Why are head-on collisions so dangerous?
Statistically speaking, head-on accidents are among the five most dangerous types of car accidents, resulting in 10 percent of all automobile fatalities. Unless you have time to avoid the oncoming vehicle safely, your life depends on the measure of safety offered by the enclosure of your car, the restraint of your seatbelt, and the cushion of your airbag.
The reason head-on collisions have such a high mortality rate is that their impact is doubled since both vehicles are usually travelling at full speed. In other words, if each car is traveling at 45 mph, the impact speed is 90 mph. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the fatality rate for head-on collisions is over 50 percent. Although we tend to hear more about head-on collisions on highways, a higher percentage of such crashes occur on rural roads.
Reasons for Head-on Collisions
Although there is always the possibility that a head-on collision is the result of a mechanical malfunction or a medical event, in most cases such accidents are the result of gross negligence on the part of one driver who is driving on the wrong side of the road or is traveling the wrong way on the entrance or exit ramp to a highway. Very often, the misjudgment behind such an incredibly reckless action is that the offending driver:
- Has fallen asleep
- Is impaired by drugs or alcohol
- Is passing unsafely (e.g. around a curve)
- Is confused or unaware due to a medical problem (e.g a stroke or dementia)
Whatever the reason a head-on collision occurs, as long as the other driver is at fault, you are entitled to compensation.
Comparative Negligence in California
Comparative negligence deals with the possibility that more than one person may bear some responsibility for the crash. For instance, even though the other driver hit your vehicle head-on, you may have had your headlights off or have been texting at the time. Comparative negligence laws vary state to state; in California, we have “pure comparative negligence,” a principle that works in your favor.
Comparative negligence means that you are entitled to damages even if you bear some liability for the accident. “Pure” comparative negligence means that you can be awarded damages even if you bear more responsibility for the collision than the other person. The way it works is that you can successfully sue for damages to cover your injury costs, but the percentage of fault you bear, as determined by the court, will be deducted from the amount you are awarded. So, if the court finds you to be 30 percent at fault and you have been awarded $1 million in damages, you will actually receive $700,000.
Damages Compass Law Will Fight To Win for You
Once you become our client, we will work hard to obtain the damages you deserve for:
- Medical costs
- Property damage
- Lost income, present and future
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent disability
- Loss of limb or organ
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Any other expenses related to your injury
You can count on our savvy car accident attorneys to file all necessary documents, investigate the site of the collision, interview witnesses, thoroughly review police reports and medical data, and consult with experts in pertinent fields, such as accident reconstruction specialists, who may be able to testify in court on your behalf.
Compass Law Goes Above and Beyond
Our talented attorneys are dedicated to keeping you in the loop while making sure you have the time you require to rest and recover. We will always be honest with you, keep you posted as your case progresses, and give you service customized to your particular needs. We will meet with you in any way that is most convenient, probably virtually during the pandemic. We are always available to answer any questions you have and to put you in touch with excellent medical professionals. For added accessibility, our attorneys are fluent in Spanish and Farsi.
The Sooner You Contact Us, the Sooner We Can Help You Protect Your Future
Aside from the two-year statute of limitations for personal injury cases, getting yourself legal representation promptly helps to ensure that police reports are easy to locate, medical records are readily available, witness memories remain clear, and material evidence can still be gathered. Most of all, getting in touch with Compass Law Group quickly means that you and your loved ones can overcome your sense of being powerless and put your trust in one of the most highly rated, effective, empathic law practices in the country.
