A head-on collision can be one of the most dangerous types of car accidents in Florida and are often fatal. This is because of the simple fact that two vehicles heading in opposite directions and colliding will invariably strike with much more force than if they were traveling in the same direction, or even if one strikes the other from the side.
One simple way to think about why head-on collisions are so much more harmful than other types is to think about driving into a wall. If you were to hit a wall at 30 miles per hour, you will certainly set off the airbags and can expect to have some relatively significant injuries — possibly a concussion, bruising, lacerations, broken bones, internal bleeding, or other types of injuries. However, now imagine that you hit the wall at 60 miles per hour. When two cars are moving in opposite directions at 30 miles per hour and hit each other head-on, this is (a very simplified) explanation of why the injuries and damages are so much more serious than other situations.
If you have been involved in a head-on collision that someone else caused, contact us as soon as possible to get connected with an experienced personal injury attorney in Florida who is ready and willing to take your case. Our referral network will connect you with an experienced lawyer who focuses on car accident injury cases and who will represent you in your pursuit of damages for your injuries and suffering. Read more below about head-on collisions and the damages and injuries they may cause, as well as how an experienced attorney will handle these car accidents in the Florida courts.
What Is a Head-On Collision?
A head-on collision between passenger vehicles is when two vehicles are traveling towards each other and hit head-on. The impact of this type of accident can cause serious trauma and extensive injuries and are commonly fatal at higher speeds. Some of the most common causes of these types of accidents are drunk driving, distracted driving, fatigued driving, or other situations that would cause one driver to leave their lane and drift into oncoming traffic. In other situations, these accidents are caused by someone getting onto the wrong side of a highway, or going the wrong way down a one-way street.
In a head-on collision, some of the more common injuries are traumatic brain injuries and concussions, broken bones and fractures, lacerations, internal bleeding, seatbelt or airbag injuries, and other impact-related injuries. As mentioned earlier, these types of accidents have a high likelihood of a fatality at higher speeds, because of the multiplier effect of the impact.
Filing a Lawsuit For a Head-On Collision
If you have been in a head-on collision, there are a lot of different factors and variables that your attorney will consider when determining the amount that you are rightfully owed. When you deal directly with an insurance company, they will come to their own determination as well. However, the amount that the insurance company offers you will be the absolute minimum they believe that they can pay and still avoid future legal issues. Once they submit their initial offer, it is time for your attorney to begin negotiating a fair amount.
If you and your attorney are unable to come to an agreement with the insurance company about a fair settlement amount, then your next option will be to pursue the full amount in a personal injury lawsuit. While a lawsuit is much more time consuming than a settlement process, your attorney and you will have to decide if it is worth this effort to get you what you deserve.
In many head-on collisions, it will be simple to find fault by determining which side of the road the accident took place on. The vehicle that was struck while driving in their own lane is likely to be cleared of any possible fault unless there are other circumstances that complicate the issue. Other situations might include times where someone is making a left-handed turn where they should have had the right-of-way. Regardless, the first step you will need to take is to determine fault. From there, your attorney will begin making the arguments for the specific amount of money you are owed.
Determining Damage Amounts in Head-On Collision Lawsuits
Determining the amount of damages owed to a victim can be a very complicated process and one that is very important to determine. If a victim comes into a lawsuit seeking an egregious amount of money, then the judge and jury may see that they are only trying to make money off of the situation, but if they do not seek enough, the insurance company will simply make the payment and force the victim to waive any future legal options.
There are two different sub-categories of damages that are considered in a personal injury lawsuit, which each correspond to the specific type of compensation it is seeking.
Economic Damages
Economic damages are intended to repay the victim and their insurance company for the measurable financial losses or expenses that have been incurred as a result of the accident and resulting injuries. This includes things like medical bills, treatment and surgical costs, recovery expenses, and other things directly related to the injuries. In addition, it addresses things like lost wages, paid time off or sick leave that the victim had to cash in, and short- or long-term disability as a result of the injuries. These damages are simple to calculate since each has a set value attached to it.
Non-Economic Damages
Non-economic damages are more complicated to determine than economic damages, for reasons that will be clear in a moment. After an accident, a person is left to suffer the physical and emotional pain from their injuries, and non-economic damages seek compensation for these aspects of the accident even though they do not have an accepted dollar value. Usually, an attorney will determine a “multiplier” in order to create a formula to determine the amount of non-economic damages that their client is owed.
If a victim is seeking a 5x multiplier, the actual dollar amount is determined by applying the multiplier to the economic damages. For instance, if they suffered from $250,000 of economic damages and are seeking 5x non-economic damages, then the dollar amount of the non-economic damages will be $250,000 * 5 = $1.25 million, plus the $250,000 of economic damages for a total of $1.5 million. The damages that you seek will be extremely specific to your case.
Contact Us Now
1800-Injured is an attorney and medical provider referral service. If you are ready to take the next step and begin to fight for the money that you deserve after your injuries, contact us now to get access to our robust referral network of car accident attorneys in Florida. Our trusted network means that you can save yourself the time and stress of vetting attorneys, and instead rely on 1800-Injured to connect you with the right professional for your case.