Fatal Gwinnett County Accident Foreshadows Increase in Head on Crashes during Holidays
A fatal head-on auto accident on busy U.S. 29 in Gwinnett County early Monday morning resulted in tragedy with both drivers being killed in the fatal car crash. Law enforcement authorities indicated that one of the vehicles crossed the centerline into oncoming traffic at a high rate of speed. The sad death of both drivers is a grim reminder of the frequent catastrophic injuries and fatalities that often result from head-on collisions.
Head-on collisions can occur anywhere and involve two cars driving in opposite directions and heading directly toward one another. The greater the speed of each vehicle, the more devastating the injuries caused by the head-on collision. Most head-on collisions result from poor judgment by one of the drivers. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, our caring team of attorneys has been representing those injured or killed in head-on car wrecks throughout Atlanta and ALL of Georgia for over 39 years.
With Christmas just a few weeks away, the risk factors that often lead to fatal head-on auto accidents increase significantly. These risk factors include distracted driving associated with making holiday arrangements and Christmas shopping, as well as driving after drinking at a holiday party. Head-on collisions result in the highest number of fatal crashes because of the magnitude and force of the impact. If two vehicles traveling 65 mph were involved in a head-on auto accident, the combined speed would equal 130 mph. The reason for this is a law of physics called momentum conservation, which provides that the total momentum of the two vehicles before the collision is equal to the total momentum of the two vehicles after the collision. Georgia auto accident statistics substantiate the fatal nature of head-on auto accidents with head-on collisions causing a higher percentage of motor vehicle related fatalities than all other types of accidents combined. Nationally, head-on collisions account for 10% of fatal traffic accidents despite accounting for only 2% of crashes.
Some of the most common factors that contribute to head-on collisions include the following:
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Bad weather which adversely affects road conditions and visibility
• Drowsy driving
• Failure to obey traffic signals and signs
• Unsafe lane changes or passing
• Tire blowouts causing drivers to lose control of the vehicle
• Moving into oncoming traffic to avoid an obstacle
• Distracted driving like texting on a cell phone where the driver takes his eyes off the road
Head-on accidents often lead to catastrophic injuries including broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, paralysis and similar injuries that can lead to long-term disability. These kinds of serious injuries can result in substantial lost wages, staggering medical expenses, expensive adaptive equipment, long-term rehabilitative therapy and long-term nursing care. If you or someone you love is seriously injured in a head-on car crash, the Georgia Car accident lawyers and Gwinnett County car accident lawyers of Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, can help you as we have thousands of other families. We are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. Call us today for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333), or visit us on the web at www.montlick.com. No matter where you are, we are jut a phone call away, and we will even come to you.