Head-on collisions cause some of the worst injuries in auto accidents. Below are some of the common causes of head-on collisions.
Distractions
Distractions cause lots of accidents, and not just head-on collisions. For example, you can easily drift out of your lane and into oncoming traffic if you are using your phone while driving. You can also fail to notice a wrong-way driver in time if you are distracted, say by your child or food.
Wrong-Way Driving
Driving the wrong way, even briefly, can easily cause a head-on collision since it means facing oncoming traffic. The other drivers might not be aware of your wrong-way driving until the last minute. You can also fail to notice that you are driving the wrong-way until it is too late to avoid a collision. Some people drive the wrong-way because if it provides them with a shortcut to a destination or if they miss an exit.
Intoxicated, Fatigued, or Drowsy Driving
Intoxication, fatigue, and drowsiness have roughly the same effects on driving. They all interfere with your sense of distance, judgment, and reaction times, all of which can trigger a head-on collision. For example, if you are intoxicated, you might misjudge the distance between you and an oncoming car. In such a case, you can try to overtake the car in front and cause a head-on collision.
Negligent Overtaking
As you can imagine, poor overtaking techniques are some of the leading causes of head-on collisions. Good drivers need that they need to consider multiple factors such as the road conditions, the speed of the respective cars, the distance between the cars, and even the sizes of the cars on the road at that time. For example, a head-on collision might occur if you try to overtake a semi-trailer without considering its length.
Poor Visibility
Poor visibility, such as what you might experience on a snowy or foggy day, can also cause a head-on collision. You might fail to notice an oncoming car in time or drift out of your lane, especially on roads with poor lane markings. In such a case, the risk of a head-on collision is particularly high if one or both of you are driving at high speed.
Ignoring Traffic Rules and Signs
Altered traffic patterns that interfere with regular driving routes can also trigger head-on collisions. Say a rockfall or fallen tree has blocked a section of the road, and motorists are forced to share the remaining road section. Another example is if ongoing road constructions cause some sections of the road to be closed for the public.
Never admit liability for an auto accident whether you think your actions caused the collision or not. Making a mistake is easy, and it would be difficult to extricate yourself from the mistake. Instead, consult an accident lawyer to ensure the right party is held responsible for the crash.
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