Mobile Head-on Collision Lawyer
Head-on collisions are among the most serious types of car accidents in Mobile, Alabama.
A head-on collision combines the force of both vehicles and frequently results in catastrophic injuries. At Lattof & Lattof, P.C., our Mobile, AL car accident lawyers understand just how devastating a head-on collision can be, especially when you are left seriously injured by a reckless driver.
Have you been injured in a head-on crash in Mobile, AL? You should not have to suffer the financial burden of your accident. Contact Lattof & Lattof, P.C. to schedule a consultation with a Mobile head-on crashes lawyer for a free case review.
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How Our Mobile Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help with a Head-On Collision Case
Head-on crashes almost always cause serious injuries among drivers and passengers. While you are left injured, unable to work, and watching your medical bills pile up, don’t count on the at-fault driver’s insurance company to step up. The higher the value of your claim, the more they will fight to avoid legal liability or devalue your claim.
Lattof & Lattof, P.C. is a family-run personal injury law firm with more than 65 years of experience representing injury victims. Our Mobile, AL personal injury attorneys use a combined century of experience to fight for your legal rights and seek maximum compensation for the injuries you have sustained.
Here’s how our law firm will fight for you:
- We will clearly explain what you can expect during your case, possible areas of challenge, and how we will fight for you.
- We will gather strong evidence to show who is really liable for your accident after a thorough accident investigation. This includes expert testimony, witness statements, accident reconstruction, and police reports.
- Stand up and defend you when other parties and insurance companies attempt to blame you for the head-on collision
- We’ll work hard to negotiate a fair settlement on your behalf, but we’ll be more than ready to take your case to a jury, if need be.
The insurance company isn’t on your side, but we are. While the insurance company will try to minimize your injuries, limit your claim, and blame you for the accident, we will present the evidence we have gathered and leverage it to secure a settlement. We understand the insurance company’s tactics and use a century of experience to negotiate a fair settlement offer. If we can’t reach a fair offer, we will take your case to court.
What Causes Head-on Crashes in Mobile?
Head-on collisions are classified as lane departure or road departure crashes. They typically have similar causes, even if the consequences are much more severe. These accidents typically happen when a driver fails to stay in their lane or crosses the centerline and causes a head-on collision.
Many head-on crashes in Mobile are caused by the following dangerous driving behaviors.
Aggressive Driving
Especially on rural roads, aggressive driving can contribute to a head-on collision. When a driver speeds, they may lose control of their vehicle and leave their lane. Head-on crashes can also happen when an impatient driver tries to pass another motorist on a rural road and does not have enough time. This can lead to a head-on collision with a vehicle coming from the other direction.
Distracted Driving
Driving while distracted is incredibly dangerous. In 2015 alone, distracted driving killed over 3,400 people and injured an estimated 390,000 people in collisions. When a driver is distracted, they may inadvertently leave their lane and crash into an oncoming vehicle.
Drowsy Driving
Driving while drowsy can be just as dangerous as drinking drunk. Drowsy driving is responsible for at least 1,500 deaths and 71,000 injuries every year, but research suggests it’s more common than reported. When someone has been on the road too long, they may fall asleep at the wheel and drift out of their lane into oncoming traffic. Drivers of passenger vehicles may be guilty of drowsy driving. Some truck accidents also involve drivers who have been on the road for a dangerous amount of time.
Driving Under the Influence
Sadly, many fatal and serious head-on crashes are caused by a drunk driver. Someone under the influence may have difficulty remaining in their lane. They may also enter a highway exit or turn the wrong way on a one-way road and cause a serious accident.
Common Injuries in Head-On Car Accidents
According to the Department of Transportation, head-on collisions are 2.82 times more likely to cause severe injuries than rear-end collisions. Many victims in head-on collisions suffer life-changing and even catastrophic injuries.
Some of the most common injuries our head-on collision injury lawyers in Mobile see include:
- Head and neck injuries
- Chest injuries
- Back injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Fractures
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
You may be facing years or even a lifetime of consequences from the injuries you have sustained. After a head-on collision, you may have significant medical bills, the need for invasive surgery and painful rehabilitation, and time off work – if you are able to ever return to work.
The Mobile car accident attorneys at Lattof & Lattof, P.C. are here to help. We will help you build your injury claim to prove the full extent of the injuries you have sustained, both visible and invisible, to fight for full compensation.
Head-on Crash Statistics in Alabama
Head-on collisions are one of the most uncommon types of crashes, accounting for just 2% of accidents. Despite this, they are one of the most likely types of collisions to be fatal. More than 10% of all traffic fatalities involve a head-on crash.
Head-on crashes are far more common on rural roadways in Alabama. Head-on collisions account for 13% of fatal rural crashes.
Contributory Negligence in Alabama & Your Injury Case
While many states have moved toward a less extreme liability doctrine called comparative negligence, in which victims can still recover compensation as long as they are not more than 50% at fault, Alabama has not. Alabama is one of the only states in the United States to use a contributory negligence doctrine.
Under this system, you are barred from recovering compensation if you are found at all to blame for the accident. Even if you only contributed 1% to the crash, you cannot recover damages from the other party who largely caused the accident.
As an example of how contributory negligence works, let’s say you were driving down a rural road but you were speeding and distracted. The other driver, while trying to pass a truck in front of them, comes into your lane after underestimating how fast you were going. A jury may find that your excessive speed contributed 20% to the accident in which case you will be barred from any recovery.
This strict legal doctrine makes it crucial to build your case with evidence that shows you did nothing to contribute to your accident. An experienced Mobile head-on collision lawyer at Lattof & Lattof, P.C. will conduct an investigation of your accident to show just how the accident happened and why the other party should be held responsible.
Damages Available After a Head-on Collision in Mobile
After a head-on crash, you may be left with mounting medical bills, unpaid time off work, and an uncertain financial future. When your accident was caused by someone else, this financial burden should not fall on you. You may be entitled to compensation from the at-fault driver and their insurance carrier.
The two main types of damages you can recover are economic damages and non-economic damages.
Economic Damages
These damages have a clear financial value. You can recover economic damages such as:
- Medical bills, including anticipated medical expenses in the future
- Lost wages for time you had to take off work
- Reduced or lost earning capacity if you are disabled by your injuries and unable to return to work
- Rehabilitation
- Property damages
In the case of catastrophic injuries or injuries that cause disability, the economic damages from a head-on collision can be very high.
Non-Economic Damages
These damages do not have a clear financial value. Non-economic damages can take many forms after a car crash:
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement and scarring
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress
In serious accidents, it’s common for non-economic damages to exceed the value of economic damages.
Wrongful Death Damages
If your loved one was killed in a head-on collision or accident involving a wrong-way driver, you may be entitled to compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. This type of lawsuit allows family members to recover punitive damages from the at-fault driver. These damages will be based on the extent of the wrongdoing by the at-fault driver and they are capped at $1.5 million.
Contact a Mobile Head-on Collisions Lawyer Today
Have you been left seriously injured after a head-on collision in Mobile, AL? Have you lost someone you love to a reckless driver who caused a head-on crash? At Lattof & Lattof, P.C., we believe reckless drivers should be held accountable for their actions.
Our family-run law firm has represented injury victims in Mobile, Alabama since 1952. Contact our legal team today to schedule your free case evaluation with a head-on collision lawyer in Mobile today to get started. We are here to fight for you!
