A crash that occurs when two vehicles strike each other front bumper to front bumper is known as a head on collision. Most often this type of crash is seen when one or both cars are traveling at a high speed. Due to the nature and speed of the collision, serious, and often fatal injuries are a result to the drivers and passengers. If you have been in a head on collision, or lost a family member in one, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. Contact a Missouri car accident attorney who has a good track record with this type of case to see what may be done for you and your family.
Head On Collisions
A good majority of head on collisions are the result of one car crossing over the center lane of a roadway. This can be a result of drunk driving, inattention or an attempt to pass another vehicle. Whatever the cause, entering a lane of oncoming traffic is reckless and shows little regard for the safety of others.
Since these are most often seen on bigger streets and highways, high speed is often involved and both cars are in motion when the accident occurs. The force of the impact is great and a portion of it absorbed by the people inside the vehicles. Head and neck injuries are the most common type associated with a head on collision. As the body is thrust forward and then back again, the skull may collide with the windshield or dashboard and the neck severely strained. If a driver or passenger is not wearing a seat belt, they could be propelled out of the car and suffer further injuries, such as bone fractures, when they hit the pavement.
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A head on collision out in Boone County killed a driver and his passenger when another car crossed over the center line into their path. Without time to react, the cars crashed nose to nose at full speed. In a similar Missouri accident, the driver who was hit suffered head trauma and injuries to her legs. She was able to recover the full $1 million that the negligent driver had in liability insurance.
If You Are Involved in a Collision
If you are involved in any type of motor vehicle accident it is important to remember as many details as possible to relay to your car accident attorney. This may prove difficult in a head on collision as most victims describe the accident as coming out of nowhere and cannot recall the moments leading up to it. Often an attorney will have to rely on police reports and eyewitness testimony in order to make the case for negligence.
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You should also have copies of all of your medical records at hand for your attorney. In those confusing first hours in a hospital many tests and procedures may be performed that you do not recall. Having a record of all of that will help your attorney present the defense with evidence of your intensive injuries.
St. Louis Car Accident Attorney
Being involved in any type of car crash can be traumatic, both to the body and the mind. The surprise of a head on collision and the serious nature of the injuries sustained make them especially difficult on a person. Hiring an attorney is your first step towards recovering the damages caused and putting the ordeal behind you.
To speak with a St. Louis car accident attorney call (314) 361-4242.
photo credit: Oran Viriyincy via Flickr