In 2015 so far, there have been more than 10,000 traffic crashes in Tennessee, and 605 of them have happened in Knox County. With so many cars, trucks, SUVs and commercial vehicles on the road, the chances are pretty high that you might be involved in a car crash around Knoxville at some point in your life. A head-on collision is the rarest type of car crash, but one of the most dangerous: the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration shows that about 13% of fatal crashes in rural areas are caused by head-on collisions, as opposed to the 7% in more urban areas.

A head-on collision occurs when two cars, traveling in opposite directions, hit one another head-on. (If you are stopped at a light and a car runs through an intersection and hits you, that’s technically considered a crash with a stationary object). Most head-on collisions are associated with:

• Crossing over a center line or median
• Traveling the wrong way down a one-way street
• Drowsy driving
• Distracted driving
• Driving around curves, either in the road or those associated with on and off ramps
• Attempting to pass another vehicle
• Driving off the road, and then “overcorrecting” to get back into the lane

Outside factors such as alcohol use or speeding may also be linked to head-on collisions.

The dangers you face

Head-on collisions on Knoxville roads, both in the city proper and on more rural roads outside of it, can cost you more than you think. If the crash was severe enough, you might have thousands of dollars’ worth of repairs – unless the car is totaled. If you drive an older car, you might not be able to find another car in your price range at all. You might also suffer a catastrophic (and potentially life-changing) injury, which could require several hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical expenses, rehab costs, medication and therapy – not to mention your lost wages and the lost wages of your family member if you require ‘round-the-clock care. In the most tragic circumstances, you could be killed in such a crash, but life-altering conditions including the loss of a limb, paralysis or permanent brain damage after suffering a traumatic brain injury could also alter your future irreparably.

If you have suffered losses after a head-on collision, you want a skilled Knoxville auto accident attorney by your side to fight for you. It may be the only thing that helps you obtain the compensation you need in order to protect your family and begin your process of getting well again.

Banks & Jones offers comprehensive personal injury services to clients around Tennessee. To make an appointment with a dedicated Knoxville car crash lawyer, please contact our office. Your initial consultation is free.