Standing Up for Victims of Traumatic Head-On Collisions in Gwinnett County
Georgia’s roadways are dangerous, no matter how you look at it. Even though the vast majority of trips go off without a hitch, serious accidents happen every day in Gwinnett County and the surrounding areas. In fact, according to the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, there were an astounding 41,527 reported crashes in 2016, leaving 9,436 people injured in Gwinnett County alone!
While all car accidents are serious, head-on collisions are one of the most dangerous types of accidents in which a person can be involved. The forces at work in head-on accidents are tremendous and often leave victims with extremely severe injuries, including spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, severe lacerations, burns, and facial fractures. In fact, in the most serious of these cases, victims may be left with long-term cognitive or physical disabilities that profoundly affect the rest of their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
Victims of head-on collisions are often entitled to compensation for their accident-related losses. This is because there are very few scenarios in which two motor vehicles should be headed directly at each other in the absence of negligence on the part of one of the drivers. Whether a person crossed a double yellow, thought an off-ramp was an on-ramp, or was just driving on the wrong side of the road, most conceivable scenarios in which two cars collide head-on place fault squarely on the shoulders of one of the drivers involved.
If you were in a head-on collision, it’s critical that you retain a Gwinnett County auto accident attorney as soon as you can. At Brauns Law Accident Injury Lawyers, PC, we dedicate ourselves to holding careless drivers accountable for their actions and helping victims obtain as much compensation as they can under Georgia law. To discuss your head-on collision in detail with a Gwinnett personal injury attorney, contact us for a free case evaluation today.
Common Injuries and Losses From Head-On Collisions
When two cars crash head-on while they are moving, the cars immediately stop while the occupants inside don’t automatically lose momentum. While a seat belt can keep you from flying through the windshield, it can also cause severe injuries to the person wearing it. As airbags deploy, they can hit a person with force, especially as the person is being thrown forward into the airbag. Glass can often shatter in a head-on collision, causing shards to fly into the cabin of the car, hitting occupants. Finally, the force of two moving vehicles colliding can cause a jolt to the body that can cause many traumatic injuries even without a person hitting anything.
The mechanics of a head-on crash often mean victims suffer serious and possibly long-lasting injuries, which can include:
- Back and neck injuries, including torn muscles, ligaments, or tendons
- Herniated discs
- Spinal cord trauma, which can lead to temporary or permanent paralysis
- Soft tissue damage at the shoulder, knee, or hip
- Joint dislocations
- Fractures to the pelvis or ribs
- Broken arms or legs
- Skull fracture
- Facial injuries, including fractures and lacerations
- Eye injuries
- Burns on the arms and face from the airbag
- Concussion or moderate to severe traumatic brain injury
- Damage to vital organs
- Internal bleeding
Vehicle damage may trap some victims in their cars, and first responders may have to use the jaws of life. Many victims need an ambulance or even a medical helicopter to get them to the hospital for emergency trauma care as soon as possible after this type of crash. Once at the hospital, they may need emergency surgery or may be admitted, sometimes even to the ICU for severe brain injuries or spinal cord injuries. This is only the beginning of the long road ahead dealing with their injuries, and some injuries may be life-altering and have permanent effects.
Even if an injury, such as a broken leg, does not cause permanent impairments and heals with time, a victim can still incur astronomical losses. Common losses include:
- Medical expenses for past and future treatment
- Lost income from missed work and future lost earning ability
- Physical and mental pain and suffering
- Permanent disfigurement, disabilities, and impairments
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Wrongful death
Because the losses can be so extensive, it is critical for victims to know when they have the right to hold someone else accountable.
Who Caused Your Accident?
Head-on collisions can happen on any road and for many different reasons. In many situations, one of the drivers is to blame due to negligent or reckless driving behaviors. Some of those behaviors may include:
- Texting or other distracting activities
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Excessive speeding, especially on turns or in poor weather conditions
- Dangerous passing on two-lane roads, especially rural highways
While our law firm will always examine whether the other driver was at fault, some head-on collisions are beyond either driver’s control, and another party should be liable. This can occur when an outside factor causes a driver to lose control, sending them into oncoming traffic. Some factors that can cause such loss of control include:
- Malfunctioning brakes, tires, steering, or airbags
- Encountering a dangerous road condition, such as hitting a pothole
- A third driver runs the driver out of their lane
We work to identify all possibly liable parties to ensure you receive full compensation for your losses through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
