Orange County Head-On Collision Attorney

The speed limit on California multilane freeways is 65 mph, and up to 70 mph in some areas. The speed limit on two-lane highways is generally 55 mph, and the speed limit on city streets is generally 35 mph. We also know that 89 percent of drivers admit to driving faster than the posted speed limit according to a study conducted by Allstate. This means that on any given road in Orange County, California, drivers are probably going faster than the 43 mph limit for survivability recommended by Monash University.

Assuming that you are able to survive a head-on collision, chances are that you will sustain serious injuries. Some of the most severe and catastrophic injuries that I come across involve head-on collisions accidents.

These are some of the most common injuries our firm sees from victims of head-on car accidents in Orange County:

Spinal Cord Injuries

Victims of head-on accidents often sustain fractured vertebrae in their spine. An injury to the C1 or C2 level cervical vertebrae can result in complete paralysis of arms and legs.

Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

Many victims of head-on collisions sustain some type of head injury, whether it be in the form of a mild concussion or something much more serious like bleeding in their brain.

Multiple Broken Bones

It’s rare that I come across a head-on accident victim that didn’t sustain at least one broken bone, but oftentimes it’s multiple broken bones like 6 or 7. The most common fractures that I see are fractured sternums, fractured ribs, fractured ulna (arm), and fractured tibia/fibula (leg). These injuries are usually caused by the front-end of the car crumpling and the engine compartment being pushed into the passenger area of the car.

Lacerations and Permanent Scarring

Victims typically sustain lacerations from the car crumpling in on them (like the steering column and dash being pushed into their legs), or from glass shattering all over the place. Some of the worst scarring I’ve seen, though, has actually been from the surgeries that are commonly required after this type of accident.

Many of these head-on accident victims necessitate emergency medical services, multiple surgeries, long-term stay at a skilled nursing facility, and in-home care. It’s not uncommon to see medical bills totaling half a million or well over a million dollars. It’s important to hire experienced Orange County,CA, legal representation to ensure you’re being properly compensated for all these medical expenses and the pain and suffering you’ve been enduring.

Who’s At Fault for a Head-On Collision Accident?

The most common way a head-on collision happens is when a driver goes down the wrong side of the road. We have laws prohibiting this movement. For example, California Vehicle Code Section 21460 prohibits driving across double yellow lines, but it still happens from time to time.

Unlike sideswipe accidents where it can be hard to prove who went into whose lane, head-on collisions are generally more straightforward. Not always, but usually. Most of the time it’s as clear-cut as someone driving down the wrong side of the road and that’s hard to dispute. However, sometimes liability can be more complicated when someone makes a left turn or a U-turn, and the cars collide head-on.

The two most common causes of head-on collisions we see in Orange County are:

• Drunk drivers: Let’s face it, most sober drivers aren’t going to be reckless enough to drive head-on into opposing traffic… unless they’re distracted of course.
• Distracted drivers: You can imagine all kinds of distractions that might cause someone to drive into oncoming traffic. For example, someone might reach to grab their cell phone that fell to the floor and accidentally drive into oncoming traffic. Or someone who is texting might not realize the road has curved and now they’re driving into traffic head-on.

If a driver isn’t under the influence or distracted, then chances are they’re either trying to pass traffic or accidentally moved over the yellow line during a curve in the road.