A recent U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) study found that only two percent of car accidents are head-on collisions. However, these crashes cause about 10 percent of the deaths that occur in motor vehicle accidents.

A head-on collision that does not cause death is likely to result in serious injury. The drivers and passengers involved in head-on collisions can be violently slammed against the steering wheel, dashboard and seat backs. These crushing blows can cause facial fractures, broken ribs, internal organ damage, and more. Victims may need extensive medical treatment and ongoing therapy.

If you have been seriously injured or lost a loved one in a head-on collision in South Carolina, the SC personal injury lawyers of Jebaily Law Firm have the skill and experience necessary to help you pursue a claim against the at-fault driver and recover the medical expenses and other compensation you deserve. Call or contact us online today for a free consultation.

How Head-On Collisions Happen in South Carolina

Head-on crashes may be caused by bad judgment, inattention, and other forms of negligence. Typical causes include:

  • Speeding – Driving too fast into a curve can cause a driver to lose control. Due to over-correcting, the driver may cross the centerline into oncoming traffic.
  • Impaired driving – A driver who is impaired by alcohol, drugs, or fatigue has poorer judgment and diminished physical and mental control. The driver can readily lose concentration or control of the vehicle for just an instant, leading to a head-on collision.
  • Distracted driving – A driver who purposely takes his or her eyes off the road to text, use a cell phone, or turn and speak to passengers can drift out of the lane and into an approaching vehicle.
  • Improper passing – Incorrectly judging the presence or speed of traffic in a passing situation or illegally passing in a curve or on a hill can lead to a crash.
  • Wrong-way driving – Inattention can lead to turning into lanes of oncoming traffic such as on divided highways, interstate ramps, one-way roads, or when exiting a parking lot.
  • Road / weather conditions – Inclement weather that results in wet and slippery roads can cause a driver to lose control of a vehicle – especially if the driver is going too fast.

Head-on collisions caused by drivers who are driving drunk, drowsy, or distracted tend to be the most serious accidents because the impaired or distracted driver fails to brake and slams into the other vehicle at full speed.

Injuries in Head-On Collisions Can Be Severe

The survivor of a head-on collision is likely to have one or more catastrophic injuries such as:

  • Internal injuries – Even though the rib cage protects the major organs, ribs can break easily in a head-on crash and puncture organs. Ruptured organs may require surgery to repair. Patients not treated quickly enough can lose too much blood and go into shock.
  • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) – A blow to the head or a sudden jolt can cause the brain to slam against the inside of the skull and be bruised or torn. Mild brain injuries, or concussions, typically heal. However, severe TBI can cause lasting physical, cognitive, and emotional deficits that require extensive therapy.
  • Neck or spinal cord injury – A fracture of one or more vertebrae in the neck or back can be extremely painful and debilitating. Damage to the spinal cord is likely to cause some loss of function or movement (paralysis).
  • Broken bones (fractures) – Anyone in a head-on collision who is slammed into the steering wheel, dashboard, windshield, door, or seat back can suffer multiple fractures, including facial damage that causes scarring.

Each of these may occur as primary injuries (resulting directly from the impact of the crash) or secondary injuries (resulting from being struck by debris or cargo that is thrown about in the crash or by being ejected from the vehicle).

Airbags, especially for front seat passengers, are designed to inflate in a fraction of a second after a collision and protect car occupants. However, airbags sometimes fail. Even with the protection of an airbag, car occupants may still be badly injured in a head-on collision.

Contact a Head-on Collision Accident Attorney in South Carolina

Survivors of all types of car accidents face long-term recoveries that require expensive medical care. Those who do not survive often leave behind families that depended on them financially and emotionally. The victims of head-on collisions deserve compensation if someone else has caused their injuries and losses.

A car accident attorney from our law firm can investigate any type of car accident that has turned your life upside down and help you to seek compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Jebaily Law Firm has more than 100 years of combined legal experience, including the handling of many successful car accident claims. Please contact us today for a free legal consultation and to learn more about how we can help you.

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