Articles Posted in Personal Injury

A head-on collision, also commonly known as a “front impact accident” or “frontal crash,” occurs when two vehicles moving in opposite directions smash into each other’s front ends. Because of the high speeds often involved, head-on collisions tend to be some of the most gruesome types of car accidents. Generally, the gravity of injuries accompanying front impact accidents is much more substantial when compared to other types of crashes, such as sideswipes or rear-end collisions. For victims that are fortunate enough to survive these ravaging crashes, it may take months or even years to begin to recover physically, psychologically, and emotionally. Not to mention the hospital bills and other financial damages to consider, which add further stress to victims and their families.  

Head-On Collisions Often Result In Devastating Injuries  

Although frontal crashes are uncommon compared to other car accidents, statistics confirm that they are the most dangerous and fatal of all crashes. According to the Insurance Information Institute, head-on collisions only accounted for 2 percent of all car accidents in a recent year. However, they were responsible for more than 10 percent of all deadly crashes. Head-on collisions generate the most significant impact force when both vehicles are in motion directly before colliding. During even head-on collisions that involve relatively low speeds, drivers and passengers are highly vulnerable to destructive forces. Common injuries that victims suffer include:

While the safety features on vehicles advance, most manufacturers have focused on protecting drivers while leaving passenger safety systems deficient. Consequently, passengers often suffer the brunt of injuries. Depending on the circumstances that led to the accident, passengers may be able to hold the drivers of the cars they were in, drivers of other vehicles involved, manufacturers of defective vehicles or parts, and government entities responsible for their injuries.

Common Passenger Injuries

During even minor accidents, passengers’ bodies can be subjected to powerful forces, such as unexpected acceleration, abrupt stopping, and extreme rotation. Depending on where a passenger was sitting, the type of accident, and the speed of the vehicles, the severity of their injuries can vary substantially. For example, passengers seated in the front are more likely to hit their heads on dashboards and suffer traumatic brain injuries (TBIs). The risk of backseat passengers suffering whiplash or spinal injuries is significantly higher, especially during rear-end crashes. In the event of a side-impact collision, passengers sitting on the impacted side of the vehicle are particularly vulnerable. Additionally, passengers can suffer a broad spectrum of other injuries and complications, including:

Car accidents are one of the country’s leading causes of neck injuries. Over 800,000 crashes involving neck injuries are reported throughout the United States each year. Despite being a highly vulnerable part of the body, the neck has minimal protection during a car accident. While wearing a seatbelt can help keep your body in place, your neck and head are left unrestrained. In the event of a car crash, a victim’s neck can quickly jolt back and forth, be violently jerked from one side to another, or even be struck by flying debris. Abrupt, sharp movements are known for causing severe injuries to the cervical spine’s tendons, ligaments, nerves, muscles, and joints.  

Signs And Symptoms Of Neck Injuries

In the wake of a collision, it often takes victims suffering from neck injuries several hours or even days before signs and symptoms emerge. For this reason, it is crucial never to ignore even relatively minor pain. When left untreated, a trivial neck injury could lead to lingering pain and chronic complications in the future. We strongly advise seeking immediate medical care if you experience any of the following: