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Head On Collisions

Michael Agruss

Written and Reviewed by Michael Agruss

  • Managing Partner and Personal Injury Lawyer at Mike Agruss Law.
  • Over 20 years of experience in Personal Injury.
  • Over 8000+ consumer rights cases settled.
  • Graduated from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law: Juris Doctor, 2004.


There is nothing quite as shocking or emotionally traumatizing as having a head-on collision. It is a rare type of crash, but it can result in serious injury. If you have been injured in a head-on collision, you may be seriously injured and have intense pain. In addition, medical bills can be very costly after such an accident, and you are likely to miss many hours from work. 

Head-On Collisions Facts

  • There were 2,589 head-on collisions in Illinois in the year 2017, and 112 of those collisions resulted in a fatality. Although it is one of the minor common types of accidents, it is one of the most deadly.
  • According to a study by the IIHS and the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, a head-on crash between two vehicles of the approximate sizes, driving at the same speed, is likely to result in brain and neck injury. It may also cause injury to the legs.
  • Most head-on collisions happen in rural areas.

What Causes Head-On Collisions

As with most car crashes, negligence on the part of one of the drivers causes the majority of head-on collisions. In some cases, a head-on collision may be caused by brake failure. In addition, if the car’s power steering goes out at an inopportune moment, it may also cause a crash. 

The majority of head-on collisions take place in rural areas that have winding roads. Although passing another car when you are on such a road is always a bad idea, passing does not cause head-on collisions as often as one may think.

Distracted driving is a significant cause of head-on collisions. Two-lane rural highways are narrow and allow little room for mistakes. A narrow winding road would allow a little time to recover if a driver took their eyes off the road for even a minute.

Drunk driving also is the cause of many head-on collisions. Distorted vision may cause a driver to veer into the other lane. The slow reaction time that alcohol causes may make it impossible for drivers to stop their vehicles in time.

Drowsy driving is another major cause of head-on collisions. It is not uncommon for people traveling across the country to find themselves driving on a lonely two-lane highway in the middle of the night. A person may think they can make it to their destination quickly and for less money if they drive through the night instead of getting a room. 

Unfortunately, a person’s reaction time can be just as impaired by exhaustion as it can be by alcohol. Drivers have been known to weave back and forth between lanes when they are sleepy. Your ability to make decisions is also severely limited when you are exhausted. It is not uncommon for a person to miss exits and signs when they are tired.

If a driver is on an unfamiliar road, they may miss certain signs. There are also some signs a person may see on a country road that they would not be accustom to seeing on the expressway. For example, you may see tractor crossing signs or a sign warning of a high risk of rollover area for trucks. 

Injuries from Head-On Collisions

Newton’s Third Law of Motion states, “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” If two vehicles crash into each other head-on and are precisely the same mass, they will have an equal impact on one another. It is very rare for two cars of precisely the same size to hit one another. 

The Second Law of Motion states that the rate at which an object will accelerate is dependent on mass and force. Therefore, if the colliding objects are unequal in mass, they will not accelerate at an equal rate.

Although two objects may have an equal impact on one another, the smaller object will experience more acceleration. When they hit each other head-on, the smaller car will accelerate faster; automobile and driver will experience a more significant impact. 

Typical Injuries From Head-on Collisions

Head injuries and back injuries are prevalent when it comes to head-on collisions. In addition, broken bones, organ damage, and contusions are typical after such an accident. 

If you have been injured in a head-on collision, remember to save a copy of every medical bill you have as well as receipts for prescription and non-prescription medication. Also, be sure to document wages you’ve lost from work.

How We Can Help

Illinois is a fault state when it comes to auto insurance. This means that the person who is responsible for an accident is responsible for paying its associated bills. 

As you can imagine, an insurance company will want to keep as much of its money in-house as possible. Hence, they may try to prove that you were responsible for the accident instead of their client.

Illinois is a comparative fault state which means that you can still recover damages as long as you are not more than 49% responsible for the accident. Our team of legal professionals will work hard to prove your case, and our attorneys have years of experience negotiating with insurance companies.

A head-on collision can be devastating. However, the proper compensation can help you to heal and get back on the road with confidence.

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