Head-On Accident Lawyers
Indiana is home to approximately 6.5 million registered cars, trucks, motorcycles, and RVs. Given how many vehicles there are in the state, it may be no surprise that serious car accidents are an everyday occurrence, with 3,307 Hoosiers injured and 949 killed in crashes in 2022 alone.
Car accidents can take many forms, though head-on collisions are among the most destructive, accounting for 10 percent of automotive deaths despite making up only two percent of automotive accidents. The combined force of two cars speeding into each other can be immense, with even non-fatal head-on accidents inflicting major injuries, such as brain and spinal trauma, internal bleeding, paralysis, and loss of limbs.
While compensation may be available if you get hurt in a head-on accident, success is not guaranteed. To tip the odds in your favor, get in touch with the Indiana car accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group, who have been fighting for the innocent victims of negligence for more than 25 years.
You can call or text us at (317) 472-3333, chat with us online, or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation with an accomplished Indiana head-on accident lawyer today.
Common Causes of Head-On Accidents
Head-on accidents are full-frontal collisions in which either two vehicles drive directly into each other or one vehicle drives into a stationary object.
While every head-on accident is unique, the underlying cause is statistically likely to be some sort of driver error, which represents 94 percent of the “critical reasons” resulting in crashes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Examples of driver misconduct that could lead to a head-on accident include:
- Improper passing – Drivers are only supposed to pass on the left when it is clear for them to do so, and never if it means crossing a double yellow line, since improper passing could bring about a head-on collision with a vehicle traveling the other way.
- Distraction – Distracted driving is a longstanding concern that has grown into an epidemic with the rise of cellphones, killing an average of nine Americans per day. Drivers who do not keep their eyes and minds on the road may not notice that they have drifted off course until it is far too late.
- Drunk driving – Intoxication behind the wheel is a significant problem, both nationally and in Indiana, where law enforcement officers make one DUI arrest every 11.98 hours. Drunk drivers routinely engage in some of the most reckless behavior imaginable, putting themselves and anyone else in the vicinity in grave jeopardy.
- Drowsy driving – Fatigued drivers can be as dangerous as drunk drivers. One study found that going more than twenty hours without sleep can induce the same degree of impairment as having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent, the legal limit for intoxication in Indiana. Drowsy driving is linked to 50,000 injuries, 800 casualties, and 100,000 car accidents each year in the United States, including head-on accidents.
In addition to driver error, various external factors could play a role in a head-on accident, such as:
- Mechanical issues (tire blowouts, steering system malfunctions)
- Incorrect loading (excessive cargo, unsecured contents)
- Road hazards (sharp curves, narrow lanes)
- Inclement weather (rain, sleet, snow, ice)
No matter what specifically led up to your head-on injury, our Indiana head-on accident attorneys will be able to advise you of the best plan of action if you are contemplating a case.
Steps to Take After a Head-On Accident
To better protect that case, there are numerous steps you should take after a head-on accident, including the following:
- Move to safety – You could be at risk of getting into another accident if you stay where you are for too long, so move yourself and your vehicle to safety before attempting anything else.
- Alert the authorities – Take out your phone and dial 911 to alert the authorities if police and emergency personnel are not already present. Because the police report will be critical to any claim you might have, be sure to give the responding officers a complete version of events.
- Take pictures and shoot videos – While you have your phone out, take pictures and shoot videos of your surroundings, which could be invaluable in assessing liability and cataloging damages.
- Seek medical attention – Delays in care could hinder your recovery and cast doubt on the causal relationship between the head-on accident and your injuries, so seek medical attention as soon as you can, ideally from paramedics on site or at the closest emergency room.
- Exchange identifying information – You may not have a case at all if you cannot identify the defendants. Do not leave the scene until you exchange relevant information with everyone involved in the head-on accident, including:
o Name
o Address
o Phone number
o Email
o Insurance company and policy number
o Driver’s license
o License plate
o Vehicle year, make, and model
Also remember to take down the names and numbers of any eyewitnesses, as they could provide independent confirmation of what took place.
- Notify your insurance company – Promptly notifying your auto insurance company is essential to remaining in compliance with the terms of your policy and taking advantage of any potential benefits, such as reimbursement for physician visits, towing, car rentals, and repairs.
- Keep away from other insurance carriers – The insurance carriers for the other parties may try to get in touch with you, but it might be wise to keep away from them, since even the most innocuous comment you make to a seasoned adjuster could be used against you, especially if you do not understand your rights.
- Speak to a lawyer – A knowledgeable car accident lawyer can educate you about your rights, answer your questions, and go through what you can expect if you initiate a case.
How Our Indiana Head-On Accident Attorneys Can Help
A head-on accident can overwhelm you with skyrocketing medical bills while robbing you of the ability to pay for them. Before you realize it, you could have trouble simply making ends meet, much less acquiring the resources to stave off ruin.
You need attorneys with the compassion to support you during this difficult period and the skill to help you get through it. You need the Indiana head-on accident attorneys at Hensley Legal Group. No feat is too challenging or adversary too intimidating to put a stop to our quest for justice.
If you decide to hire Hensley, we will launch a comprehensive investigation into your head-on accident and the individuals and entities responsible for it within the time allotted by law, moving swiftly to amass all necessary evidentiary materials, such as:
- Police reports
- Traffic citations and dispositions
- Dash cam, streetlight, and surveillance footage
- Witness statements
- Black box data
- Phone records
- Driving histories
- Vehicle maintenance logs
- Accident reconstruction and forensic analysis
After assembling an airtight case against everybody at fault, our Indiana head on accident lawyers will work tirelessly to negotiate a settlement that takes the entirety of your losses into consideration, including:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Pain and suffering
- Psychological and emotional anguish
- Diminished quality of living
- Mobility restrictions
- Loss of consortium
- Punitive and wrongful death damages (if applicable)
And if we do not receive an offer that reflects the true value of your case, we are more than willing to go to trial for a verdict that does, unlike many of our competitors, who seldom, if ever, venture inside a courtroom.
You Won’t Have to Pay Unless We Win
If you are worried about committing to more expenditures when you may least be able to afford them, you should know that our firm works on a contingency basis. This means that you won’t have to pay us anything unless our Indiana head-on truck accident attorneys win your case.
What may have started off as a short trip has grown into an arduous journey with no apparent end in sight, but you can count on Hensley to bring it to a satisfying conclusion.
Reach Out to Our Indiana Head-On Accident Lawyers
Hensley Legal Group has been advocating for the everyday people of Indiana since 1998. If you are struggling to get your life back on track, reach out to our Indiana head-on accident lawyers to explore your legal options.
You can arrange a complimentary case review with a dedicated Indiana head-on accident attorney by calling or texting us at (317) 472-3333, chatting with us online, or filling out our contact form at your earliest convenience.
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