Head-On Collisions in Memphis

Head-on collisions often happen because a driver drifts into a lane of oncoming traffic or fails to adequately negotiate a curve. They also sometimes occur because one driver crosses a line while trying to pass a slower car or because a driver goes the wrong way down a one-way street. Most of the time, they happen because of negligence on the part of one or both drivers. The force may be deadly if one driver is driving significantly faster than the other. Similarly, when the cars are of unequal weights, the person in the lighter vehicle may experience significantly more trauma than the person in the heavier vehicle, such as a large commercial truck or 18-wheeler.

All drivers in Tennessee are expected to act with reasonable care at all times, and they must do what is possible to avoid accidents. For example, a driver who is too fatigued to stay alert while driving should pull over. Similarly, a driver should reasonably maintain their car to make sure that they can safely drive on a winding road. Drivers are expected to stay on the right side of a two-lane highway unless there is an applicable exception.

After a heavy head-on collision, both parties may not quite remember what happened. They may have traumatic brain injuries or worse. It may be necessary to reconstruct the accident with the help of an accident reconstruction expert, who can examine the scene for skid marks, debris, property damage, and data from the cars’ computers that may be helpful in determining fault. Through this evidence, it may be possible to show the other driver’s fault, even if you cannot exactly remember what happened. A plaintiff will need to establish by a preponderance of the evidence that the other driver failed to drive safely and due to this failure caused the plaintiff’s injuries or a loved one’s death.

The compensatory damages after a head-on collision may be substantial because the injuries are so often severe. Damages may include economic and noneconomic losses, such as past and future lost income, lost earning capacity, past and future medical bills, pain and suffering, and loss of enjoyment of life. If the head-on collision was caused by a drunk driver, punitive damages to punish the drunk driver and deter future similar conduct may be available.