HEAD ON AUTO ACCIDENTS AND COLLISION
Greater New Orleans Auto Injury Attorney
“Bold and deliberate representation is my hallmark. I want my clients’ adversaries to know that we will fight for the best possible position" - Donald D'Aunoy, Jr.
Head-on auto accidents frequently occur in Louisiana’s rural areas due primarily to poor lighting and two-lane highways with counterflowing traffic. It is often the case that the only thing separating oncoming traffic is a dashed or solid line. With little space separating oncoming traffic, head-on collisions are frequent. There is such a small margin for error! Furthermore, narrow roads, lack of street lights and sharp turns create unexpected situations and additional hazards for drivers
One-way roads and highways are also sources of head-on collisions. Confused, negligent, and/or intoxicated drivers cause accidents on one-way roads and highways in urban and rural areas. Traveling the wrong way on one-way roads creates the perfect storm for unfortunate and devastating accidents. On highways and interstates with higher speed limits, the danger is even greater. Poor lighting also contributes to these accidents.
Causes of Head-On Auto Collisions
Most types of head-on collisions are caused by the negligence of one of the involved drivers. Common head-on collision causes include:
Drowsy driving (lack of sleep, medications)
Impaired driving (alcohol, narcotic medication, street drugs)
Reckless driving (not using signals, improper lane shifts, speeding, ignoring traffic signs)
Distracted driving (using cell phone, eating, applying makeup, texting)
Locations in Louisiana Where Head-On Collisions May Occur Easily
Head-on collisions are likely to occur where there are two lane roads with counterflowing traffic without structures (e.g., medians, concrete barriers) separating counterflowing traffic. Some roadways where head-on accidents may occur include:
Metairie: Airline Drive, I-10 Service Road, Cleary Avenue and River Road
Kenner: Williams Blvd., Airline Drive, Joe Yenni Blvd. and River Road
Covington: Military Road (Hwy. 21), Abita Hwy. (Hwy. 36)
Laplace: Hwy. 51 and Airline Drive
Westbank: River Road, U.S. 90 and Hwy. 23.
Injuries Associated with Head-On Collisions and Auto Accidents
Head-on collision impacts can result in severe injuries, including death. All occupants in vehicles are vulnerable in a head-on collision. Examples of these injuries include:
1. Bone Fractures
One of the most common bone fractures is broken facial bones. Your chin, cheek, eye socket, jawbone or nose can break on the steering wheel, dashboard or even the airbag in a violent head-on collision. Serious fractures occur in violent front-end to end crashes.
Frequent signs and symptoms of bone fractures include:
Pain and swelling
Tenderness
Paleness and deformity
Loss of pulse below the fracture, usually in an extremity
Numbness, tingling or paralysis below the fracture
Bleeding or bruising
Weakness and inability to bear weight
2. Internal Damage
Internal organ damage occurs due to the seatbelt and rapid deacceleration in head-on collisions. The intense forces at play result in blows to the chest, which often result in rib fractures and/or organ damage. Some of the most common internal injuries include:
Abdominal aorta aneurysm (rupture to abdominal aorta)
Broken ribs (fractured ribs, puncture internal organs)
Internal bleeding (damages blood vessels)
Organ injury (puncturing of internal organs, internal bleeding)
Ruptured spleen (internal bleeding, puncturing of spleen)
Pneumothorax (puncturing of the lungs, chest cavity)
3. Spinal Cord Damage
Symptoms may include loss of muscle function, sensation, or autonomic function in the parts of the body served by the spinal cord below the level of the injury. Much worse, the spinal cord can be damaged in such a collision; it may be bruised or even cut, which can cause partial or total paralysis – even death. A severe head-on crash can cause a serious back injury, such as compressed discs. One or more of these soft discs can herniate and lead to serious pain and weakness.
Spinal cord injuries of any kind may result in one or more of the following signs and symptoms:
Loss of movement
Loss or altered sensation, including the ability to feel heat, cold and touch
Loss of bowel or bladder control
Exaggerated reflex activities or spasms
Changes in sexual function, sexual sensitivity and fertility
Pain or an intense stinging sensation caused by damage to spinal cord nerve fibers
Difficulty breathing, coughing or clearing secretions from your lungs
4. Traumatic Brain Injury
You may suffer serious brain damage if the skull fractures. But you also can suffer a traumatic brain injury without a skull fracture, if the brain slams into the inner wall of your skull with sufficient force. The forces needed can be generated in head-on wrecks at high speeds. Your skull may fracture upon impact with the windshield or steering wheel.
Symptoms of a brain injury include:
Unconsciousness
Inability to remember the cause of the injury
Confusion and disorientation
Difficulty remembering new information
Headache
Dizziness
Blurry vision
Nausea and vomiting
Ringing in the ears
Trouble speaking coherently
Changes in emotions or sleep patterns
5. Leg or Foot Injury
A NHTSA study found that fractures are the most common serious injury to the lower extremities in car accidents. It found that most foot-ankle injuries are related to the floor and foot controls. When the foot is squeezed in the pedals or in the folds of the floor during a collision, dislocation of the foot and metatarsal (foot bone) fractures may result. Types of injuries to the ankles, knees, and feet suffered in auto accidents include the following:
Strains and sprains – Painful stretching or damage to the muscles, tendons, or ligaments can easily occur in traffic crashes.
Fractures – Broken tibia (shinbone), fibula (lower leg bone), talus (ankle bone) and fractured kneecaps are common in car accidents.
Meniscus tears – Meniscus, or cartilage in the knee, can tear when the knee is twisted or bent into an unnatural position during a collision .
ACL or MCL tears – ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) and MCL (medial collateral ligament) are ligaments found in the knee that can be sprained or torn during a traffic crash.
Have You Been Injured in a Louisiana Head-On Collision?
If you or a loved one was injured in a head-on collision caused by another driver’s mistakes, you might be able to receive compensation for the damages suffered. A head-on crash in Louisiana can be fatal, or lead to serious injuries. In such a devastating situation, medical costs, lost earnings, and auto repairs are overwhelming. Pain and suffering can be tremendous as well. Fortunately, there are legal remedies and help available.
Louisiana Head-On Collision and Auto Accident Attorney
Donald D’Aunoy Jr. “Lawyer Don” is highly experienced in handling these types of cases. These accidents require an exact approach, including conducting thorough investigations and consulting with expert witnesses. Lawyer Don may consult with vocational experts who can testify as to the financial losses you have experienced and will suffer in the future due to your accident injuries. These cases can be especially complicated, and your attorney should have direct experience and in-depth knowledge of head-on collision cases. Lawyer Don can help regardless of whether the head-on collision occurred in Kenner, Metairie, New Orleans or other Louisiana city. Lawyer Don has offices on the Westbank and Eastbank of New Orleans. Lawyer Don also makes free house calls to all Louisiana Parishes.
You do not have to pay for the negligence of another driver. Victims of head-on collisions face medical bills, ongoing care, loss of income, loss of work capacity, and intense pain and suffering.
If you were a victim in a head-on collision or if you have lost a family member in a head-on collision, Lawyer Don can help. Please contact Lawyer Don today for a free consultation.A
Need More Information on Auto Accidents in New Orleans? Visit Lawyer Don's Guide To Auto Accidents.
“My goal is to reduce my clients’ stress: I want my clients to rest easy knowing that I am working hard for them and watchful of their best interests as if I were in their shoes.”
- Donald D'Aunoy, Jr.
