Maryland Head-On Collision Lawyer
Head-on collision. Just the phrase alone can stop you in your tracks. And for good reason. Although head-on collisions are not as common as other types of car accidents, they are among the most severe. Head-on collisions occur when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions crash into one another, front-end to front-end. Head on Collisions are among the deadliest traffic accidents, causing more than 5,200 fatalities each year. However, most of these car accidents are preventable.
Head-on collisions typically occur because of impaired driving, distracted driving, and fatigued driving. Even attentive drivers can end up in a head-on vehicle crash if there is inadequate road signage, poorly marked construction zone sites, visibility issues due to poor lighting or weather conditions, or even through no fault of their own such as a sudden oncoming vehicle in their lane.
Head-on collisions are so serious because of the high speeds and strong forces involved in the crash. Often, both vehicles are traveling at the time of the accident. The strong speeds can throw the body upon impact at forces much higher than the body can withstand. Serious injuries may result, including broken bones, brain trauma, and disfigurement.
As a victim, you may claim compensation for economic and non-economic damages as allowed by law. At the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt, our dedicated legal team has been helping accident victims and their families recover financial damages from those motorists who cause head-on collisions. We have stood alongside personal injury victims for over four decades, aggressively advocating on their behalf to ensure they have the financial resources needed to make them whole after suffering serious injuries and unquantifiable losses.
What Should You Do After a Head-On Car Collision?
In the aftermath of a head-on car collision, you may not be able to do much if you are seriously injured. Getting emergency medical treatment is your priority. But if you can, take the following steps to protect your legal rights and establish a strong foundation for a future case.
You can take the first steps toward a financial recovery by:
- Calling 911 to get law enforcement and paramedics to the accident scene immediately
- Gathering information and evidence from the accident crash site, such as contact and insurance details from the other driver, photos of the accident scene, and statements from any available witnesses
- Seeking prompt medical attention immediately and following through on your doctor’s treatment recommendations
- Request a copy of the police report
- Keeping track of all car crash accident-related expenses and losses, such as your medical bills, receipts from prescriptions or incidental out-of-pocket costs, and pay stubs as evidence of lost income
- Starting a “pain journal” as record of the day-to-day pain levels, physical limitations, and emotional struggles you face because of your head-on collision injuries
- Contacting an experienced and knowledgeable Maryland head-on collision attorney at the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt for solid advice and to consider all your legal options before recording or signing anything, even if an insurance company asks you to do so.
Causes of Head-On Car Crashes
Every car accident is different, but multiple factors usually contribute to a crash. Here are some of the most common causes of head-on collisions in Maryland:
- Distracted driving. When drivers are texting while driving, talking to passengers, or reaching for objects in the car, they are more likely to overlook critical road signs or accidentally drift into lanes of oncoming traffic.
- Impaired driving. Intoxicated drivers have compromised spatial awareness, poor coordination, and impaired judgment skills, all of which could cause them to cross into the wrong lane.
- Driving errors. Inexperienced or negligent drivers are more likely to overcorrect when steering, ignore traffic signs and patters, and commit other driving offenses that may lead to a head-on collision.
- Reckless or aggressive driving. Drivers who engage in reckless or aggressive behaviors such as running red lights or making unsafe passing maneuvers run a greater risk of accidentally veering head-on into oncoming vehicles.
- Poor road conditions. Excessive potholes, slick surfaces, or blind curves can cause drivers to lose control and swerve into oncoming traffic.
- Faulty vehicle components. Poor maintenance or negligent manufacturing can sometimes lead to the failure of critical components such as tires, brakes, or steering systems, which in turn can cause drivers to lose control and collide head-on with other vehicles.
Common Injuries Caused by Head-On Auto Accidents
Head-on car accidents involve two vehicles colliding from opposing directions, often at significantly high speeds. The force of impact in these car accidents is violent. For that reason, severe bodily injuries are a tragic and common outcome of head-on collisions.
Typical injuries after a head-on car wreck may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Facial scarring, disfigurement, and dental injuries
- Organ damage
- Traumatic or surgical amputation
- Spinal cord injuries/paralysis
- Back and neck injuries
- Knees, elbows, and joint injuries
- Broken bones or fractures
- Heat, chemical, or friction burns
- Internal bleeding
- Deep lacerations and puncture wounds
- Soft tissue injuries
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression
Liability for Head-On Car Collisions
Head-on car collisions usually occur due to negligence. In most cases, liability rests with the driver of the vehicle who entered a lane of traffic facing the wrong way and hit the oncoming car. However, other parties can be held partially or fully responsible for a head-on collision. These include:
- Other road users. Another road user such as a pedestrian, cyclist, or another motorist may be liable for a head-on wreck if they violate traffic laws in a way that causes a driver to veer out of their designated lane. Suppose a pedestrian is jaywalking and an oncoming motorist swerve into a neighboring lane to avoid striking them and hits you instead. In that case, the pedestrian may be partly responsible for the head-on collision.
- Employers. If the at-fault driver in a head-on collision is operating a company car or driving or work-related reasons, their employer may hold vicarious liability for their actions, especially if the employer encouraged the employee to engage in unsafe driving behaviors, such as fatigued driving.
- Government agencies. If inadequate road maintenance or design results in poor or dangerous road conditions, the agency responsible for those roads may be liable if a head-on collision occurs due to those conditions.
- Vehicle manufacturers. If the failure of critical vehicle parts such as tires, brakes, airbags, or steering systems cause drivers to lose control and crash head-on, manufacturers and automakers may be liable if they were designed, manufactured, or assembled negligently.
Call a Maryland Head-On Collision Accident Lawyer Today
Our Baltimore car accident legal team is here to help you. If you or someone you care about was injured in a car accident in Baltimore or anywhere in Maryland, you may not know where to turn for guidance. The stress of medical expenses, doctors’ appointments, and possibly not being able to work can be a lot to take in, especially if you are also trying to negotiate with the at-fault driver’s insurance company to receive a full, fair settlement.
Head-on car accidents are one of the most serious car accidents we handle at our Maryland law firm. That is because the force of two vehicles crashing into each other causes tremendous damage. However fast the other car was traveling, add that car’s speed onto yours for the impact of your crash. Many head-on car crashes cause serious injuries. Unfortunately, such injuries can change people’s lives forever. And in too many cases, some head-on car accidents result in fatalities. That is why it is critical that personal injury victims and their families talk to a Maryland attorney right away.
At our firm, we take pride in putting our clients first, learning their story, and working day in and day out to ensure they are treated fairly by the insurance company. We always tell our clients, “You focus on getting better, and we will handle everything else,” and that includes negotiating with adjusters, gathering evidence, helping you find quality medical care, and everything in between. In Maryland, the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt has been working with injury victims for more than 40 years. Our experienced head-on car crash attorneys have been successfully resolved many accident claims. That is because we know how to investigate such horrific car wrecks in Baltimore and understand how the legal system works here.
If you have suffered serious injury in a car wreck, our legal team is here to help you hold the responsible party or person legally and financially responsible for the harm they caused.
Please contact the Law Offices of Larry B. Litt at 443-844-1528 for a free consultation. We would be honored to help you evaluate your case and guard your legal rights after being injured in a head-on collision. We take pride in being of service to this community.