Kansas City Head-on Car Accidents
Head-on collisions are exactly what you think they are: a car accident that occurs when two vehicles collide head-on. Our Kansas City car accident law firm has reviewed countless car accident cases over the years in Missouri and Kansas. Head-on crashes are the worst. These collisions result in the most damage and have the highest risk of serious injury or death.
Just imagine for a minute, one car moving at 45 miles per hour and hitting a stationary object. That accident involves a certain level of force. However, if there are two cars and both are moving at 45 miles per hour, the force that is emitted in that head-on crash is greatly increased.
In addition to the amount of force that is involved in a head-on collision, these crashes involve a substantial change in velocity. Accident reconstruction experts often refer to this change in velocity as the "Delta-V". This key indicator is a reliable predictor of the level of injury in a crash. Despite what the insurance company may want you to believe, the change in velocity is a much more reliable predictor of injury than the damage to the vehicles involved in the crash.
Common Causes of Head-on Collisions in Kansas City
Head-on car accidents are often caused when one car crosses over the center line and strikes another car coming in the opposite direction. How does such an error happen? These accidents typically occur because of one of the following factors:
- a distracted driver who isn't paying attention or who is using a phone,
- a driver who is impaired by alcohol or drugs,
- a driver who passes other vehicles on a two-lane highway without taking proper precautions,
- a driver who doesn't consider road conditions, particularly inclement weather, or
- a fatigued or drowsy driver who falls asleep at the wheel.
Rollover car accidents, where a vehicle rolls upside down, can sometimes also involve a head-on collision because the rolling vehicle will cross into oncoming traffic. It’s hard to imagine a more deadly and frightening combination than a rolling car that is involved in a head-on collision.
How Injuries Result in Head-on Crashes
When two vehicles collide head-on at high speeds, each vehicle will be forced to a stop. As the cars stop, the occupants of the vehicles continue to move inside the tight space of their vehicle at the original speed of impact. This results in the drivers or passengers crashing into each other and the surfaces inside the vehicle during the moment of the crash.
The immense power behind these accidents can result in broken glass, metal, and plastic, which can turn into shrapnel. This is one of the reasons why these accidents can be so dangerous and deadly.
Even if a vehicle does not collide directly head-on, it can sideswipe the other vehicle head-on which causes one of the vehicles to spin. When a vehicle is spinning, there is great danger and likelihood of injuries because the resulting force is unpredictable. A vehicle's airbags may deploy, but it may not prevent the impact that may result.
Common Injuries from Head-on Collisions
Victims in head-on car accidents may sustain a variety of serious injuries, including:
- Head or face injuries.
The driver and passenger in a vehicle that is hit head-on is at risk of developing severe head, brain, or facial injuries. New safety mechanisms, including airbags, have reduced the extent of these injuries in many cases. However, even mild brain injuries can be life-changing and result in long standing impairments that affect a person long after the accident is over.
Neck injuries can occur in a variety of crashes including rearing collisions, but they are also prevalent and head-on crashes. The massive force that results from a head-on collision can cause the driver or passenger to have their heads violently jerked or whipped, which can lead to herniated discs, whiplash, or serious spine injuries including spinal cord compression. Such injuries can result in serious pain and long-term disability.
- Broken bones, particularly legs and knees.
Head-on collisions often result in broken bones or leg injuries. The reason is the immense force from these crashes can cause a passenger or driver to collide with the instrument panels or objects in the car near their legs or other parts of their bodies. These injuries can be very painful and require a long time to heal. If bones that are fractured do not heal correctly, permanent disabilities may result.
Traumatic brain injuries can result without loss of consciousness and even without your head striking an object. However, head-on collisions can present a variety of risks of traumatic brain injuries. The physical, emotional, and financial damages that result from traumatic brain injuries can change a person's life. These cases require the best in medical and legal care.
What to Do After a Head-on Collision in Kansas City?
If you were involved in a head-on collision anywhere in Kansas or Missouri, you may be wondering what to do next. Below are some important steps you should consider taking:
- Get to safety, and if there are injuries, call 9-1-1.
- If you are able, gather information from the other parties.
- Get medical help promptly for any injuries and follow your doctor's advice
- Take photos of your car or your injuries.
- Interview witnesses of the head-on collision.
- Report the head-on collision to your insurance company.
- Speak with an experienced head-on car accident attorney.
Contact our Kansas City Head-on Car Accident Lawyer
At our personal injury law firm in Kansas City, we are dedicated to helping victims and their families after a head-on car accident in Kansas or Missouri. Our legal team is ready to help you through every aspect of your claim and the legal process so you can obtain a maximum recovery from your injuries.
Please contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation at 816-203-0143, or use the form below.
