What to do After a Head-On Collision

Head-on collisions can be one of the most deadly types of accidents purely due to the physics involved. When your vehicle is traveling in one direction at a specific rate of speed, and it collides with another car, the impact on you and your passengers is nearly doubled as the front end of each vehicle absorbs the speed of the opposing vehicle.

According to the Insurance Information Institute (III), head-on collisions involving two vehicles account for approximately 10.1% of all crashes in the US. This makes them the #2 most common type of accident, second only to angled impacts, including T-bone, sideswipe, and side-impact combined.

What are the Common Causes of Head-On Collisions?

Head-on collisions are much more common on rural roads because they are usually very long, dark, and have no center dividers. According to NHTSA, approximately 13% of fatalities are caused by head-on collisions on rural roads, compared to 7% in urban areas. However, the most common causes of head-on collisions remain the same whether they happen on a rural or urban road:

Distracted driving
Ignoring traffic signs or signals
Fatigued driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Reckless behavior during bad weather or low visibility
Improper and dangerous techniques when passing a vehicle on the left

The Most Dangerous Roads in Tampa

According to a report by EverQuote that compiled data from the NHTSA, Highway 4 in Tampa is the #1 most dangerous road in the United States. Another study from the community organization Plan Hillsborough’s Vision Zero program has detailed information on Tampa’s most hazardous roads. The list includes:

Mango Road/CR579 (MLK Boulevard to US 92)
78th Street (Causeway Boulevard to Palm River Road)
Gibsonton Drive (I-75 to Balm Riverview Road)
15th Street (Fowler Avenue to Fletcher Avenue)
Bruce B Downs Boulevard (BBD) (Fowler Avenue to Bearss Avenue)
Sheldon Road (Hillsborough Avenue to Waters Avenue)
Lynn Turner Road (Gunn Highway to Ehrlich Road)
Fletcher Avenue (Armenia Avenue to Nebraska Avenue)

What are the Most Common Injuries from Head-On Collisions?

Because of the sheer force exerted on the human body in a head-on collision, the injuries sustained (even at lower speeds) are often more pronounced than other types of accidents. Common injuries include:

Traumatic Brain Injury due to impact with the steering wheel, airbags, or windshield.
Severe trauma of lower extremities as the steering column collapses inward.
Fractured/broken sternum, ribs, and collarbone from the seat belt restraints.
Internal injuries such as collapsed/punctured lungs or other perforated organs.
Broken neck, torn muscles, herniated spinal discs, and more from the cabin collapsing.

The long-lasting implications of these severe injuries can include paralysis, brain damage, permanent scarring, limb loss, mental anguish, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What do I do After a Head-On Collision?

After a head-on collision, the first step is always to seek immediate medical attention, even if you don’t feel like you’ve been injured. Trauma and shock can be deceiving after such a horrific experience, and your body may not recognize immediately that there is a problem. It may take hours, days, or even weeks for the symptoms of injuries to begin. Therefore, it is crucial to seek immediate medical attention not only for your well-being but also to help ensure you can recover damages.

Be sure to keep your medical records, bills, and other pertinent documents. As soon as you can, contact us. Darrigo and Diaz Law has an expert team of head-on collision attorneys that can help reconstruct the event and get you the compensation you need to cover medical expenses. Our Tampa auto accident lawyers encourage you to immediately reach out to us online or call (813) 734-7397 immediately for a free and confidential phone consultation.