Understanding Head-on Collision Motorcycle Accidents in Philadelphia

Head-on accidents are among the most terrifying and dangerous types of collisions that can happen in Philadelphia. These accidents are even more dangerous and deadly for motorcyclists. A head-on collision occurs when two vehicles collide into each other’s front ends. Head-on accidents can cause serious injuries or fatalities and significant property damage. When this type of accident involves a motorcyclist, he or she has a much greater risk of dying. Motorcyclists do not have the same degree of protection from the physical forces released in accidents that motor vehicle occupants enjoy. If you have suffered injuries or have lost your loved one in a head-on collision while riding your motorcycle, you should talk to a motorcycle wreck attorney at Raynes & Lawn about the legal remedies that might be available to you.

Dangers Of Head-On Accidents For Motorcyclists

Head-on collisions are among the most dangerous types of accidents for motorcyclists. The amount of force that is involved in head-on collisions is much greater than in other types of crashes. For example, when two vehicles have a head-on collision while traveling at 50 miles per hour, the crash will release the same amount of force as a vehicle traveling at 100 mph that collides with a stationary car.

Motorcycles do not have the same types of protection or safety equipment that other types of motor vehicles do. For example, motorcycles do not have the protection of a vehicle’s frame around them to absorb some of the forces in an accident. They also don’t have things like crumple zones, seatbelts, or airbags.

Passenger vehicles weigh around four times more than motorcycles. This disparity in weight can result in greater force being released in an accident on the motorcyclist.

Motorcyclists can also be thrown from their motorcycles or be crushed by a vehicle in a head-on collision since there is nothing to keep the motorcyclist on the bike. Of the accidents involving a motorcycle and a passenger vehicle, 76% are head-on accidents, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Causes Of Head-On Motorcycle Accidents

Head-on collisions happen when a motorist drives in the wrong direction on a one-way road or veers into oncoming traffic in an adjacent lane. Most of these accidents are caused by negligence. Some of the causes of head-on motorcycle accidents include the following:

• Distracted driving
• Inattentive driving
• Impaired driving
• Drowsy driving
• Speeding or racing
• Passing in a no-passing zone
• Road debris
• Inclement weather conditions

Distracted driving causes many head-on accidents. When someone’s attention is focused on something other than the road, he or she might veer into an adjacent lane and strike a motorcyclist head-on. Impaired driving is also responsible for a large number of head-on collisions. People who are impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a combination of alcohol and drugs are responsible for causing most head-on accidents.

Other types of negligent driving behavior can also result in head-on motorcycle accidents, including speed, racing, drowsy driving, aggressive driving, and passing when it is unsafe to pass. Finally, a head-on motorcycle collision might happen when there is ice on the roads, and a motorist drives too fast for the weather conditions and loses control.

Types Of Injuries To Motorcyclists In Head-On Accidents

Head-on motorcycle accidents are much likelier to cause severe injuries or deaths for multiple reasons. The risk of serious injuries or death is even higher when a motorcyclist is not wearing a motorcycle helmet. The crash’s physical force might be higher when a negligent driver is driving the wrong way on a busy highway. Impaired drivers also have slower reaction times and might not engage in behaviors to avoid crashes such as getting back in their own lanes, reducing their speeds, or slamming on their brakes.

Some of the types of injuries a motorcyclist might suffer in a head-on accident include the following:

• Fractured ribs, arms, legs, feet, or hands
• Traumatic brain injuries
• Facial injuries
• Neck injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Paralysis
• Road rash injuries
• Avulsions
• Amputations
• Severe lacerations
• Internal organ damage

It is common for people to suffer multiple severe injuries in head-on motorcycle accidents or to be killed.

Get Help From An Experienced Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

If you have suffered serious injuries in a head-on motorcycle accident, you might think that the other driver’s liability for the accident is clear. However, insurance companies often try to place the blame on the injured victims to try to reduce how much money they might have to pay in accident claims. The experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Raynes & Lawn know the different types of tactics that insurance companies use and can work to combat them. To learn more about the options that you might have, contact us today at 1-800-535-1797.