A head-on collision occurs when the front end of one car hits the front end of another car or other vehicle. You don't need to be traveling at high speeds for substantial injuries to occur in a car accident, and the Los Angeles car accident lawyers at Sharifi Firm, APC can help you prove the damages you have suffered. Head-on collisions have the greatest potential for catastrophic injuries both to the driver and his or her passengers. These injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, partial or full paralysis, herniated discs, disfigurement and fractured bones. In some cases, a head-on collision is fatal. Drivers should look for any way to avoid a head-on collision if possible.
Liability for Head-on CollisionsMost head-on crashes are the result of negligence by at least one driver. The most common of these occur because a driver fails to stay in his or her lane and moves into oncoming traffic, or where a driver turns onto a one-way street going the wrong direction. Often the at-fault driver is distracted, fell asleep at the wheel or swerved to avoid an object in the road. In some cases, drunk driving can contribute to a driver traveling in the wrong direction. Those that drive long hours for work may become fatigued and fall asleep at the wheel, veering into oncoming traffic.
If you are injured in a head-on collision due to another driver's negligence, you may need to sue the other driver to recover compensation for any serious injuries you've sustained. Your lawyer will have to establish by a preponderance of the evidence: (1) the other driver's duty to you, (2) breach of duty, (3) causation and (4) actual damages.
There are two types of compensatory damages you can recover: special damages and general damages. Special damages are tangible, out-of-pocket expenses that can be documented, such as lost wages, medical bills, and the cost of vocational rehabilitation or physical therapy. Unlike general damages, special damages must be proven with great specificity, by putting forth documentation on how much it cost to fix the vehicle or how much a surgery cost. General damages are also known as noneconomic damages, and they are intangible damages that naturally flow from an accident, such as mental anguish, loss of consortium, disfigurement, loss of enjoyment in activities, and pain and suffering may vary depending on the jury that is evaluating them. Some of the factors that go into a general damages award include the seriousness of the physical injuries, the skill of the attorneys in presenting your case, and the particular jury's ability to feel sympathy for the plaintiff.
It can be difficult to predict what the general damages in a case will be, but usually the other party's insurer will present a figure on the low side, including just a little bit more than special damages, when first offering a settlement.
Attorneys Fighting for Injured Motorists in Los AngelesHead-on collisions can be terrifying, and their aftermath may be very difficult for an accident victim. If you are injured in a motor vehicle collision in or near Los Angeles, let our attorneys sue the negligent or wrongdoing party on your behalf. We also represent clients in San Bernardino, Rancho Cucamonga, and Temecula. Contact us at (866) 422-7222 or via our online form for a free, no-obligation consultation.