, a Tifton car accident attorney can help you pursue a personal injury action. 

How Dangerous Are Head-On Collisions? 

Head-on collisions occur when the front of one vehicle collides with the front of another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Because both vehicles are traveling forward when they collide, the speeds of each vehicle combine to create a greater impact than would occur if each vehicle hit a stationary object. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, head-on collisions are rare, accounting for only 2.7% of all accidents. However, they account for a much larger proportion of fatal accidents, accounting for almost 11% of accidents with fatalities. 

The Most Common Causes of Head-On Collisions

Head-on collisions are rare, but that does not mean that you should assume that it cannot happen to you. While every accident is different, some of the most common causes of head-on collisions include: 

• Distracted driving: Distracted driving, including texting and driving, is one of the most common causes of all types of car accidents. Driving while distracted can cause a vehicle to cross the center line of a roadway and strike an oncoming vehicle. 
• Risky passing maneuvers: Passing vehicles requires extra care on two-lane highways, even where passing is permitted. Some of the most devastating head-on collisions can occur when a driver attempts to pass another driver without allowing sufficient space for oncoming vehicles, thereby causing a high-speed head-on collision. 
• Sharp curves. Distracted drivers or drivers on unfamiliar roadways can easily fail to spot a sharp curve until it is too late, inadvertently crossing the center line and striking a vehicle coming around the curve from the opposite direction. 
• Rain, fog, ice, and snow: Weather conditions that reduce visibility and/or reduce the amount of grip between a car’s tires and the road can set the stage for head-on collisions when drivers fail to see approaching vehicles or lose traction and cross the center line. 
• Overcorrections: Overcorrecting after a near-miss accident, such as by swerving to avoid striking an animal in the road, can cause a driver to swerve into the oncoming lane
• Fatigue: Fatigue can cause drivers to lose focus on the road ahead of them, increasing the risk of drifting into the path of oncoming vehicles

Speak to a Tifton Car Accident Attorney to Discuss Your Options for Recovery Following a Head-On Collision 

Regardless of how your head-on collision occurred, you may be entitled to compensation if you were injured due to another driver’s negligence. For more information about the legal options available to you, please contact a Tifton car accident attorney at the Hudson Injury Firm by calling 229-396-5848 or using our online form.