A head-on collision is a very severe type of car accident that can often, unfortunately, result in severe injuries or even fatalities. Head-on collisions are categorized by the front ends of two vehicles colliding when traveling in two opposite directions, as opposed to a side or rear-end collision. It is rare for one type of collision to cause as many injuries and fatalities as head-on collisions do. In fact, according to The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported head-on collisions possessed a 58% fatality rate in 2017. Head-on collisions are so dangerous because of the speed they occur at, as well as the forces involved being enormous. As a result of head-on factors, if two cars travel at 30MPH, the impact force is more like 60MPH.
If you have been involved in a head-on collision in Fort Myers, FL, that wasn’t your fault, contact The Law Place law firm today. Our law firm boasts a team possessing 75 years of combined experience, with many being AVVO 10.0 rated. Our team can provide a dedicated attorney-client relationship and will be here for you every step of your legal journey. Contact us today to organize a free consultation using our toll-free number, (888) 224-6114.
What Can Cause a Head-On Collision?
Head-on collisions make up for, on average, 13% of all rural collisions and 7% of urban ones. With so many of these accidents occurring across Florida, there is also a range of factors that can cause them. Examples include:
- Traveling on a one-way road in the wrong direction
- Not noticing or ignoring stop signs or red lights
- Traveling at high speeds
- Driving under the influence of drugs or/and alcohol
- One or both drivers being distracted, e.g., texting or passengers in the vehicle
- Driving whilst fatigued
If you have suffered an injury after a head-on accident, contact an accident lawyer at The Law Place today. No matter the cause of your accident, if it was not your fault, you could be owed compensation, so we highly recommend having legal representation to support you.
Factors Affecting the Severity of a Head-On Collision
The severity of these types of accidents can be determined by a range of factors, examples of these include:
- Size and weight of both vehicles
- Speed the vehicles are traveling at
- The quality and amount of safety features on each vehicle
- Whether the initial collision led to a secondary accident, e.g., vehicles behind not being able to brake in time and crashing too
If your Fort Myers car accident was not your fault and you have received damages, contact our law firm to speak to an accident lawyer today.
We’re here to serve you. Our phones are open 24 hours a day.
Common Injuries Occurring Because of Head-On Accidents
As previously mentioned, a head-on accident can be extremely dangerous, and thus a range of injuries can occur. For these injuries, you may be owed compensation. Examples include:
- Traumatic head and brain injuries
- Neck injury such as whiplash
- Loss of limbs
- Broken or fractured bones
- Cuts, scrapes, and bruises
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Spinal cord injury, possibly causing paralysis
No matter your exact injury, contact a personal injury lawyer at The Law Place today as you could be owed compensation.
We’re Florida’s top litigation team with over 75 years of combined experience
Common Damages Available After Head-On Collisions
Following these types of collisions, a range of different types of suffering can occur. For any mental, physical, or financial suffering you encounter due to the fault of another, you may be able to claim damages, the aim of which is to compensate you financially. Examples of potential damages include:
- Medical expenses – It is likely that you’ll have suffered injuries and had to receive medical attention. For any medical bills you encounter, you will be able to include the amount in your final settlement. If you have suffered a long-lasting injury that will require ongoing medical care, you may also be able to make a claim for any projected medical costs.
- Lost wages – For any wages you lost because of the time off work after your accident, you may be able to claim back these wages. If you are unable to return to work, you may also be able to claim for lost earning capabilities.
- Pain and suffering – This form of damages encapsulates all mental and emotional suffering caused by the accident, as well as any loss of enjoyment in life. This type of damage is very difficult to prove, find evidence for, and then translate into an appropriate amount of compensation because of the subjectivity of mental anguish. We highly recommend having a personal injury lawyer on your side if you intend to make a claim for pain and suffering.
- Property damage -It is likely that after one of these types of accidents, your car would have received damage. If you have suffered property damage after a head-on car accident in Fort Myers, you could be owed the cost of any repair or replacement costs.
- Wrongful death – If you have unfortunately lost a loved one in a car accident such as this, then you will be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit as per Florida Statute 768.21. The settlement tends to cover any funeral expenses, loss of consortium, and any costs to compensate for mental and emotional suffering.
If you believe you could be owed any of these damages, contact a personal injury lawyer at The Law Place today. We realize how damaging the effects of a car accident of this degree can be, so we are here for you to ensure you get the justice you deserve.
From the initial call to updates on your case status, we are here to get you answers.
Determining Liability After Head-On Collisions
In Fort Myers, along with the rest of Florida, people on the road have a presumed duty of care to everybody else on the road. This implied duty of care means all drivers are expected to behave as a reasonable person would, i.e., drive safely and responsibly. If the driver owes a duty of care, breaches this duty by acting negligently or recklessly, and the breach leads to an accident causing injuries, then you may be entitled to compensation, and they may be found liable.
Furthermore, Fort Myers’s legal system operates using Florida’s comparative negligence laws. This means that multiple parties can be found liable for your Fort Myers car accident. Comparative negligence allows you to still be able to access a reasonable settlement even if you exhibited an element of fault towards the accident, as long as this fault was below 50%. For example, if you demonstrated 40% of fault because you were distracted by your phone, then your final settlement will be reduced by this percentage to illustrate your own negligence. If you believe you demonstrated some fault is important you have an experienced personal injury lawyer on your side who will be able to assess what degree you were negligent and be able to find evidence to prove this, so you don’t lose out on any compensation.
If you are found liable for your Fort Myers car accident, then you or your insurance company will be expected to pay for any damages, including medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and any property damage, etc. If your collision sadly led to a fatality, you will also be expected to pay for any funeral costs and loss of consortium expenses.
The Clock Is Ticking on Your Accident Case
It is important to realize that if you or a loved one have been involved in a collision in Fort Myers, FL, then you have to act as quickly as possible and definitely consider hiring an experienced personal injury lawyer. The state of Florida enforces a strict statute of limitations on all civil cases, as described in Florida Statute 95.11. This Florida statute states that the claimant will only have four years to put forward a personal injury claim from the exact date of their accident. If the four years elapse, then your claim will forever be barred from the courts, and you will be unable to access any possible compensation or justice you would otherwise deserve. Additionally, if you have unfortunately lost a loved one because of a head-on accident and wish to file a wrongful death lawsuit, you will only have two years from the date of your accident to do so.
Furthermore, if you have been involved in a collision, then, as per Florida Statute 627.736, you are required to seek medical care within two weeks of your collision. This is for your own safety as you may have an injury you cannot physically see, such as a concussion. But it also affects your insurance claim. If two weeks elapse, then an insurance company can use this against you as a reason not to provide you with a payout.
Contact The Law Place today to speak to an accident lawyer at our law firm. We will be able to get your legal journey started, so you can confidently meet all of these necessary deadlines.
Contact The Law Place Today!
If you’ve been involved in a Fort Myers head-on car crash that was not your fault and you have consequently sustained injuries, then contact The Law Place today. Our law firm recognizes how damaging these kinds of collisions can be, and we can offer a supportive and dedicated attorney-client relationship to help you receive the justice you deserve.
Contact The Law Place today to organize a no-obligation free consultation with a personal injury lawyer on our team so that we can help you better understand the legalities of your case and what we as a team can do for you. Call us today using our toll-free number, (941) 444-4444; phone lines are open 24/7 for your convenience.