Why Are Head-On Collisions So Dangerous?

Head-on collisions are among the most terrifying and deadly types of car accidents that happen on our roads today—and though these crashes make up only about 2% of all traffic accidents, they account for a shocking number of deaths and serious injuries.

What Makes Head-On Collisions Different From Other Accidents?

When two cars traveling toward each other collide head-on, the accident combines the force of both vehicles' speeds. It is like being hit by a freight train: The impact force is multiplied in a way that other types of crashes just cannot match.

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, head-on collisions caused nearly 11% of all deadly car accidents in 2021, killing approximately 4,295 people. Plus, while 99% of people survive head-on crashes under 25 mph, only 31% make it when speeds hit 50 mph.

How Do Speed and Impact Forces Affect Injury Severity?

Nearly 75% of fatal frontal crashes happen at speeds over 40 mph. At these speeds, even the best safety features—airbags, seatbelts, crumple zones—cannot always protect you from the tremendous forces involved.

When your body goes from highway speed to zero in a split second, that sudden stop puts incredible stress on every part of your body, and the human body simply was not designed to handle that kind of violent change in motion.

What Types of Injuries Are Most Common in Frontal Crashes?

Brain injuries are frighteningly common in frontal crashes because your brain essentially bounces around inside your skull when you hit the steering wheel or dashboard head-on.

Your spine takes a brutal beating, too. The whiplash effect of being thrown forward and then snapped backward can cause herniated discs, fractured vertebrae, and other serious spinal injuries.

Why Do Most Head-On Collisions Happen?

Most head-on crashes are not caused by mechanical problems or bad roads—they are caused by human error. Just looking down at your phone for a few seconds or reaching for something in the passenger seat can send your car drifting across the center line into oncoming traffic.

Drunk or drugged driving also makes head-on collisions much more likely because these substances mess with your depth perception, slow your reaction time, and make it harder to stay in your lane. Drowsy driving is just as dangerous: When you are exhausted, you can experience "microsleep" episodes where you literally fall asleep for a few seconds while driving.

How Can Modern Vehicle Safety Features Help?

While nothing can completely eliminate the dangers of head-on collisions, today's modern safety features can help: Airbags create a cushion between you and the hard surfaces in your car during impact. Modern cars have multiple airbags, including side-curtain airbags that help keep you inside the vehicle.

“Crumple zones”—engineered weak spots in your car’s structure that collapse in a controlled way during a crash—are designed to absorb the crash energy and keep it away from where you are sitting. Additionally, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems can help prevent some head-on collisions by automatically applying the brakes on specific wheels when the system detects a loss of control.

Get the Legal Help You Need With Our Hamburg Car Accident Lawyers at Dan Chiacchia Injury Attorneys

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a frontal crash, get in touch with our experienced Hamburg car accident lawyers at Dan Chiacchia Injury Attorneys. For a free case review, call us today at 716-648-3030 or submit our online contact form. Located in Hamburg, New York, we proudly serve clients in the surrounding areas.