Everything You Need To Know About Head-On Car Collisions

Port Charlotte drivers never know when they might be involved in a road accident. Head-on collisions can result in serious damage and even fatalities. If you’re involved in such an accident, a Port Charlotte car accident law firm can help you seek compensation for your damages and injuries.

In this post, we’ll not only answer the main question of “how to define a head-on collision,” but we’ll also offer additional information regarding this kind of accident. We go through how head-on automobile collision lawsuits work and what you need to know if you’re looking for equitable compensation.

There are a lot of automobile accidents in Florida, and Port Charlotte is no exception. According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, there were 401,182 road incidents in the state with 252,901 injuries.

Head-on collisions are some of the most consequential and deadly crashes a driver can endure. If another car or truck hits you head-on, you will feel the sudden impact instantly. And depending on how forcefully the collision occurred, those in the vehicle may end up with life-threatening injuries or even death.

A head-on collision is when two cars traveling in opposite directions collide with each other. This is referred to as a “frontal” crash. In 2020, head-on collisions were the second-highest cause of road traffic accidents in the United States.

As this illustrates, head-on car collisions are among the most dangerous type of car accident. It’s important to know that they’re usually caused by the negligence of the driver who is responsible for the collision.

Head-on collisions occur for a variety of causes, such as brake failure or power steering problems. It can also happen when one driver is on the wrong side of the road.

Head-on car collisions can have different underlying causes, such as driving under the influence or a driver entering a highway going the wrong direction. But, similar to most crashes, negligence is typically the leading cause of these accidents.

The first thing you’ll do when involved in a head-on automobile accident is to determine responsibility for the incident.

It’s quite common for vehicles involved in a head-on collision to be sent in different directions by the impact, making it tough to pinpoint the precise reason for the accident and who is at fault right away. A Port Charlotte automobile accident lawyer may contact an accident reconstruction expert who can determine the cause of the incident and who was at fault.

If you were injured in a car crash caused by another driver, you may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. However, an insurance company will not just provide a settlement; they will first investigate the collision. They must confirm that the other driver was actually at fault for the accident.

If the victim files a personal injury claim, they must also prove that the other driver was at fault. Because civil lawsuits are governed by the principle of assertion and proof, this is required. As a result, your lawyer must show that the relevant negligence elements have been satisfied. They must demonstrate the following:

Duty of Care 

In order to protect others from harm, the law requires drivers to be cautious, clearheaded, rested, and dedicated to paying attention to all rules of the road while driving.

A driver that is under the influence of alcohol or drugs, including any type of prescription or over-the-counter medication that can hinder judgment, is not performing their duty of care. When your personal injury lawyer proves the other driver was not upholding their duty of care, it becomes easier to establish who was at fault for causing accidents.

Cause

The first step in building a case is straightforward: the victim must show that the defendant’s conduct directly caused their injuries. For example, if the defendant had not swerved into your lane and triggered the accident, you would not have incurred a head injury.

Negligence 

If the other motorist was negligent, they may be held liable. Taking an off-ramp to get on a highway, driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street, or speeding are all examples of their unreasonable behavior. These actions constitute a violation of duty of care under the law.

The costs incurred as a result of a vehicle accident are known as damages. Three categories can be used to describe the losses that may occur in a head-on car collision, which include:

Physical Injury Damages 

Examples of medical expenses that physical injury damages cover include:

• The cost of a hospital stay
• Ambulance or airlift transport
• Doctor visits
• Ongoing therapy
• Medications
• Medical equipment
• Rehabilitative care
• Pain and suffering

Property Damages

Property damage insurance will help pay to fix or replace your car, and any other property damage that may have occurred, such as broken guardrails, trees, electrical poles, or other cars in the case of a secondary impact.

Wrongful Death Damages 

You may be eligible for compensation for wrongful death if you are the surviving family member of a head-on vehicle accident victim. You might be entitled to financial compensation for medical care, funeral expenses, missed future earnings, and loss of companionship after proving that the other driver was at fault.

Furthermore, reimbursement for non-physical injury could be obtained by the victim of the accident. These include but are not limited to emotional damage psychological damage, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.

Finally, if the defendant files a lawsuit rather than an insurance claim, the court may award punitive damages. While punitive damages are not compensatory in nature, they act as punishment for the negligent driver. However, such behavior must be deliberate or show extremely reckless conduct.

A head-on automobile collision is one of the most terrifying scenarios imaginable, as it can result in life-threatening injuries or even death. If you or a family member has been hurt in a head-on automobile accident, you should demand compensation from the negligent party.

FGB Law Firm has the experience and drive needed to establish your valid case. You can contact us at 941-979-9010 to start the process with a free consultation.