There is no such thing as a “good crash.” Any car accident is going to disrupt your life. Even with a minor fender bender accident, you are still dealing with repairs and loss of value in your car. With more severe crashes, you can also find yourself suffering from injuries and the total loss of your vehicle.
Every car crash is classified by severity, and head-on collisions are often much worse than other types of accidents. These are the types of accidents that should also be clear to establish who was at fault, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges. New Jersey follows a modified comparative negligence rule.
That means you are entitled to recover damages if you were found to be partially at fault in an accident.
That rule also means insurance companies won’t have to pay the full amount of a settlement if you are partially to blame. This is why they might put up a challenge to determine who is liable for the accident.
That is when having Folkman Law Offices as your advocate can result in a positive outcome. We have worked for decades as Cherry Hill car accident lawyers, going up against major insurance companies and prevailing.
One of the reasons we are successful is the dedication of our investigative teams. They provide clear evidence that supports our client’s version of the accident. With head-on collisions, the vehicle destruction and level of injuries can be especially catastrophic.
Why Are Head-On Collisions Worse Than Other Car Accidents?
According to the most recent data collected by the National Safety Council (NSC), in a single year, 29.9% of all crashes were head-on collisions that resulted in 5,800 fatalities. Here in New Jersey, according to the Department of Law and Public Safety, head-on crashes accounted for 10% of all accidents during the recording period.
When you look at the physics of a head-on collision, it is clear to understand why they are considered worse than other car accidents. Unlike a side swipe or rear-end collision, where one vehicle absorbs most of the force of the impact, cars involved in head-on collisions absorb the full impact simultaneously.
For example, if two cars traveling at 50 mph crash head-on, each car feels double the impact. That would be like crashing into a wall at 100 mph. As a car is struck head-on, the front end collapses, and that kinetic force ripples into the car’s interior, jolting the driver and any passengers. The results are often severe injuries and fatalities.
Here are the factors that make head-on collisions much worse:
No Reaction Time
Typically, rear-end or side crashes occur at intersections or in slower traffic. That means you might have a chance to react and swerve away from the full brunt of the crash. With a head-on collision, most side or rear-end crashes take place in slow traffic or at intersections, where you may have more time to react. On the other hand, a typical head-on crash occurs at high speed with almost no warning.
That means you have no significant reaction time to prevent the impact.
Vehicle Damage
A rear-end or T-bone collision can damage specific areas of a car that may be repairable. In a head-on collision, the vehicle’s entire front end can be destroyed, including crushing the engine block, damaging the car’s frame, and wrecking essential mechanical systems. This means a total loss of the car.
Impact Aftermath
A head-on collision can spin a vehicle out of control, forcing it to crash into other cars. It can also spread debris across the road and leak fuel that can trigger a fire. All of these create an extended wake of hazardous conditions.
Severe Injuries
Head-on collisions are notorious for causing severe injuries, including the following:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord damage
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Internal organ damage
- Whiplash
- Chest trauma
- Internal bleeding
- Soft-tissue injuries
Although they are designed to reduce injuries, airbags and seat belts can’t fully protect you in a head-on collision. That is because the impact of an accident unleashes blunt force energy that exceeds the mechanical limitations of those safety features.
They might reduce your body’s contact with hard surfaces, but they can’t stop your internal organs from being crushed by your bones.
Speak with Folkman Law Offices After a Head-On Collision
If you or a loved one has been injured in a head-on collision caused by another driver’s negligence, Folkman Law Offices can help. Our firm represents injury victims throughout New Jersey, pursuing compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and long-term care needs.
We understand how overwhelming and serious accidents can be, and are committed to holding negligent drivers accountable.
Contact Folkman Law Offices today to discuss your case and learn how we can protect your rights and help you move forward.
