Injuries from a Head-On Collision

A head-on collision is a type of car accident that occurs when two motor vehicles impact one another with the front ends of each vehicle pointing towards each other, and these types of collisions are considered to be one the deadliest types of roadway accidents.

Head-on collisions will often leave victims severely injured or even dead, and this is typically because these accidents frequently occur when both vehicles are driving at high speeds. It’s said that a head-on collision is similar to driving into a wall with little to no impact absorption.

There’s no denying the severity of pain, both physically and emotionally, that’s involved with head-on collisions; and medical bills will undoubtedly build up as a result of these types of injuries.

In this article we are going to discuss some of the most common injuries that head-on collision accident victims suffer from, and if you or a loved one has been involved in a head-on collision of any magnitude you should contact us immediately so we can help you put the right steps forward towards receiving your rightful compensation.

Some of the most common injuries involved with head-on collisions include the following:

1. Whiplash

A victim’s head and neck tend to continue to move in the moments of a head-on collision while the person’s body stays predominately in place due to seatbelt usage. This type of sudden jerking of the head and neck can cause the muscles and ligaments in the back and neck to unnaturally stretch, and this can also lead to severe twisting that creates tears and stretches within a person’s muscles, ligaments and tendons.

Whiplash injuries can last anywhere from a month or so to several years, and many whiplash victims develop the following symptoms:

• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Pain in neck, shoulders and back
• Weakness
• Blurred vision
• Numbness

Any type of serious whiplash-related injury requires professional rehabilitation treatment, which is why many whiplash victims go to a local chiropractor for regular realignments and checkups until the pain is fully alleviated.

2. Spinal Cord Injuries

The discs in a person’s spinal cord can be harshly compressed when the impact of a head-on collision is severe, and this can lead to ruptured or herniated discs and even a permanently damaged vertebra.

There are some instances in which paralysis occurs from this kind of intense spinal cord damage, and the paralysis in general will vary from complete to partial loss of sensation in the legs, torso and all four limbs. The extent of paralysis is a very serious issue with spinal cord injuries like those experienced in head-on collisions, and it primarily depends on the exact location of the spinal cord damage.

There’s no doubt about it that spinal cord injuries are extremely dangerous and require immediate medical assistance, and many times spinal cord injury patients may require full-time treatment for extended periods of time.

There are situations in which a spinal cord injury victim doesn’t ever fully recover, which is why it’s one of the most severe types of head-on collision injuries.

3. Traumatic Brain Injury

There are situations in which a driver’s head can be swiftly thrown into the steering wheel during head-on collisions, and traumatic brain injuries often result if the impact is intense enough to fracture the victim’s skull.

Skull fractures of any kind can create serious brain damage, and these types of brain injuries can often result in repeated concussions and other serious brain injuries. There are situations in which a head-on collision victim will not fully recover from the brain trauma that was caused by the accident, which is why this type of injury often results in vast settlements and life-long medical treatments.

4. Direct Force Trauma

There are countless situations in which a head-on collision victim suffers bodily injuries from the sheer force involved with the accident, even when the airbags properly deploy and the victim was wearing their seatbelt. One of the most common types of direct trauma injuries involves the chest and upper torso area, and these injuries typically are internal and caused by the airbag deployment or severe restraint from the seatbelt.

These types of chest and upper torso injuries can include damaged lungs, shoulder joint damage and broken ribs. This type of direct trauma also often affects the abdominal area where your kidneys, liver, spleen, diaphragm and much more can be susceptible to serious injuries.

There are some situations in which a head-on collision victim may not fully understand that they’ve suffered an internal injury, which then leads them to put off the necessary doctor visits because they think their pain will simply go away in due time. Putting off a doctor visit while experiencing internal pain can end up being a life-threatening mistake, so we always advise that you seek out immediate medical attention following a head-on collision even if you think your pain is somewhat minor.

5. Broken Facial Bones

The severity of head-on collisions can be enough to crush a driver or passenger’s facial and inner bone structure, even when airbags properly deploy. These types of facial wounds are very common and tend to lead to chin, eye socket, cheek and jawbone irregularities.

Many times plastic surgery is necessary for these types of facial bone injuries, and there are rare instances in which victims will be left with some kind of scarring that requires more cosmetic treatments to eventually mask.

6. Foot and Leg Injuries

Lower extremity injuries are also very common with head-on collisions, and this is because the feet and legs are often the parts of the body that absorb a lot of the initial impact.

Some of the common lower extremity injuries involved with head-on collisions include a torn ACL, crushed legs, ankle and foot injuries, broken bones and much more.

Contact a Personal Injury Attorney ASAP if You or a Loved One was Involved in a Head-On Collision

Immediate medical attention always comes first in these types of drastic situations, but reaching out to one of our Silver Spring, Bowie, College Park, Landover and Upper Marlboro Injury & Accident Attorneys is also one of the first checks to take off your list of post-accident necessities.

We’ve helped our past clients receive their rightful compensation after suffering physical, mental and emotional injuries due to a negligent driver causing an accident, and we’re more than confident we can support you and your case by ensuring that you don’t need to worry about how your medical bills are paid and simultaneously devising our plans for legal action.

No matter how serious you or your loved one’s head-on collision ended up being, always feel free to contact us for a free consultation so we can begin taking the necessary steps towards obtaining your rightful compensation.