A head-on crash is among the most serious types of car accidents. In head-on collisions, injuries are usually more severe because of the devastating impact created by the combined speed of the colliding vehicles. Head-on collisions are often fatal, and victims who survive may face a lifetime of disabilities and complications from their injuries.
Survivors of head-on collisions often suffer catastrophic injuries with life-changing consequences. While the physical and emotional toll is certainly high, the financial toll can be just as significant. Getting a fair settlement from the insurance company could mean the difference between staying financially afloat or sinking into debt. How can you know that the other driver’s insurance company will give you a fair settlement?
You don’t have to wonder, and you don’t have to fight with insurance adjusters on your own. The car accident attorneys at Tomeny | Best Injury Lawyers can help you navigate the head-on collision claims process and take the burden off your shoulders. We will provide you with personalized attention throughout your case as we fight vigorously for the financial recovery you deserve. Our team’s combined experience has helped us build a strong track record of securing successful results on behalf of our clients.
Find out what your claim is worth and how you can seek the compensation you are owed today. Contact us now for a free consultation with a Baton Rouge head-on collision lawyer.
What to Do After a Head-on Collision
Here’s what you need to do to give yourself the best possible chance possible of obtaining maximum compensation after a head-on collision:
Seek Medical Attention
Getting medical treatment creates a link between the accident and your injuries and puts them on your medical record. These records will be the foundation of your insurance claim. Without solid proof of injury, there’s no case for compensation.
Follow Doctor’s Orders
Failing to follow through with appointments or treatment plans can also result in a claim being undervalued or even dismissed.
Hire a Baton Rouge Head-On Accident Attorney
It’s important to talk to a lawyer as soon as possible. An attorney can help you take immediate steps to protect your rights and begin the process of investigating the cause of the accident and gathering crucial evidence. This includes gathering witness statements, medical documentation, and consulting experts who can testify on your behalf. An attorney can also negotiate with the insurance adjuster and prepare a court case if negotiations stall. All of this work can take a great deal of pressure and weight off your shoulders.
Gather Documentation
In the period following your accident, keep any documentation that may provide valuable evidence in your case. Request a copy of the accident report from law enforcement since these often provide crucial information about the crash. It might also include the investigating officer’s determination. Photos and videos from the accident scene, medical bills, copies of pay stubs, bank records, and vehicle repair estimates can all demonstrate the extent of your losses.
Keep a Pain Journal
Non-economic losses, such as pain, suffering, and mental anguish can be hard to measure. Tracking these losses in a pain journal can help others understand the scope of these injuries. Record your level of physical pain and your emotional struggles daily.
Stay off Social Media
While many of us are used to sharing significant events in our lives with family and friends, avoid posting updates about your case on social media. Insurance companies sometimes review social media updates in hopes that they can find something to use against you.
What Damages Are Possible in a Head-on Accident Claim?
Damages refer to the compensation or money that a victim may be entitled to recover after being involved in a serious head-on collision. This money may come from a settlement from the insurance company of the responsible driver or a lawsuit.
There are typically two types of compensation available for head-on collision victims:
- Economic damages: Measurable losses that have an actual dollar amount
- Non-economic damages: Money for intangible losses, such as pain and suffering
Together, compensation for a head-on collision may cover:
- Past, current, and future medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Disfigurement
- Long-term disability
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
The severity of a victim’s injuries, the nature of the accident, and who bears the bulk of the blame for causing the accident will also impact how much compensation an accident victim mat recover.
Common Causes of Head-On Collisions
A head-on collision happens when the front ends of two vehicles, traveling in the opposite directions, crash into each other. Unfortunately, driver negligence is typically to blame for front-end crashes. Head-on collisions commonly happen when one driver is heading the wrong way down a highway or a one-way street. Some of the most common causes of head-on collisions include:
- Distracted driving
- Driving while intoxicated
- Drowsy driving
- Failure to read road signs
- Improper road signage
- Mechanical failures or mechanical defects
- Inclement weather conditions
How Is Compensation Calculated After Head-On Car Accident in Baton Rouge?
Determining compensation after a head-on collision includes more than just estimating the total amount of money that may be due to a victim. How much compensation a victim may be entitled to recover also depends on Louisiana’s pure comparative fault rule. This regulation outlines how compensation is awarded and depends on who is liable for causing the accident. The amount of liability that a driver bears for causing an accident dictates how much compensation they may be due.
For example, the courts may decide that one driver in a case is 90 percent liable for causing a head-on collision and that the injured victim is 10 percent to blame. The injured party is then entitled to the total amount of compensation minus 10 percent.
In Louisiana, even the driver mostly at fault for the accident can recover damages. In the above example, since the damages amounted to $100,000, the victim could recover $90,000, and the at-fault driver could recover $10,000.
Keep in mind that the pure comparative fault model binds the courts, but may also guide insurance adjusters as well. Before reaching a settlement figure, an insurance adjuster will consider what the outcome of a court case could look like as they evaluate a claim.
How an Accident Lawyer Can Help
When a negligent driver causes a head-on collision, the results are often catastrophic. If you have been seriously injured in a head-on collision, seeking the compensation you are entitled to can be stressful and confusing. In addition to the physical injuries you sustained, the mental stress associated with head-on collisions can be traumatic as well. You may be dealing with piling medical bills due to the treatment your injuries require.
A highly skilled Baton Rouge head-on accident attorney can build a case to help you get the full and fair compensation you deserve for your injuries. This will allow you to focus on what’s most important: your health and recovery. While no amount of money can take away the physical pain and mental anguish from experiencing a head-on collision, compensation can help you avoid further stresses from financial hardship.
If you have lost a loved one in a head-on collision, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the responsible party. Compensation for wrongful death can include a variety of damages, including:
- Lost earning capacity of the deceased
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of an inheritance
- Mental anguish of surviving family members
Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Getting into a Car Accident
Even though driving is common and a necessity for many, it is still dangerous. You can take steps to reduce your risk of an accident. The tips below can better protect yourself and others on the roadways:
- Don’t drive when distracted. Using your phone, texting, and fiddling with the GPS or radio should be avoided when driving. Give your undivided attention to the road when operating a motor vehicle. That text message can wait. Your safety is far more important.
- Don’t drive while under the influence. Unfortunately, too often in Louisiana, drivers get behind the wheel with alcohol or drugs in their system, impairing their judgment and slowing their reaction time. If you’re out drinking, have a designated driver or hail an Uber, Lyft, or taxi.
- Watch your speed. When you exceed the speed limit, you put yourself and others at risk. The faster you travel, the less reaction time you have, and the more difficult it is to avoid an accident. As your speed increases, so do braking distances and all other force measures that can lead to catastrophic head-on collisions and other accidents.
Contact a Baton Rouge Head-On Collision Attorney
If you have been seriously injured in a head-on collision in Baton Rouge or surrounding areas of Louisiana, our skilled lawyers can help you get your life back on track. At Tomeny | Best Injury Lawyers, we understand that the challenges associated with head-on crashes can be very difficult. Our compassionate Baton Rouge head-on collision lawyers are ready to help in any way we can.
Protect your legal rights immediately and contact an experienced attorney at Tomeny | Best Injury Lawyers today. Your free case review is only a moment away.
