Why A Baltimore Injury Lawyer Believes a Head-on Collision is the Most Serious Car Accident?
Baltimore car accidents can vary widely in terms of severity and impact the same as they do in any other jurisdiction. Some of the injurious and damaging types of car accidents are those that often result in lifelong severe injuries, fatalities, and extensive monetary loss. Baltimore car accident and injury lawyers know the presence of one or more contributing factors, can magnify the severity, impact, and consequences of any car accident. Accidents that occur at high speeds generally result in more severe injuries due to the increased force of impact. High-speed crashes can lead to extensive vehicle damage and an increased risk of fatalities. Perhaps the most devastating combination is that of high speed coupled with a head-on Collision. Generally a head-on collision occurs when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide front-end to front-end. This is a type of car accident that occurs when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions collide with their front ends (the fronts of the vehicles) directly impacting each other. In other words, the front of one vehicle collides with the front of another vehicle, unfortunately often at high speeds. They are often extremely dangerous due to the combined speed of the vehicles and the force of impact. This type of collision is also sometimes referred to as a frontal collision or a head-on crash. Head-on collisions are particularly dangerous and can result in severe injuries or even fatalities due to the combined force of the vehicles’ impact. The force generated by the collision depends on the speeds of the vehicles involved and their masses. There are physics involved here that are beyond the scope of this article. When two vehicles are traveling toward each other, their speeds essentially add up upon impact, leading to a substantial force that can cause significant damage to the vehicles and harm to the occupants.
Some factors logically increase the risk of a Baltimore City head-on collision involving personal injury:
Passing on Two-Lane Roads: Attempting to overtake another vehicle on a two-lane road, particularly when visibility is limited, can result in a head-on collision
Incorrect Lane Changes: Drivers who make improper or abrupt lane changes may inadvertently move into oncoming traffic.
Case Study: If there is one accident that strikes more fear into the heart of the average Baltimore motorist than the rollover, it no doubt must be the “head-on” collision. The common experience with Baltimore head-on collisions is that they occur at speed, frequently resulting in massive and disabling injuries to both vehicles and people. In our hypothetical case study, John has the misfortune of being involved in a head-on collision. Oddly, John’s accident does not occur on a highway, or at significant speed, but as with any personal injury-causing event, it is quite significant. John’s accident occurred in a type of intersection, known as a diverging diamond. Studies have shown the diverging diamond intersections reduce the number of points at which vehicles moving in opposite directions need to come into contact with each other, thereby improving flow and reducing accidents. Unfortunately, the defendant in John’s case did not fully understand the operation of the diverging traffic pattern in the diverging diamond. The idea is a motorist crosses over into oncoming traffic, and then at the opposite end of the intersection crosses back into his or her original lane. The premise works great so long as motorists are crossing back into their original lane John’s accident happens later in the evening with an elderly motorist, who had not been through the intersection before, and was not familiar with how to navigate it did not cross back over into his original lane, ther by placing his vehicle directly in front of John’s. Both motorists were moving about 25 miles an hour. The result was as anticipated, a crushing direct head-on blow between two vehicles. Luckily for both, each man drove a late-model car with state-of-the-art safety equipment features. The presence of these cutting edge, safety devices, and John’s quick actions in slowing perceptibly once he perceived the other driver was in his lane, eliminated the risk of fatal injury to either of the drivers. Nevertheless, John suffered abrasions and lacerations to his face and arms from airbag deployment, and soon after the accident began to develop pain in his lower back that he never had before. He initially saw his family doctor, who thought that potentially chiropractic care could aid in John’s recovery. When it did not John ultimately saw an orthopedic surgeon, who felt that John suffered injuries to the soft tissues to the muscles, ligaments and tendons in his back, as well as a specific injury to a disc in John’s spine. The surgeon did not feel that there was a reliably predictable surgical repair that could eliminate John’s problems. Instead, the orthopedic surgeon referred John to a pain management specialist who administered a series of epidural steroid injections. Over time, John recuperated to the extent that he was able to resume most of his normal activities, albeit with some significant limitations. At the conclusion of his medical care, John filed the claim with the defendant’s insurance company, who quickly admitted fault based on the circumstances, but nevertheless refused to offer a fair settlement for John’s case. John hired an experienced Baltimore personal injury trial lawyer who had taken hundreds of personal injury cases to trial. Although no offer represented fair value for his injuries, ultimately the parties agreed to submit to binding arbitration with a retired Baltimore city judge who heard all of the evidence, and issued an award to John that fully compensated him for his prolonged medical care, lost wages, and his non-economic damages as well.
Perhaps the biggest single factor in gauging the violence of a Baltimore head-on motor vehicle accident is speed. Common statutes that may be implicated in Baltimore accidents involving allegations that “speed was a factor” include:
§ 21-801.1. Maximum limits.
§ 21-802. Establishment of State speed zones.
§ 21-802.1. Highway work zones.
§ 21-803.1. School zones.
§ 21-804. Minimum speed regulation.
Because of the severity of head-on collisions, they often lead to serious injuries or fatalities. Safety measures such as wearing seat belts, using proper child restraints, and obeying traffic laws can help reduce the risk of head-on collisions. It’s also important for drivers to stay attentive, avoid distractions, and drive at safe speeds for the given road and weather conditions.
