Head-on Truck Accident Lawyers
Head-on truck accidents are often catastrophic events that leave devastating repercussions in their wake. While fatalities and life-changing physical injuries are common, these accidents can also cause significant mental trauma, even for people who were not directly involved in the crash. Head-on truck accidents can also result in serious property damage, high medical bills, and loss of income.
An experienced head-on truck accident lawyer can assist in these serious situations. While an attorney can’t address medical issues or directly help with the recovery process, they can hold the responsible parties accountable and ensure that victims receive the compensation they need to move on with their lives.
What Are Head-On Truck Accidents?
Head-on truck accidents may involve a passenger vehicle and a semi-truck or two large trucks colliding directly into one another while traveling at speed. Because of the massive size and weight of the typical semi-truck, these kinds of accidents generate significant force, usually enough to completely destroy a passenger car. As a result, head-on truck accidents typically result in greater injury, damages, and emotional distress compared to accidents that only involve passenger vehicles.
How Common Are Head-On Truck Collisions?
It can be hard to get a sense of how common head-on truck collisions are because not all of these accidents are reported, especially the very minor ones. We can get a sense of how frequently they occur by looking at statistics for fatalities caused by head-on collisions.
According to data from the Department of Transportation, more than 4700 people died in large truck crashes in 2021. Of those fatalities, 68 percent were occupants of passenger cars, and 31 percent of those deceased occupants were killed in a head-on truck collision. Put simply, head-on truck collisions are far too common and far too deadly.
How Do Head-On Truck Accidents Occur?
Head-on truck accidents frequently occur when one vehicle leaves its lane and enters oncoming traffic. This might be a semi-truck drifting into oncoming traffic, or it could be a passenger car drifting into the opposite lane and colliding with an oncoming truck.
This situation happens most often on undivided highways because there is no barrier to prevent vehicles from drifting into the opposite lane. A vehicle can cross into oncoming traffic on divided highways, but it is much more unlikely. Sometimes, this situation happens on curved roads, but most head-on truck collisions happen on straight roads.
Head-on truck collisions happen for many reasons. Some of the more common reasons include:
Reckless Passing
Illegally passing another vehicle on a two-lane highway requires entering the opposite lane, which is meant for vehicles driving in the opposite direction. Because there is a risk of a head-on collision, it is important to check for any oncoming traffic before entering the opposite lane. In some situations, limited visibility prevents you from seeing far enough down the road to detect any oncoming traffic. Curves, hills, darkness, fog, and other factors can limit visibility and make it dangerous to pass another vehicle on a two-lane highway.
Excessive Speed
Speeding increases the risk of any kind of accident, and it’s important to note that excessive speed doesn’t just mean driving faster than the speed limit. Driving fast in bad weather conditions is also considered speeding, and it also greatly increases the risk of any type of accident.
Speeding is dangerous because it significantly cuts down on the driver’s reaction time. Speeding can also lead to a loss of traction on the road, which causes the driver to lose control over their vehicle. A driver trying to pass another vehicle on a two-lane highway might be tempted to speed past them, but this seriously increases the risk of head-on collision.
Inadequate Traffic Control Devices
We depend on road signs, lane markers, and other traffic control devices to keep us safe. Unfortunately, bad traffic control design is quite common, and it can increase the risk of accidents. For example, poor signage or lane markings could send a driver in the wrong direction up a highway exit ramp or down a one-way road. Poor temporary signage related to road construction can also inadvertently send oncoming vehicles into one another.
Lack of Familiarity
If you have ever moved into a new neighborhood or to a different town, you know that it can take a while to get familiar with local one-way streets, turn lanes, and traffic control devices. Truck drivers often find themselves navigating unfamiliar streets, and if they miss any important road signs, they can end up driving the wrong way and into an oncoming vehicle.
Bad Road Conditions
Like speeding, bad road conditions significantly increase the risk of any type of accident. Truck drivers are mandated by law to use extreme care during bad weather events. In fact, they may be required to pull over to the side of the road and wait for conditions to clear in extreme weather events.
Driving While Impaired
Truck drivers who operate their large trucks while under the influence of alcohol or drugs are acting negligently. Reaction times are slowed significantly when the blood alcohol content is above legal limits. Judgment is seriously impaired when a driver is drugged. Either of these can easily lead a truck driver to lose control.
Distracted Driving
If you take your eyes off the road for four seconds while traveling at 55 mph, you will have traveled more than the length of a football field without seeing what’s around you. A distracted driver can easily drift into the opposite lane of oncoming traffic, and data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has revealed that more than 10 percent of all fatal distracted driving accidents were head-on collisions.
Drowsy Driving
Truck drivers often work long hours and overnight shifts. While there are federal regulations that mandate rest periods in order to combat fatigue, drowsy driving still happens. Research has shown that fatigued drivers have the same impaired driving abilities as someone under the influence of alcohol. Poor decision-making and slower reaction times often tragically translate into a head-on collision.
Vehicle Malfunction
If the brakes on a tractor-trailer malfunction or there is a tire blowout, it can have tragic consequences. Unfortunately, some trucking companies are negligent in their responsibilities when it comes to truck maintenance, and this can increase the risk of a potentially deadly vehicle malfunction.
Liability in Head-On Truck Accidents
If you or your family members have been in a head-on truck accident, you may have the option to take legal action against any liable parties. A head-on truck accident lawyer can help you file a personal injury lawsuit that recovers compensation for any injuries and damages that were suffered.
To do this, a head-on truck accident lawyer will take several steps:
Establish Fault
Serious accidents are rarely the fault of one individual or party. An attorney can gather evidence and determine which parties are at fault. If multiple parties are found to be at fault, the legal case can become somewhat complicated.
Determine the Value of a Claim
If you are in an accident in Kansas, the first step is to report the accident to your insurance company. The next step is to contact Bretz Injury Law. We will file claims against the insurance company on your behalf. The compensation you receive from an insurer often isn’t enough to pay all of the costs and damages. We can review the many different ways your life was impacted by an accident and determine a value for your claim.
Negotiate with an Insurer
Insurance companies are motivated to pay as little as possible for insurance claims. Their insurance adjusters often try to convince victims that their injuries aren’t as severe as they think they are and that they should take a low-ball offer. A head-on truck accident attorney has experience negotiating with insurance companies, and they can be a powerful advocate.
Take Your Case to Court
If you can’t come to an agreement with insurance companies or reach a settlement with at-fault parties, you may need to take your personal injury claim to court. Our experienced attorneys will fight on your behalf and ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.
The Costs of a Head-On Truck Accident
The victims of a head-on collision with a semi-truck often suffer serious damages and may lose their lives. Experienced attorneys can assess the following costs in the process of fighting for your claim.
Medical Costs
Ambulances, hospital care, physical therapy, and other costs can add up quickly after a head-on truck accident. An experienced head-on truck accident attorney can help you figure out how much compensation you need to pay for your treatment and to protect your future.
Lost Wages and Earning Potential
If you have extensive injuries and cannot go to work after an accident, an attorney can help you fight for any wages that you would have made had the accident not happened. An attorney can also fight for loss of earning potential. If your injuries prevent you from earning money as you had before the accident, you may be able to get compensation for this lost capacity.
Mental Trauma
Head-on collisions are often extremely violent, and the injuries suffered aren’t always visible. Depression, anxiety, insomnia, panic attacks, and other mental health issues are common after such a violent collision. Attorneys who are experienced in truck accidents can help to recover compensation for these very difficult kinds of injuries.
Lower Quality of Life
In addition to decreasing your ability to make a living, injuries suffered in a serious car crash can also decrease your quality of life. You may be unable to pursue the activities that you love, or you might withdraw from social interactions.
Loss of Companionship
When a spouse or important loved one has been killed or severely incapacitated because they had a truck accident, it can damage your life as well. Holding liable parties accountable may not restore your loved one, but it can help you get closure and move on with your life.
Wrongful Death
If your family member was killed due to direct negligence, you may be able to take legal action against the responsible party. The compensation recovered in a wrongful death lawsuit can help you and your family start to move forward without your loved one.
Let Our Team of Head-On Truck Accident Lawyers Fight for You
At Bretz Injury Law, our attorneys are very experienced when it comes to fighting for victims of truck accidents. Our legal team has a deep understanding of semi-trucks, trucking regulations, best practices for maintenance, and the various types of truck accidents that can happen.
Our lawyers are very experienced when it comes to investigating truck companies and negotiating with insurance companies. If you or a loved one has been in a head-on truck accident, contact us online today or call 620-RESULTS today.
