Head-on collisions are some of the worst types of automobile accidents and often result in catastrophic, life-threatening injuries. If you’ve been involved in one of these wrecks, you could be faced with significant medical bills, weeks or months of lost wages, and much more. Unfortunately, insurance companies representing negligent drivers often add insult to injury by underpaying and even denying legitimate claims. You need a law firm that will fight for the compensation you deserve so you can focus on recovering from your injuries. Charlotte automobile accident victims know they have a trusted advocate in Bradford Law.
Why Are Head-On Collisions So Serious?
When two vehicles crash directly into each other, the combined speeds and weights of the automobiles can have devastating consequences for the drivers and passengers. The addition of other factors like driving over the speed limit, inclement weather, and distracted driving can make the head-on collision even worse. Victims may suffer such injuries as:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord damage
- Paralysis
- Back and neck injuries
- Concussions
- Lacerations from broken glass
- Internal organ damage
- Bone fractures
- Amputations
- Death
These and other injuries can lead to high medical bills, lost time from work, and other damages like those discussed below. Establishing fault is essential to recovering compensation from the negligent driver and his or her insurance company, but this is hardly a simple task. Even if you know full well that the other motorist caused the head-on collision, proving it to the satisfaction of the insurance company or a jury is a different matter.
Why Do Head-On Collisions Happen?
The first step in building a case is to determine how and why the accident happened. It is up to the injury victim and his or her attorney to explain the cause of the head-on collision. These are a few of the most common examples:
- Speeding. No matter the type of automobile accident, excessive speed will always make it deadlier. A driver who is speeding not only breaks the law but could cause irreversible and even fatal injuries in a head-on collision.
- Distracted driving. Taking your eyes off the road for a mere five seconds while driving at 55 miles per hour is equivalent to driving the length of a football field blindfolded. This is the effect of any sort of distracted driving, especially that which results from texting while driving.
- Driving under the influence. Whether due to drug (legal or illegal) or alcohol use, driving under the influence reduces reaction times and increases the risk of a head-on accident. Evidence that drugs or alcohol were involved is a strong indicator of negligence.
- Fatigued driving. Studies have shown that driving with insufficient sleep is akin to driving under the influence of alcohol. However, far too many people hit the roads and highways without enough rest and thereby put others in danger.
- Malfunctioning traffic signals. A busy city like Charlotte has hundreds of congested intersections where even a simple traffic light malfunction can trigger a major wreck. If traffic signals are to blame you may be able to pursue legal action against the municipal government responsible for installing or maintaining them.
- Poor road conditions. Missing or poorly designed guardrails and large potholes are two examples of road conditions that may lead to head-on accidents. The construction contractor responsible for the work or the governmental unit tasked with repairing the roads could be to blame.
- Vehicle defects. There are also cases in which liability lies with the automobile manufacturer or the company responsible for faulty parts, like those that make up the car’s braking system. An investigation will uncover if the maker of your vehicle played any role in the head-on accident.
Possible Damages in a Head-On Collision Case
Head-on accidents can turn someone’s world upside down in a split second. Expensive medical bills, recovery time that keeps you out of work, and the end of a once-promising career are all potential outcomes. An experienced Charlotte head-on collision accident attorney will seek the maximum wages available to compensate you for your injuries. Depending on the circumstances of your case, those damages may include:
- Past, present, and future medical expenses. These are often the most significant category of damages and typically include such costs as hospitalization, surgery, ambulatory services, physical rehabilitation, prescription drugs, adaptive medical equipment (e.g. wheelchairs), and more.
- Lost income. You will miss time from work while recovering, seeing your doctor for follow-up appointments, and tending to other accident-related matters. The at-fault party can be compelled to pay for your lost income so your family doesn’t have to suffer financially.
- Lost income-earning ability. Because of the severity of head-on collisions, accident victims are often unable to return to their previous lines of work and therefore have lucrative careers cut short. The victim can be compensated for those lost future earnings.
- Pain and suffering. These damages cover the mental, psychological, and emotional toll that accident victims often must pay. Treatment for anxiety, mental anguish, and post-traumatic stress disorder, among other problems, may be covered.
How Bradford Law Can Help
When you retain Bradford Law to represent you in your head-on automobile accident lawsuit, we get to work immediately investigating the causes of the accident and identifying all potentially at-fault parties. We also handle all communications with the responsible party’s insurance company to help you get compensation as soon as possible. Most head-on accident cases will settle out of court, but if the insurer will not make a fair settlement offer that fully accounts for all of your damages we will begin preparing a case for trial.
Trials often require testimony from what are known as expert witnesses. These are individuals with technical or highly specialized knowledge who can explain complicated information to a jury. One example is an accident reconstructionist, whose testimony can clarify why the defendant driver was to blame. Another example is the vocational expert who can discuss the impact of the accident on your ability to earn future income.
Our firm will seek the highest amount of damages that the law allows. Throughout our representation, we will serve you and your family with the compassion, legal advocacy, and professionalism you deserve.
Contact Our Charlotte Head-On Collision Accident Attorney
You will only have one chance to settle or try your case, so having skilled counsel is essential to winning the compensation you need. Were you or a loved one injured in a head-on accident? Our firm is ready to put our legal knowledge to work for you. Reach out to Bradford Law to schedule your free consultation today.
