Sad Lessons of Tragic Head-On Collision

We were saddened to read of the tragic accident a few weeks ago that left one person dead and two injured in the wake of a tragic head-on collision. According to media reports, a car crossed the center divider line when traveling west on Martin Luther King Jr Drive in southwest Atlanta and crashed head-on into a truck.

The driver of the car suffered fatal injuries while a passenger in the car was critically injured. The driver of the truck was also injured in the motor vehicle accident. This accident serves as a sad reminder of the extreme danger posed by head-on collisions. The force of a head-on collision can be devastating because the full force of the impact generated by the speed of both vehicles is felt by vehicle occupants in a head-on crash. When a truck is one of the vehicles, the increased size, weight and mass can increase the already high degree of risk involved in head-on collisions.

When a driver suffers the type of devastating and life-altering consequences that are typical in a head-on accident, it is important to seek prompt legal advice because the medical costs associated with such injuries can be enormous. Additionally, the types of serious injuries associated with a head-on collision often mean long periods of disability from work or sometimes even complete disability. A head-on crash generally results in physical and emotional suffering, and these practical financial consequences only add to the overall stress making one’s physical and emotional recovery more difficult. At Montlick and Associates, we work hard for our clients in an attempt to ease these financial burdens. We deal with the insurance company issues, as well as legal and financial issues, so that our clients can focus on their recovery.

This head-on collision in southwest Atlanta is indicative of the enormous consequences associated with this type of collision. In other types of motor vehicle accidents, some of the force of the impact is dispersed and not completely absorbed by the vehicles. While these accidents typically result in very serious crashes, this problem is increased when one of the vehicles substantially outweighs the other vehicle. The injuries in the southwest Atlanta crash are consistent with this general rule as the truck driver experienced relatively minor injuries as opposed to those in the passenger vehicle.

It is still unclear what caused the head-on collisions, but what makes these auto accidents even more disheartening is that they are usually avoidable. Head-on collisions are typically a result of some sort of driver error. Some examples of these types of human error that result in head-on auto accidents include the following:

• Entering a freeway from an off-ramp
• Unsafe passing on two lane roads
• Car accidents at intersections
• Turning the wrong way down a one-way street
• Crossing onto the other side of the road into oncoming traffic.

What these types of head-on collisions have in common is that they all generally stem from mistakes by one of the drivers. These mistakes can be innocent errors in terms of being confused by a roadway or signs. Other times these errors may be the result of less innocent mistakes including drunk driving. Generally, the majority of these terrible car crashes are the result of preventable behavior. The following steps can help prevent fatal head-on collisions:

• Avoid driving when drowsy or fatigue
• Avoid driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI)
• Make sure teen drivers comply with limits on inexperienced drivers
• Always wear glasses or contacts
• Pay careful attention to all roadside and traffic signals
• Be extremely alert and diligent near intersections
• Slow down when driving in an unfamiliar area, especially at night

If you or someone you love has been involved in a serious Atlanta head-on collision, you may have a right to compensation for your injuries. The Georgia accident injury lawyers at Montlick and Associates have been representing car accident victims for over 39 years. Our Georgia personal injury attorneys 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 and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat. No matter where you are, we are just a phone call away, and we will even come to you.