Connecticut Head-On Collisions: Causes and Injuries

The driver of a Toyota Prius recently crossed the center line on Route 117 in Ledyard, causing a head-on collision and sending four people to the hospital with injuries. Another midday head-on crash in Burlington sent two men to the hospital, one with serious injuries. Yet a third individual was fatally injured when he swerved into oncoming traffic on Route 7 and collided, head-on, with a dump truck.

All three accidents are still under investigation, but two things are clear: head-on collisions occur frequently and injuries caused in head-on collisions can range from minor to fatal.

Causes of Connecticut Head-On Collisions

Most head-on collisions that do not occur at intersections are the result of one driver crossing the center line or median and hitting an oncoming car, truck, motorcycle or other motor vehicle. Head-on collisions may be due to unintentional acts by the driver crossing the center line, such as falling asleep at the wheel, or due to intentional acts, such as pulling out to pass on a two-lane highway. Some head-on crashes are simply caused by a driver going the wrong way.

Car crashes generally, can occur for many reasons and early investigation is important to fully evaluate the cause of a collision. Connecticut attorneys handling head-on collisions typically see one of four causes of a motor vehicle crash:

• Behavior of the driver, including aggressive or inattentive driving, driving at excessive speeds or driving while impaired or fatigued
• Improper roadway design, including visibility of road signs, traffic lights, intersections and crosswalks
• Failure of the vehicle’s equipment, including brakes, tires and/or the suspension system
• Road maintenance, including debris on the road, potholes and construction zones

This list does not include all causes of Connecticut motor vehicle accidents. If you’ve been involved in a Connecticut car accident because of another reason, a personal injury attorney along with accident reconstructionists and other experts can investigate the details and evidence to determine who or what caused the accident that injured you.

Typical Injuries in a Connecticut Head-On Collision

Head-on collisions can result in any type of injury, from minor injuries like bruises and scrapes, to more serious injuries like head, neck or spinal cord trauma. Head-on collisions can also be fatal and injuries are not limited to drivers; passengers may be hurt just as much, or more, as their drivers.

Injuries in head-on collisions can have lasting consequences, including return trips to the hospital for treatment, rehabilitation or therapy. Expenses for the treatment of your injuries, wages lost if you are unable to work due to injury as well pain and suffering should be the responsibility of the person who injured you. A Connecticut personal injury attorney can help you understand your right to compensation if you’ve been hit by a negligent driver.