There was a time when there weren’t so many cars in the world. In fact, in 1895, there were only two registered automobiles in a state, and they still managed to crash into each other. Fast forward a few centuries, and road accidents have gotten worse.
In 2019 alone, head-on crashes accounted for 11% of fatal accidents in New York. Despite the various measures taken by road designers and car manufacturers to ensure drivers’ safety, it seems this trend is not about to die down.
This begs the question: What can drivers do to prevent head-on collisions? Read on to find out.
What Causes Head-on Collisions?
Here are some of the biggest causes of head-on collisions.
1. Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is one of the most underrated causes of road accident fatalities. Even seemingly innocent actions like talking to someone on the phone or reaching out to adjust the radio could have drastic consequences. It only takes a moment of taking focus away from the road to lose control or fail to see a pair of headlights heading straight towards you.
2. Fatigue
Driving can be pretty taxing on the body, especially if you’ve been at it for a long time without taking a break. It doesn’t matter how comfortable your car seats are. At some point, you’re going to get tired. If you don’t take a break, the chances are that you’ll doze off eventually and lose control of the vehicle.
3. Intoxication
In most cases, whenever there’s a story on the news about a fatal head-on collision car accident, you’ll hear that the at-fault driver was intoxicated. The reason behind this is pretty straightforward. Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, so you’re more likely to drive faster.
Alcohol and other mind-altering substances like prescription pills also reduce your reaction time. Combined, these two factors are a recipe for disaster. At best, you may see an incoming vehicle, but you won’t be able to respond in time. At worst, you end up veering off the road and onto oncoming traffic.
4. Unfamiliarity With Roadways
Navigating a new area can be quite confusing, especially if it’s an urban area with lots of one-way streets. The situation is even worse during peak hours when there’s heavy traffic on the road. In such cases, you barely have enough time to correct your mistake if you veer into the wrong lane. All you can do is slam the brakes and hope that oncoming drivers do the same.
The same notion applies to rural areas, which are typically filled with winding roads with lots of blind spots and unexpected turns. Having to hit an unexpected turn at high speeds can cause you to veer off the road or crash into oncoming traffic.
5. Bad Weather
Modern cars come equipped with lots of safety features to help you drive well in bad weather. However, you simply can’t ignore the risks that bad weather presents. For instance, heavy rain and fog can drastically reduce visibility, making it easier to crash into oncoming traffic.
What Are the Consequences of Head-on Collisions?
Here are some of the most common consequences of head-on collisions.
Serious Injury or Even Death
If you’ve ever slammed into something when driving, even at low speeds, you probably have an idea of how much force an impact exerts on the body. When it comes to head-on collisions, that force is multiplied by several factors.
If one vehicle is traveling at about 25 MPH, and another is traveling at 30 MPH, the force exerted on collision is almost equal to slamming into a brick wall at 55 MPH, and that’s not accounting for the mass of the vehicles.
The results are predictable: Accident victims get severely injured, especially on the head, chest, and limbs. With such injuries, even the victims who manage to survive have to face another battle – the healing process. That can include everything from extended hospitalization to ongoing therapy for weeks, months, or even years.
Extensive Property Damage
Head-on collisions don’t just kill and injure people; they also leave their prized possessions (cars) literally irreparable. Even a relatively small crash at low speeds could leave both vehicles with extensive damages, which are too costly to repair in some cases. The situation is even worse if the drivers don’t have insurance coverage to cover the cost of repair or replacement.
What Should You Do After a Head-on Collision?
Head-on collisions are traumatic experiences. When they occur, it’s easy to get disoriented and confused. However, the first steps you take immediately after the accident could mean the difference between getting fairly compensated for your damages and having to settle everything out of pocket.
Don’t Admit Fault
An accident scene isn’t the best place to act nice, especially if you didn’t cause the accident. Even a simple apology could be taken as an admission of fault. Therefore, while you shouldn’t be necessarily uncooperative, you shouldn’t say anything to incriminate yourself either.
Document Everything
Not admitting fault doesn’t mean the other driver still won’t blame you. In fact, they’ll probably do what you just did and make the situation even more complicated. So, try taking pictures of both vehicles and the accident scene, as well as some notes on what happened. This is all evidence and could actually win your case if it goes to court.
Call a Lawyer
Calling a lawyer immediately after a head-on collision could be one of the smartest decisions you can make. An experienced lawyer will advise on what to say, the kind of evidence you should collect, and the best course of action to take after the accident. A lawyer could also help negotiate with the insurance company and represent you in court if you don’t reach a favorable agreement.
Head-On Collisions Are Easy to Avoid
Head-on collisions can be fatal. But, with a little knowledge, you can reduce your chances of ever getting involved in one. So, the next time you are behind the wheel, try to stay alert, follow the rules, and make the right decisions.
