Head-On Truck Collisions
A head-on truck collision can be frightening and bring with it a large number of complications, including both physical and emotional fallout. In the aftermath of the accident, you might face a steep financial burden that can leave you and your family dealing with a multi-faceted need for recovery.
If you or a loved one has suffered an injury in a head-on truck collision, contact a truck accident lawyer immediately. You deserve to have the highest quality legal representation available in your corner. Contact a truck accident attorney today to protect your legal right to recovery.
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Table of Contents
- Common Causes of Head-On Truck Accidents
- Common Injuries In Head-On Truck Collisions
- What Compensation Is Available After a Head-On Truck Accident?
- Contact A Truck Accident Lawyer Today
Common Causes of Head-On Truck Accidents
A head-on truck collision might happen for various reasons. No matter the cause of the accident, you deserve to fully financially recover. Here are some of the most common reasons that head-on truck accidents happen.
Driver Fatigue
Driver mistakes are a top cause of head-on truck accidents. For example, driver fatigue is a common driver error. When a driver gets behind the wheel while drowsy, they have the potential to cause massive accidents. Because of the long hours and tight schedules, truck drivers have a higher chance of driving while fatigued.
Another common cause of drowsy driving is violating the federal regulations on driving hours enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). When drivers or trucking companies violate the FMCSA rules, they might be overworked and enter traffic while drowsy.
Failure To Check Truck Blind Spots
Large commercial trucks have large blind spots, typically on the right side of the truck. Failure to check the blind spot can cause drivers to inadvertently drift into another lane or fail to see an oncoming vehicle. If the truck driver makes a sudden lane change without noticing a vehicle in the opposite lane, it can lead to a head-on collision.
Driver Medical Conditions
Truck drivers are merely human and sometimes have medical conditions that interfere with their work. Whether it is a chronic illness or a sudden medical emergency, like a heart attack, a driver’s medical condition can cause a truck driver to lose control of the vehicle and veer into any oncoming traffic, resulting in a head-on collision. Truck drivers with known health conditions should take precautions and follow medical guidelines to prevent such occurrences.
Unbalanced Truck Loads
Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring employees properly load the commercial trucks. Improper or unbalanced loads can easily cause an accident. If a truck is overloaded, it can affect the vehicle’s steering and braking ability. An overloaded truck is harder to control than a properly loaded truck. A driver might lose control, especially when turning or making evasive maneuvers.
Similarly, if the cargo is not properly secured or distributed within the truck, it can shift during transit, causing the truck to swerve or lose control.
Vehicle Maintenance Failures
Truck drivers and trucking companies are required to properly maintain their vehicles. Failure to properly maintain the vehicle can lead to a head-on collision. Examples of mechanical failures that can cause serious accidents include:
Brake Failure
Having properly maintained brakes is especially important for large commercial trucks. The size and weight of these types of vehicles make it difficult for them to slow down. Trucks cannot “stop on a dime,” so it is important for maintenance providers to regularly look at the brakes.
Tire Blowouts
A blown tire, particularly on a large truck, can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in a swerve into oncoming traffic. Tire blowouts are more common on poorly maintained trucks or overloaded trucks.
Other Mechanical Failures
Other mechanical issues can easily cause a head-on collision. For example, truck drivers and trucking companies must keep an eye out for faulty lights, engine malfunctions, or power steering fluid to avoid a head-on collision.
Poorly Marked or Lack of Road Barriers
Lack of proper signage or no road barriers can cause an accident. If this contributed to the head-on collision, you might have a claim against the state or local government. In areas with unclear road markings or insufficient warning signs of danger, it may cause the truck driver to accidentally swerve into the opposite lane, leading to a head-on collision.
Like improper signage, some roads may have no guardrails or physical barriers to separate lanes. If a truck drifts across the center line due to driver error or mechanical failure, there may be nothing to prevent a head-on crash with oncoming traffic.
Inexperienced or Inadequately Trained Drivers
Trucking companies are required to properly train their drivers before the trucker hits the road. Failure to do so leaves the company open regarding liability for a head-on collision.
New or inadequately trained truck drivers may not have the experience necessary to handle challenging driving situations, such as bad weather, heavy traffic, or narrow lanes. Inexperienced drivers may misjudge their speed, distance, or lane positions, resulting in a head-on crash.
An improperly trained truck driver is not informed about the industry-standard safety protocols. Not knowing the safety protocols can lead to driving mistakes that cause accidents. Additionally, improper training may lead to truck drivers using unsafe driving techniques.
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Common Injuries In Head-On Truck Collisions
Any accident can come with its own set of injuries. The severity of the accident’s impact can influence the type and severity of the injuries the victim suffered. Here are some of the most common injuries in head-on truck accidents.
Ejection Injuries
A head-on collision can easily cause an ejection injury. An ejected vehicle occupant during a head-on collision is at significant risk for severe injuries or death. Ejection injuries often include traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, and internal injuries from hitting the road or other objects.
Compartment Syndrome
Pressure swelling up within a body part when the muscles or other tissues are injured in an accident is called compartment syndrome. Compartment syndrome is a medical emergency that can lead to tissue death and permanent disability if it is not treated properly.
Soft Tissue Injuries
Soft tissue injuries are usually minor injuries that will heal on their own. Examples of soft tissue injuries include sprains, strains, torn ligaments, torn tendons, whiplash, and muscle injuries like spasms and limited mobility in the victim’s back, shoulders, and neck.
Burn Injuries
Burn injuries carry a serious risk of burn injuries. In some accidents, especially those involving fuel trucks or hazardous materials, a fire or explosion may occur, leading to severe burns. Burn injuries can cause permanent disfigurement and require long-term medical care, including skin grafts and rehabilitation.
Psychological Injuries
Any type of car accident can come with trauma, but the weight of these vehicles can cause a serious blow. The severity of the crash can cause significant emotional trauma. The victim can be left with a host of psychological issues like depression, anxiety, and panic attacks.
Amputations
In the worst cases, a head-on collision can result in the traumatic loss of a limb, especially if the limb is crushed or if the vehicle’s frame is significantly deformed in the collision. Amputations may be necessary if the limb is too damaged to be saved. When the vehicle is crushed in a head-on collision, limbs may be pinned or crushed beyond repair, often resulting in amputation,
Facial Injuries
Head-on collisions may leave the victim with lacerations on their face. The force of the crash can cause cuts and bruises to the face, especially if the airbags deploy or the victim’s faces strike the steering wheel, dashboard, or side windows. Teeth may be knocked out or severely damaged in a head-on collision, especially if the individual’s mouth is open at the time of the impact.
Whiplash and Neck Injuries
Whiplash is one of the most common types of injuries after a traffic accident. Whiplash happens when a vehicle suddenly decelerates, typically in a head-on collision, and can cause whiplash. This soft tissue injury occurs when the head is violently jerked back and forth. Whiplash can result in pain, stiffness, headaches, and difficulty moving your head,
In very serious accidents, the neck may suffer fractures or dislocations, which can cause paralysis or permanent disability.
Chest and Abdominal Injuries
Commercial trucks are massive machines, and the force of a head-on collision with one of these vehicles can cause injuries to internal organs, including the lungs, heart, liver, kidneys, spleen, and intestines. Damage to these organs can result in life-threatening internal bleeding. Other internal injuries that can result from a head-on truck accident include rib fractures and the potential for a collapsed lung. To determine whether the accident caused internal injuries, seek medical attention immediately after an accident to protect your physical well-being and your legal claim.
Broken Bones
Broken bones are common injuries in head-on collisions. The impact of a head-on collision can cause broken arms, legs, or ribs. Common fractures in these accidents include compound fractures and comminuted fractures. The pelvis is often vulnerable in head-on crashes due to the tremendous force transferred through the body. These fractures can be extremely painful and may require surgery.
Spinal Cord Injuries
The back and spinal cord are key to a person’s locomotion, so when an injury happens, it can be life-changing. One of the most devastating injuries in a head-on collision is spinal cord damage, which can result in partial or complete paralysis. Injuries can occur in the neck, upper back, or lower back. Damage to the cervical spine can lead to paralysis in all four limbs. Injuries to the thoracic, lumbar, or sacral regions of the spinal cord can lead to paralysis of the lower body.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
The risk of traumatic brain injuries after a head-on truck accident is significant. There are different forms of traumatic brain injury, and each of them is serious. A concussion, for example, is one form of traumatic brain injury that occurs when the brain is jolted or shaken violently, which is common in head-on collisions. TBIs can also include contusions, brain bleeds, skull fractures, and more. Brain injuries can have lasting effects on cognitive and physical abilities.
What Compensation Is Available After a Head-On Truck Accident?
There are many categories of damages available to injured victims after a head-on collision. The amount of compensation available heavily depends on the facts of your case. Review your accident with a truck accident attorney to identify each of your losses and estimate the settlement value of your claim.
Here are some of the types of damages that you might be entitled to after an accident:
Economic Damages
Economic losses include the tangible and physical losses a victim suffers after an accident. These losses are usually easily identifiable, but some accident victims might downplay their injuries and other damages, so it is important to discuss the details of your claim with a truck accident lawyer.
Here are some common examples of economic losses victims suffer after a head-on collision:
- Current and future medical expenses
- Current and future lost income
- Compensation for lost earning capacity
- Property damage
- Rehabilitation and long-term care costs
Non-economic Damages
Non-economic losses include the intangible losses that accident victims face after an accident. These types of losses are not as easy to identify as economic damage, so you must discuss the possibility of suffering non-economic losses with a truck accident attorney.
Examples of non-economic damages include:
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Reduced quality of life
Punitive Damages
Punitive damages might be available after a head-on collision. Punitive damages do not directly compensate for a victim’s losses but punish the defendant for their outrageous behavior. Speak to your truck accident attorney about the availability of punitive damages in your case.
Contact A Truck Accident Lawyer Today
If you have been in a head-on truck crash, contact an experienced personal injury attorney today to discuss your legal rights and options after a crash. You want trusted medical professionals treating your injuries, so you also deserve to have legal representation for your legal rights. Contact a lawyer now to get your life back on track and begin your journey toward full and fair financial recovery after an accident.