Head-On Car Accident

Being involved in a vehicle wreck is upsetting. It knocks you out of your comfort zone and reminds you how easy it is to take an average day for granted. The seriousness of the situation tends to be amplified when the accident is a head-on collision. Of all the many types of traffic accidents that can occur, those that are head-on are the most likely to result in catastrophic injuries. When a driver swerves into oncoming traffic or travels in the wrong direction down a one-way street, it often leaves other drivers with little opportunity to react and no place to go. The ensuing collision concentrates the maximum amount of momentum and energy, increasing the risk of injury.

Based in Pikeville, KY, head-on car wreck lawyer Billy Johnson believes that those who cause harm to others should be held accountable for their actions.

This includes paying compensation to accident victims for medical expenses, lost wages, property loss, pain and suffering, and, in the event of a fatal accident, wrongful death. A proven advocate with over 15 years of experience, Billy has made it his life’s work to help people throughout Kentucky. He has handled litigation in the United States Court of Appeals, the District Courts for both the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky, and the United States Bankruptcy Court.

Why Head-on Collisions Are So Damaging

The force of impact is one of the main reasons that head-on collisions result in catastrophic injuries. Unlike in a rear-end or T-bone collision, when two vehicles speed directly toward each other and crash, the impact is twice as strong. For example, if each car is going 40 miles per hour, the collision will equal the force of one car colliding with a fixed object at 80 miles per hour. Another reason is that a vehicle’s driver sits in the front (also the most common spot for an adult passenger), closer to the point of impact. While airbags and seatbelts can save lives, they also can cause injuries of their own.

Common Causes for Head-on Car Wrecks Include:

• Driver impaired by alcohol or drugs
• Bad weather
• Driver fatigue
• Driver distraction
• Traveling the wrong way on one-way roads or entering an exit ramp
• Debris in the road
• Speeding while cresting a hill or rounding a curve
• Unfamiliarity with the area
• Not allowing enough time to pass on a two-lane road.

Drivers who are intoxicated are easily disoriented and may enter oncoming traffic or misjudge the distance of an oncoming car while turning across traffic. Bad weather can limit visibility and reduce reaction time. Tired drivers can drift across lanes while debris or potholes can make a driver veer. Wrong-way driving is a huge problem, responsible for 360 deaths annually on average, according to a report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Types of Injuries our Head-on Car Accident Lawyer Sees

Head-on car accidents can do massive amounts of damage to vehicles and the people inside. When not fatal, injuries are often permanent and debilitating, leaving the victim with costly and recurring medical bills. Serious injuries that may occur include:

• Concussions or traumatic brain injury
• Burns
• Broken bones (often foot, leg, and pelvic fractures)
• Neck, back, spinal cord injury
• Scarring
• Nerve damage
• Organ damage
• Torso and chest injury.

All motor vehicle drivers must use reasonable care when operating a vehicle. When they fail to do so, the law says their behavior is negligent.

This legal theory of negligence is the basis of most lawsuits stemming from car wrecks. A driver that drives unsafely with a clear disregard for the probability that their behavior may cause an accident is responsible for an accident caused by that recklessness. If you or someone you love has been injured in a head-on collision, you need an experienced attorney to effectively represent your interests. If a family member was killed in a head-on crash, you may be able to recover on a wrongful death claim.

Why You Should Speak to Our Head-on Car Crash Lawyer

At the Johnson Law Firm, our head-on car accident lawyers handle  cases in Eastern Kentucky and statewide. Our founder, Billy Johnson, has been named a Super Lawyer by U.S. News & World Report as well as an American Trial Lawyers Association Top 100 trial lawyer and he is a proud member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums. It’s important to contact us as soon as possible after you are injured in an accident because any delay can cause critical evidence to be lost and make it harder to prove fault.

You need your own investigative team working to secure the evidence needed to prove your claim. To get our team started immediately on your behalf, contact us today by filling out our contact form or calling us at 606-437-4488.