What are the Leading Causes of Head-On Collisions in New York State?

A head-on collision is one of the deadliest types of car accidents and usually leaves the victims with serious injuries. It occurs when the hood of one car collides with the hood of another car, with the two vehicles traveling in opposite directions. This type of accident usually happens on dual-lane roads that do not have a physical barrier that separates the two opposing lanes of traffic. There are several common causes of a head-on collision to be fully aware of so that it does not happen to you!

Speeding

According to the NHTSA, speeding hinders a driver’s ability to safely stop the car or control the vehicle and it increases the danger of sustaining serious and life-threatening injuries.

Distracted driving

Distracted driving can happen when a driver texts, eats, speaks to passengers, or adjusts the radio while driving. According to the NHTSA, distracted driving causes 9% of all crashes with fatalities and hundreds of thousands of injuries in one year.

Drunk driving

Driving while intoxicated is a dangerous thing that has caused many fatal road crashes. For instance, according to the NHTSA, one person dies every fifty minutes after being involved in an accident caused by a drunk driver.

Driver fatigue

This problem is more common among commercial drivers who are under pressure to deliver goods to consumers as quickly as possible. Driver fatigue impairs a driver’s judgment, decreases a person’s reaction time, and increases the likelihood of engaging in reckless and unsafe driving behaviors.

Vehicle malfunctions

Regulatory agencies like the NHTSA recall millions of car seats, airbags, tires, and vehicles annually because they have safety defects. Steering system malfunctions, ineffective brakes, improperly maintained transmissions, bald tires, and engine failure can lead to road accidents.

Improper road design

Improperly maintained roads can increase the chances of road crashes. For example, potholes, lack of proper traffic signals or signs, and other road defects can increase the risk of road crashes. In addition, unsafe road conditions that have been caused by negligence can cause road accidents and harm to victims.

Common injuries caused by this type of collision

Drivers usually sustain very serious injuries. Some common injuries are whiplash, broken bones, injured arms and legs, concussions, and organ damage to the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, and spleen.

Determining the at-fault party

A driver is considered negligent if he or she failed to drive carefully, and their reckless driving injured someone else. For instance, if a driver was impaired, distracted, or veered into the opposite lane of traffic, causing a crash that resulted in damage to property and injuries to the victims, he or she may be considered negligent and held responsible for the crash.

Can I be compensated if I was partially responsible for the crash?

You can receive compensation even if you partially contributed to the crash in New York. This is because New York City is a pure comparative fault state. Therefore, if both parties are responsible for causing the crash, then both can receive compensation proportional to how much they are to blame.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the leading causes of these collisions are excessive speeding, distracted driving, drunk driving, driver fatigue, vehicle malfunctions, poor weather conditions, and improper road design.