Everything you need to know about head on collisions
Although all car accidents are dangerous and terrifying for the people involved, few car accidents are more frightening or deadly than a head on collision. This is because during a head on crash, the force of impact dramatically increases because both vehicles are going at a steady speed. Because of this, drivers have little to no time to react and try to avoid the collision.
The injury attorneys at Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you have significant experience in helping clients who have been in a head on collision car accident. Our offices are conveniently located in nearby Chandler, Peoria, and North Phoenix, and we can meet in-person at our nearby offices, over the phone, or video call. You can contact us for a free consultation, or read on to find out more.
By the way, we will also help with other problems that have cost you sleep, like getting a rental car very soon and finding a nearby doctor who can help you. Even the best legal team isn’t good enough if your quality of life isn’t sustainable while justice and compensation are on the way. The whole point of legal action is to regain quality of life, so we help you long-term as attorneys and short-term as your go-to people. Our familiarity with the local Phoenix courts makes us confident that we can help you get the best settlement possible.
What is a Head On Collision?
A head on collision occurs when the front end of any 2 vehicles collide when the vehicles are going in opposing directions. In other words, it’s when the front ends of 2 vehicles going in the opposite direction hit each other.
What Happens in a Head On Collision?
During a head on crash, your car is hitting another car, likely at a high speed. The speeds multiply, so if you are going down a road at 55 miles per hour, and the other car is going 55 miles per hour, it is like your car hitting a brick wall at 110 miles per hour. During the actual crash, your car decelerates from 55- 0 miles per hour very rapidly. This will not only crush the front of the car, it will also wreak havoc on your insides.
What Injuries Does a Head On Collision Cause?
Because of the nature of head on collisions, they can cause almost any type of injury. Here’s a list of the most common.
- Head Injuries and Concussions: In a head on collision, the rapid deceleration of the car causes your brain to jostle against the inside of your skull. This can cause a brain injury.
- Broken Bones: In the split second before the accident, your entire body tenses, which makes you go rigid. In this state, your bones can snap very easily.
- Whiplash and Neck Injuries: In the crash, your neck and spine will undulate like a wave. This can cause whiplash, neck injuries, or back injuries.
- Fatality: Head on collisions cause more fatalities than any other type of crash.
What Causes a Head On Collision?
According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, most head on crashes result from a motorist making an unintentional error (e.g. swerving into the oncoming traffic). That can be caused by:
- Falling asleep at the wheel
- Being distracted by something or someone inside or outside of the car – like a cell phone, the radio, or a passenger
- Drunk driving
- Driving too fast on a curve
- Slippery road conditions (rain and ice)
- Tire blow-outs and other mechanical problems
- Swerving to avoid debris or an animal or pedestrian in the road
- Over-compensating after drifting onto the shoulder
- Poor visibility (e.g. fog or rain) that obscures the center line
- Driving the wrong way
Are Head On Collisions Deadly?
Head on collisions only make up about 2% of all accidents across the United States, but over 10% of those are fatal. This makes head on collisions the second most deadly type of accident, second only to rollover accidents. In Arizona in 2018, there were 1,875 head on accidents, which made up 1.73% of all accidents.
At What Speed is a Head On Collision Fatal?
In head on collisions, perhaps more than any other type of car accident, speed matters. When the cars are going slowly, the risk of serious injury hovers at about 1%. When the speed goes to 50 mph, the risk of injury increases to about 69%, with the risk of severe injuries or fatality going up to 52%. When either car is going 70 miles per hour or more, a fatality or serious injury is almost guaranteed.
Where do Head On Collisions Happen?
Many head on crashes occur on rural roads, often on undivided two-lane roads. Head on crashes are also more common in places like construction zones, where the lane size is reduced, and the usual dividers may not be present. Highway ramps are also a common place for head on collisions, because drivers may confuse on-ramps with off-ramps. Perhaps counter-intuitively, most head on crashes don’t relate to failed attempts to pass on a two-lane road or on highways.
Resources Near Me
If you have been in a head on accident and need to have your car repaired, here are some mechanics who can help.
Get Help Now
At Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm near you, we have more than 15 years of experience helping clients obtain compensation for their personal injuries, including those from a head on collision car accident in the Phoenix area. When you’re ready to talk, please contact our office to arrange a free initial consultation by phone or at our Chandler office, conveniently located near you.
If you have been in a head on crash, contact Phoenix Accident and Injury Law Firm in nearby Chandler, AZ to speak with an experienced personal injury attorney. We provide personal injury legal services to clients in your area including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, and Peoria.
