Home » Fort Lauderdale Car Accidents » Head-On Collisions

Head-on collisions happen when the front portions of two cars traveling towards each other collide. They can also occur when the front end of a single vehicle collides with a stationary object.

As experienced Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers, our legal team recognizes that these collisions are one of the most dangerous types of accidents because of the force involved. Victims of these crashes in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, could sustain serious or life-threatening injuries such as fractures, brain injuries, or paralysis.

While these crashes are not common, they have a higher risk of fatalities.

Because Fort Lauderdale is a bustling city, heavy traffic and congestion makes the risk of head-on collisions in this location higher than normal. Popular routes such as the I-75, I-95, and I-595 and Highways US 1, US 27, and US 441 are some of the main roads where head-on collisions may occur at high speeds with horrendous consequences.

In 2021, there were 280 fatalities in crashes in Broward County. This figure increased by 4.48% between 2020 and 2021, signifying that this problem is a growing one.

And fatalities among the youngest drivers are on the rise, with a 20% increase between 2020 and 2021 in fatalities for drivers aged 15 to 19.

In 2022, the age-adjusted rate per 100,000 population of deaths from crashes in Broward County was 14.4. While this rate is relatively low compared to other Florida counties, a single death is still one too many.

If you have been involved in this kind of collision in the locality, consult with a head-on collision attorney in Fort Lauderdale at Schilling & Silvers Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers who can help you exercise your rights and start a claim for compensation for the distress and injury you have suffered.

How and Why Are Head-On Auto Collisions in Fort Lauderdale Happening?

What puts head-on collisions into a class of their own is that, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, they cause the most car accident fatalities year on year. In 2021, they caused 59% of passenger vehicle occupant deaths.

Let’s understand more about why head-on auto collisions in Fort Lauderdale are happening. Reasons for head-on collisions include:

Driving the wrong way – this is probably the most common cause of head-on collisions in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. A driver simply driving in the wrong direction on the road. Reasons for this could be they were distracted, driving under the influence, or perhaps were visiting the city and were not familiar with the roads.
Driving too fast – When a driver is speeding, they are more likely to lose control of their vehicle and crash head-on into another vehicle or collide with a stationary object.
Distracted driving – This refers to driving in a manner that takes your eyes away from the road, your hands away from the steering wheel, or your attention away from driving.
Driving while tired – Omitting to take breaks on long journeys or after too little sleep increases the risk of a driver having an accident, which could be a head-on collision.
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs – Getting behind the wheel while under the influence means that a person’s ability to drive safely is seriously compromised.
Dangerous conditions – Driving in difficult weather conditions, such as snow, heavy rain, or ice can impair a driver’s ability to retain control of the vehicle. It may slide or skid or a wet or icy road, straight into the path of another car.
Mechanical failure – Sometimes, the fault is not with the driver but because of mechanical failure. An example of this could be a manufacturing fault that affects the car’s braking system or an issue that the owner should have put right, such as worn tires, which prevent the car from gripping the road properly.

If you have been injured in a head-on car crash reach and need immediate legal assistance reach out to a Fort Lauderdale head-on collision lawyer at our law firm today.

What Are Some Types of Injuries Commonly Associated with Head-On Collisions?

Head-on collisions result in a range of injuries, ranging from minor to severe and life-threatening.

These include:

Traumatic brain injuries – Also known as TBIs, these occur when the head receives a blow, impacting the brain, or when the brain collides with the inside of the skull in a forceful incident such as a head-on collision. The effects may be mild, lasting a few days, or more severe and long-lasting.
Chest injuries – These injuries include bruising or broken ribs, which may puncture a lung. You may also experience difficulty breathing following a chest injury.
Neck and back injuries – Your neck doesn’t benefit from being restrained by a seat belt, so it can be a vulnerable area in a head-on collision. Whiplash and back pain are common after car crashes. These injuries can also affect the spinal cord and may result in paralysis.
Fractures – Fractures to the arms, legs, or pelvis are common in head-on collisions. These can result in months of rehabilitation and physical therapy.
Cuts and bruises – Cuts and bruises are very common after head-on collisions, particularly in the region of the shoulder, chest, and pelvis.
Internal injuries – Our Fort Lauderdale head-on collision attorneys commonly see that these injuries pose a risk to health since they may not be detected until some time after an accident. This category of injuries includes injury to the lungs or heart from broken ribs or damage to other organs such as the spleen or kidneys.

Proving Liability in a Head-on Car Collison in Fort Lauderdale

Florida is a no-fault state. This means that in the event of an accident, each driver claims from their own insurance company for losses. It also means that drivers in Florida should have personal protection injury (PIP) insurance as part of their car insurance policy.

It’s important to understand that PIP insurance will only cover up to a certain amount of medical expenses. If your expenses exceed this limit, then you may need to file a lawsuit for compensation against the other driver.

In Florida, this means that you have suffered a permanent injury, which is understood to have cost you over $10,000.

If you pursue a lawsuit against the other driver, you or your Fort Lauderdale head-on collision lawyer will need to prove their liability with various pieces of evidence.

Here are some examples of the kinds of evidence that you may need to produce to back up your claim:

Police report – This will be compiled by the officer from the Fort Lauderdale police department attending the scene of the accident and will contain details of the accident, such as time, date, and location of the incident, and statements from the drivers and witnesses. Be sure to request a copy of the report once it’s been filed.
Photographs – Photographs will show evidence such as skid marks, damage to property at the scene of the accident, and damage to your vehicle and the other vehicle involved. They can give an indication of the speed at which the other vehicle was traveling and provide other vital information.
Medical records – Your medical records detailing treatment you received immediately after the crash and on an ongoing basis are essential to show that the injuries you sustained have been severe and even life-threatening.
Bills and invoices – Bills and invoices relating to repairs carried out on your vehicle or other property, as well as your medical bills, will prove the financial loss that you have suffered as a result of the head-on collision.
Witness statements – It’s important to get statements from any witnesses at the scene of your crash. If several witnesses agree on the circumstances of the crash, then this could significantly help your case.

What Damages Can I Claim After a Head-on Collision in Florida?

Involvement in a head-on collision in Florida will impact your life in many different ways. The law recognizes these impacts and offers a system that allows you to claim damages to compensate for them.

In Florida, our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys can help you claim two different types of damages: compensatory damages and punitive damages.

Compensatory damages are broken down further into two distinct categories: economic and non-economic.

Economic Damages

These relate to costs you have incurred as a result of the accident and include:

Medical expenses – These cover everything from the ambulance attending at the scene to care in the emergency room, surgery, hospital stays, medications, follow-up appointments, home healthcare, and physical therapy. This category also covers expected future medical expenses you are likely to incur because of your injuries.
Lost earnings — If you’ve had to stay off work because of the accident, you can be compensated for loss of earnings. Your compensation package should also include lost employer contributions, retirement payments, and lost vacation days. If your injuries mean you have to perform a different role, you should be compensated for future lost wages and benefits.
Provision of services — If you can no longer perform the same tasks, such as cleaning, around your home, you may claim for the cost of someone else providing these services.
Childcare expenses — The expense of someone caring for your child if you are no longer able to do so due to your injuries can also be claimed.
Damage to property — You may also be entitled to damages to cover the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle or damage done to personal property in your vehicle at the time of the accident.

Non-Economic Damages

This type of damage refers to areas that don’t have a precise monetary value but still represent a loss. Such areas include:

Pain and suffering — This refers to pain and physical suffering you experienced at the time of the accident, throughout your recovery period, and on an ongoing basis.
Disfigurement — Disfigurement as a result of the accident refers to loss of limbs, fingers, or toes, significant scarring, loss of hearing or vision, or any other change to your body as a result of your accident.
Physical impairment — If you can’t perform the same actions as you used to before the accident because of injury, then you could be eligible for this type of compensation.
Mental anguish — Being involved in a head-on collision is a distressing experience. Your Fort Lauderdale head-on collision lawyer will help you claim for any stress, anxiety, or ongoing mental health conditions such as depression resulting from the accident.
Loss of consortium — If your spouse, partner, or another close family member has been killed as a result of an accident, you may be able to claim for loss of consortium.

What Does a Fort Lauderdale Head-On Collision Lawyer Do?

A legal representative helping you in your collision lawsuit will perform a number of roles to help you get the compensation you deserve. They will:

Inform you of your legal rights and options available
Communicate with insurance companies on your behalf
Collect evidence relating to the head-on collision for the purpose of proving fault
Obtain your medical records to understand the extent of your injuries
Liaise with healthcare professionals so they may help prove your case
Communicate with all insurance providers — relating to your employment, healthcare, and vehicle — to progress your case
Enter into negotiations with insurance providers and defense attorneys to get you the best compensation package
File your claim at court if necessary and speak on your behalf at a trial

What Happens When Someone Is Killed in a Fort Lauderdale Car Accident?

When someone is killed in a Fort Lauderdale car accident, their loved ones may be able to claim for wrongful death.

A wrongful death is defined in Florida law as a “wrongful act, negligence, default, or breach of contract” of a third party.

In the case of a head-on collision, if you can prove that the other driver was at fault because of the “wrongful act” of distracted or reckless driving for example, then you could claim compensation on this count.

The executor of the deceased person’s will is the person who will file for a wrongful death claim. If there is no executor, then the court can appoint someone on behalf of the loved ones left behind.

Damages that you may be eligible for under a wrongful death claim include:

Loss of financial support
Loss of companionship
Pain and suffering as a result of the loss
The victim’s medical costs before they passed away
Costs associated with their burial

In Florida, you have two years from the date of your loved one’s death to file your claim.

While no amount of money can make up for your loss, the financial compensation you will receive can help alleviate some of the distress and hardship caused.

Be sure to contact a head-on collision attorney in Fort Lauderdale to help you in your wrongful death claim and get you the compensation you deserve.

Serving Fort Lauderdale, Florida

If you’re a resident of Fort Lauderdale, and have been injured in a head-on collision, know that help is at hand.

The team at Broward Medical Urgent Care can assist with your immediate and ongoing healthcare needs, from trauma and urgent care services following your head-on collision to long-term pain management.

At Pronto Urgent Care, you will find a range of urgent care services in a friendly and professional environment. Know that walk-ins and appointments are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 365 days a year.

For vehicle repairs following your accident, you can count on Laz One Auto Repair. This family-owned business with decades of experience is your go-to for any vehicle repairs, large or small.

If you’re looking for a full-service auto body center in a convenient Fort Lauderdale location, look to Carlos Auto Body Inc., family-owned and in business since 1994.

Car Accident Law Firm in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

The consequences of a head-on collision can be serious, leaving you with lasting injuries and emotional trauma.

Know that you don’t have to fight for the compensation you deserve on your own. The team at Schilling & Silvers Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers is experienced in many areas of injury and accident claims.

For a Fort Lauderdale head-on collision lawyer you can trust, reach out to us. We’re here to fight for you, every step of the way.

So be sure to contact us, whatever your personal injury or property damage claim involves — we’re here to help.

In addition to Fort Lauderdale, our legal team also serves Hialeah, Pompano Beach, Hollywood, Florida, and more.

Fort Lauderdale Head-On Collision Attorney