It is amongst the most severe type of road accident, and has one of the highest rates of serious injuries and fatalities amongst victims. Proportionally speaking, many more people are killed or seriously injured in head on collisions than any other type of road accident.
Causes of head-on car accidents
A head on collision between two vehicles travelling in opposite directions is a relatively uncommon type of accident. For a head on collision to happen, one of the vehicles involved will need to move into the path of oncoming traffic. A head on collision happens most frequently on roads without a central reservation separating traffic travelling in opposite directions. Motorways and other dual carriageway roads see far fewer head-on collisions as vehicles would usually run into the crash barrier between the carriageways rather than crossing over to the other carriageway.
In some rare conditions, head-on collision accidents can be caused by a motorist unintentionally driving the wrong way down a stretch of road. This could be the case if they are unfamiliar with that particular stretch of road, there aren’t sufficient road signs to indicate the flow of traffic, or if the accident happened at night when road signage might not have been properly lit. These freak accidents can also happen if there are road works on a stretch of road and the normal flow of traffic has been re-routed, or in situations where the road layout has recently changed. Generally though, a head-on collision will be caused simply by a vehicle momentarily drifting into the wrong lane.
The mechanics of head-on collisions
In a head-on collision, the forces involved will be much greater than in a collision where one vehicle is stationary. When two vehicles approaching each other at similar speeds collide, they are in effect colliding at twice the speed at which they are travelling – so for two vehicles travelling at 50 mph, the closing speed before the collision is actually closer to 100 mph. This means a head-on collision even involving vehicles moving at a relatively modest speed can cause serious injuries to the occupants and the vehicles they are in.
Although modern cars and lorries are designed with several features (crumple zones, airbags, restraining seatbelts and head rests) to minimize injuries in the event of a head-on collision, injuries can and do still occur. In low-velocity head-on collisions these injuries typically include soft tissue damage and injuries to the neck, back and shoulders. In head-on collisions at higher speeds, injuries are likely to be caused to the internal organs and there is a greater chance of other injuries such as broken bones.
Making an accident claim for a head-on car accident
Making a No-Win No-Fee injury claim for injuries suffered in a head-on collision can be more difficult compared with other types of road accident. Due to the nature of the accident, it can be difficult to determine which driver was at fault (they were responsible) in the collision. When making a claim for compensation after a head-on collision, it is important to remember that your claim may be settled on the basis of what is known as split liability. This means you may only receive a percentage (usually between 50 and 100 percent) of the actual value of your claim, as you will be judged to have been at least partially responsible for the accident.
For expert legal advice on making a head-on collision compensation claim, give Camps Solicitors a call. If you have been injured and you don’t think you were at fault, our road accident lawyers can help you to make a claim for compensation, and we won’t charge you a penny for our services.
Call 0800 092 8586
Speak to one of our claims advisors about your claim.
