Head-on collisions are recognized as some of the most severe and catastrophic types of motor vehicle accidents in Texas. When two vehicles collide head-on, the occupants of both are at risk of suffering life-threatening and even fatal injuries. If you need to file a claim after this type of car accident in San Antonio, an experienced San Antonio car accident lawyer can help you with the legal process.

What Is a Head-On Collision?

A head-on collision is a severe type of accident when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions from each other collide by their front ends. These accidents occur most often on roads that do not have a physical barrier between lanes of opposite-direction traffic. In these places, a driver could cross over the centerline and crash head-on into an oncoming vehicle.

What Makes Head-On Collisions So Deadly?

Head-on collisions often inflict catastrophic injuries on those involved, or injuries that will result in long-term or permanent injury, disability, scarring or disfigurement. According to the Federal Highway Administration, head-on collisions account for about 27 percent of all U.S. roadway departure fatalities and 14 percent of all traffic fatalities each year.

Head-on collisions take place at the combined speeds of both vehicles, enhancing the force of the impact. If one vehicle was traveling at 40 mph, for example, and the other was speeding at 70 mph, a head-on collision would occur at a speed of 110 mph. This increases the forces exerted on each vehicle’s occupants, typically resulting in more severe injuries.

What Causes Most Head-On Collisions in San Antonio?

Driver negligence is the number one cause of head-on collisions in San Antonio. Careless and reckless drivers can make mistakes behind the wheel that lead to unsafe and illegal lane departures. Speeding around a curve, for example, could place a vehicle in the opposite lane of traffic.

Common causes include:

Most head-on collisions are preventable. If all drivers are vigilant behind the wheel, pay attention to the road, and obey traffic laws and signals, they would not dangerously enter a lane of oncoming traffic. Unfortunately, many drivers fail to take these measures.

Who Is Liable for a Head-On Collision in San Antonio?

Texas is a fault-based car insurance state, meaning the person or party deemed to be at fault for a head-on collision is responsible for paying for the victim’s medical bills and property damage. Drivers in Texas are required to carry minimum amounts of bodily injury and property damage insurance. However, as a victim, you must prove that the other driver is at fault for your head-on car accident to qualify for financial compensation.

When to Contact a San Antonio Car Accident Lawyer

You do not have to handle a car insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit on your own after a head-on collision in San Antonio. Hiring a San Antonio personal injury attorney can allow you to concentrate your energy on healing while your lawyer investigates the crash, collects evidence against the other driver and goes up against insurance companies to fight for fair compensation on your behalf.

If you or a loved one was recently injured or killed in a head-on collision in San Antonio, contact the car accident lawyers at Maloney & Campolo to request a free consultation about your case. Our car accident attorneys have years of experience representing crash victims and their families.