Head-On Accident Attorney In Vancouver, WA
A head-on accident occurs when two drivers driving in opposite directions collide front-to-front. While head-on collisions may be the most infrequent type of automobile accident, they can also be the most deadly. Out of 84,587 accidents reported in Washington State in 2015, only 545 were head-on collisions, but those 545 collisions resulted in 46 of that year’s total of 216 fatalities. So, head-on accidents only accounted for .06% of all accidents but resulted in 21% of all deaths.
National Head-On Accident Statistics
Nationally, the rate is even higher. In 2017, The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported a 58% fatality rate for all individuals involved in a head-on accident. In addition, they reported that a head-on accident is more likely to occur in a rural area, with 13% of all rural fatalities occurring in head-on accidents. In more populated urban areas, however, less than 7% of all fatal crashes are head-on accidents.
Causes Of Head-On Accidents
More often than not, a head-on accident in Vancouver occurs because one driver is driving on the wrong side of the road. This can occur for any number of reasons, but more and more frequently it is because one driver is driving while distracted, often by an electronic device. Other causes of a driver being in the wrong lane can be:
- Unsafe passing of another vehicle
- Driving while overly tired or drowsy
- Being drunk, high, or on some type of medication
- Experiencing some kind of confusion behind the wheel, such as an elderly person who might accidentally enter a highway traveling in the wrong direction
- Swerving to avoid a dead animal or one that suddenly darted out into the road
- Swerving to avoid debris in the roadway or a pothole
- Swerving to avoid an icy patch or hitting a patch of ice
While there are many reasons a head-on accident might occur, the number of accidents in total, including head-on accidents, that are occurring as a result of inattentive or distracted driving are on the rise.
If you’ve been injured in a head-on accident within Washington our experienced Vancouver, WA accident attorneys are here to help. We have helped individuals who have been injured on Interstate 5, highway 14, surface streets and even parking lots within Clark County, Cowlitz County, Skamania County, Pacific County, and other areas of Washington and Oregon.
If you need the help of an experienced accident injury attorney, please contact our firm today for a FREE case review.
