What Are the Most Common Types of Injuries in Head-On Collisions?

 Posted on March 23, 2021 in Car Accidents

In central Illinois, car accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, and the most dangerous types of collisions often involve a frontal impact between vehicles that are traveling in opposite directions. Head-on collisions can be devastating, especially when cars are traveling at high speeds, and the impact can cause serious harm to a vehicle’s occupants. Victims of these types of crashes will want to work with an attorney who can help them pursue a personal injury claim and recover compensation for their injuries and damages.

Head-On Collision Injuries

A front-impact crash will cause a vehicle to come to a sudden stop, subjecting the bodies of the driver and any passengers to strong forces that can cause a great deal of bodily harm. A collision can be even more serious if a vehicle rolls over or if the crash results in a multi-vehicle pileup. Some injuries that commonly occur in head-on crashes include:

• Traumatic brain injuries - While a vehicle may have airbags that deploy in a collision to provide a cushion and prevent head injuries, drivers or passengers may still suffer brain injuries after striking their head on a steering wheel, dashboard, windows, headrests, or other objects in the vehicle. 

• Spinal cord injuries - The sudden jolt of a collision can cause a person’s head to snap forward and backward, leading to whiplash that can damage the vertebrae in the neck. A person may also suffer damage to the vertebrae in the back, including compressed, slipped, or herniated discs. If the spinal cord is damaged or severed, a person may suffer partial or complete paralysis in different parts of their body, resulting in permanent disabilities.

• Broken bones - A driver’s arms may be broken if they were holding the steering wheel during a head-on collision, or a driver’s or passengers’ legs may be broken due to the crumpling of the front end of their vehicle. In serious cases, these injuries may result in amputation. Victims may also suffer broken ribs or other types of bone fractures. 

• Internal injuries - The stress placed on a person’s body during a collision may damage their internal organs or cause internal bleeding. If vital systems such as the heart or lungs are damaged, or if a person loses significant amounts of blood, these injuries can be life-threatening.

• Burn injuries - Occupants may be trapped inside a vehicle due to the severe damage that can occur in a head-on collision. If a crash causes a vehicle to catch fire, a driver or passengers may be unable to escape in time to avoid serious or fatal burns or injuries due to smoke inhalation.

• Emotional trauma - A serious collision can be incredibly frightening, and victims may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that can affect their ability to work, return to driving or riding in vehicles, or participate in daily activities.

Contact Our Bloomington Head-On Collision Attorneys

If you or a member of your family have been involved in a head-on car crash, the attorneys of Kanoski Bresney can assist you, and we will work to ensure that you are fully compensated for all of the ways your injuries have affected you. We will make sure a negligent driver who caused a head-on collision is held responsible, and we will negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf or pursue a personal injury lawsuit to help you recover the compensation you deserve. Call our Decatur car accident lawyers today at 888-826-8682 to arrange a free consultation today.

Sources:

https://www.iihs.org/topics/fatality-statistics/detail/passenger-vehicle-occupants#crash-types

https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-highway-safety

https://www.ontoorthopedics.com/our-services/automobile-injury-care/236-five-common-car-collision-injuries