If you or your loved one suffered harm due to a head-on collision, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the compassionate and skilled lawyers at Burg Simpson for a free consultation as soon as possible.
Head-on collisions are, without a doubt, one of the most severe types of accidents on our roads in the United States. These accidents actually account for approximately 14% of all fatalities that happen on our roads every year. Especially when one of these accidents involves a large vehicle like a tractor-trailer, it is likely to end in serious trauma or even take the lives of those involved. If you have been affected by a head-on collision involving a negligent driver, it is crucial that you speak with an attorney immediately so that you can move forward with a claim.
Though head-on collisions only make up approximately 4% of car accidents, they are some of the most catastrophic. A head-on collision is when your vehicle makes a full-frontal impact with a second vehicle. Typically, two vehicles headed in opposite directions crash into one another. However, these accidents also occur when a driver slams head-on into a fixed object either on the road or on the side of the road. The reason why these accidents are so severe is because these collisions create a huge amount of force.
If you or someone you love has been affected by a head-on collision caused by a truck driver, you have options moving forward. Speaking with a skilled national truck accident attorney is one of the best ways that you can get back on your feet after a truck accident. Our attorneys at Burg Simpson are here to help you.
Though tractor-trailer drivers are supposed to be some of the safest drivers on our roads, head-on collisions involving these drivers still take place every year. There are many common causes of head-on crashes that lead to very serious injuries or death. These include the following:
Distracted Driving: When drivers utilize cell phones, eat, or other activities behind the wheel, they are engaging in distracted driving instead of paying attention to the roads around them. This could cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle and suddenly veer into the opposite lane of traffic, leading to a head-on collision. This is why drivers should always focus on the roads around them at all times.
Speeding: Excessive speed can quickly cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle, leading to a head-on collision within seconds. This is why truck drivers are always urged to obey the speed limit instead of speeding to their destinations.
Driving Under the Influence: Statistics over the years have shown that approximately 1% of truck drivers are under the influence at the time of a collision. Drunk and drugged driving leads to head-on collisions every year, which is why truck drivers are not permitted to drive with any percentage of alcohol or other substance in their system.
Fatigued Driving: Truck drivers spend an extended period of time behind the wheel, which means that they are more likely to fall asleep behind the wheel. Falling asleep while driving can be prevented when truck drivers follow hours of service regulations and take appropriate time away from work to sleep and rest.
Improper Passing: Sometimes, truck drivers become impatient on our roads when they are trying to get to a destination as quickly as possible to protect their jobs. This means that they might pass at an inappropriate time. When a truck enters the wrong side of the road due to improper passing, it can lead to a life-altering head-on crash with severe injuries.
Confused Drivers: It is not unusual for a driver to be unsure of where they are headed, causing them to enter a one way street. When a driver is headed the wrong way, it can quickly lead to a head-on collision when either driver is unable to stop in time.
A head-on crash involving a tractor-trailer is likely to be incredibly catastrophic in nature. Though some individuals sustain minor injuries in these accidents, others get catastrophic injuries or even lose their lives. The most common injuries sustained in head-on collisions include the following:
The injuries that you sustain in a head-on collision involving a truck driver can affect you for days, months, or even the rest of your life. This could signal endless medical bills and lost time at work. If a truck driver or another party caused you injuries in a head-on collision, it is crucial that you speak with a national personal injury attorney who has successfully handled these types of cases in the past.
After a tractor-trailer accident involving a head-on crash, a thorough investigation into the matter must take place. Determining liability is one of the best ways that you can move forward with a successful personal injury claim after a head-on crash. There are many parties who could be at fault for one of these accidents:
Truck Drivers: Truck drivers are the most obvious at-fault parties in a head-on truck collision. Due to many of the mentioned reasons like distracted driving and speeding, a truck accident involving a negligent driver could occur within seconds.
Trucking Companies: Trucking companies are supposed to always make sure that truck drivers are properly trained and that trucks are maintained. If a head-on collision occurs due to a negligent company, it is important that you hold them liable for the harm that you have sustained.
Cargo Loader: Cargo loaders are supposed to comply with specific guidelines when loading cargo into a truck. If cargo shifts and causes a head-on collision, they could be held liable for an accident.
Manufacturer: Manufacturers can be held liable if a truck malfunctioned due to a defect, causing them to become involved in a head-on crash with another driver.
As previously stated, multiple parties are often held liable in a commercial vehicle or truck accident, sometimes in ones that involve head-on collisions. When multiple parties are to blame for the accident, this can improve the outcome of your case.
If you can show that multiple parties are to blame for a truck accident, you can maximize the overall compensation that is owed to you in a claim. This is why it is crucial that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible to find out how fault can be determined in your claim.
Being involved in a head-on collision is a complex matter. However, when these claims involve a tractor-trailer, they become even more complex. This is due to the following reasons, among others:
Because handling a head-on collision with a truck can be such a complicated matter, you should have top-notch legal help on your side every step of the way. Our national catastrophic injury attorneys at Burg Simpson are here to help you get back on your feet after a serious truck accident.
Due to the severity of head-on collisions, the injuries that result can be life-altering or deadly in nature. This means that the amount of compensation that you receive will likely be much higher than in an accident with less severe injuries. You may find that you are eligible for compensation to cover the following:
You may be eligible for various other types of damages after a head-on collision as well. The only way that you can ensure that you receive maximum compensation for these damages is having proper help from a skilled attorney during these challenging times.
The statute of limitations refers to the amount of time the law states you have from the date the accident occurs to file a lawsuit. An attorney will help you comply with deadlines in your claim. Though the statute of limitations varies from state to state, it is typically somewhere between one to six years from the time that you discover that you have been injured in a head-on collision. Time is truly of the essence in a truck accident claim, including head-on collision accidents, which is why you should act quickly to preserve your rights after you get hurt in a wreck.
In some cases, a head-on collision involving a tractor-trailer can lead to a fatality. This is actually more likely than in many other accidents, due to the severe force involved in head-on crashes. If you have lost somebody you love in a fatal truck accident, you may be able to gain compensation for wrongful death damages on behalf of a family member. These include some of the following damages:
As you are grieving the loss of your loved one, you may find that it is difficult to get back on your feet. This is especially true if the person who died was someone you depended on for income. However, you should never delay when it comes to a wrongful death claim, as the clock starts ticking on your statute of limitations immediately after your loved one's accident. Speaking with a national wrongful death attorney at Burg Simpson can help you and your family when you need the assistance the most.
The National Safety Council has developed a strategy known as the 'Four R's' to help prevent catastrophic and fatal head-on collisions. They include the following important preventative methods:
Read the Road Ahead: You should always scan the road ahead of you to ensure that there are no hazards that could cause a head-on collision. If you see somebody crossing the center line, you may have time to respond and avoid the collision.
Drive to the Right: Driving right of center in your lane can create more space when it comes to you and other vehicles who share our roads. If another driver veers into your lane, you should drive to the right and onto the shoulder to avoid a head-on collision to the best of your ability.
Reduce Your Speed: If you see a hazard far ahead on the roadway, you should reduce your speed immediately. This gives you more time to respond as you approach the hazard.
Ride Off the Road: If you are faced with a head-on collision or the shoulder, you should always choose to drive off the road when it is safe to do so. Your survival is typically much more likely when you avoid the head-on collision.
Head-on collisions involving large tractor-trailers can be nothing short of devastating. If you have sustained a head-on collision in the United States, you may wonder what options you have for recovery. Our attorneys at Burg Simpson will get to work immediately to protect your rights during these challenging times.
