Paramus Auto Accident Lawyers Help Victims of Head-On Collisions
Skilled NJ trial attorneys pursue compensation for the deadliest type of car crash
It’s the nightmare scenario every driver fears. You round a bend or climb over the crown of a hill to see headlights coming straight at you. With no time to maneuver, all you can do is slam on the brakes and hope the airbag does its job. But even the best safety features of the most recent makes and models cannot counteract the effects of what is the deadliest type of car crash: the head-on collision. At Razi & Giampa Law, LLC, our auto accident attorneys have witnessed the devastation caused by head-on collisions. We aggressively pursue damages for our clients in personal injury and wrongful death claims arising from these severe crashes. We have the courtroom skills and determination necessary to recover the full compensation your case deserves.
Why are head-on collisions the deadliest type of crash?
You don’t have to be a physicist to understand that the force between two objects speeding directly toward each other is going to be greater than the force produced in other types of impacts. But many people misunderstand why this is the case.
A common misconception is that speed and force are cumulative. Thus, the reasoning goes, two vehicles traveling at 55 mph meeting head on is equivalent to one car traveling at 110 mph hitting a stationary object. Untrue. The force is the same as if a car going 55 hit an immovable brick wall. The reason the head-on crash is more deadly is that it creates a totally inelastic collision, so virtually all the force from each vehicle goes back into that car. In other types of crashes, the force of one car goes into the other car and is dissipated to some extent.
Plus, cars are equipped with crumple zones, which are designed to absorb force as they collapse. With a head-on collision, the vehicles are going at each other engine block to engine block, so whatever force the front bumpers cannot absorb is going back into the vehicle.
Finally, head on collisions cause an inordinate amount of debris, such as broken windshield glass, that can rain down upon drivers and passengers. The force of the crash causes blunt force trauma and whiplash, while the debris can cause severe lacerations, leading to blood loss and disfiguring scars.
Common causes of head-on collisions
Head-on crashes occur for two main reasons:
- Wrong-way driving — A motorist might not notice a One-Way or Do Not Enter sign and turn the wrong way up a street. The deadliest wrong-way crashes occur on freeways, where drivers enter via exit ramps and travel the wrong way at highway speed.
- Drift — A motorist might cross an undivided roadway into oncoming traffic.
The reasons for these two crash scenarios include:
- Driving while impaired by substances or fatigue
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive, inattentive driving
- Poor signage where drivers should not enter
- Poor design of freeway off-ramps
- Roadways undivided by medians or barriers
Depending on the circumstances, the wrong way or drifting driver might not be the only party at fault. When poor signage or roadway design is a factor, the government entity that has jurisdiction might also be liable for creating an inherently unsafe roadway. Our auto accident attorneys thoroughly investigate your crash to determine who is at fault, then we fight aggressively to hold all responsible parties fully accountable.
Contact Razi & Giampa Law in Paramus for a free head-on collision consultation
Razi & Giampa Law in Paramus provides highly professional and personalized legal services for victims of head-on car crashes in Bergen County and throughout New Jersey. To schedule a free consultation at our office, in your home, or at the hospital, call us today at 201-534-5011 or contact our firm online.
