A Toyota pickup and a passenger car collided head-on Thursday, October 3, 2019, around 9:40 on US 27 in Butler killing the driver and a passenger in the car. Police have not provided details on how the crash occurred, so it’s unknown which vehicle crossed the centerline on the highway.
A second passenger in the car, which was a minor child, was airlifted to a local hospital, and her condition is unknown at this time. The driver of the Toyota pickup truck was not injured, and no charges have been filed as of yet.
Head-On Collisions
A head-on collision is one of the deadliest types of an accident and causes more serious injuries in fatalities than other all other types of crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, only 2 percent of all crashes are head-on collisions yet they make up roughly 10 percent of all fatalities in a given year.
The reason for this is the violence of an impact that has the weight and speed of both vehicles directly contributing to the collision, and the result is injuries that are significantly more serious than other two-vehicle crashes.
Rural Head-On Collisions
In a report on head-on collisions, the NHSTA says that head-on collisions are more prevalent on rural highways accounting for around 53 percent of the nation’s fatal accidents yet only 33 percent total miles driven in the U.S. is on rural roads.
Why are Rural Roads More Dangerous?
Some of the reasons given by safety and traffic experts on why there are more fatalities on rural highways is the prevalence of head-on collisions. Rural road lanes are narrower, have less shoulder room and are not divided by barriers or a median.
Most rural highway roads have a speed of 50 mph or greater, and this means that an impact is the same as someone crashing at 100 plus miles an hour. Passing on rural highways also contribute to the number of head-on collisions as many times the passing car doesn’t make it back in their lane quick enough.
Head-On Collision Injuries
- Blunt Force Trauma
- Head Injuries/Traumatic Brain Injuries
- Broken Bones
- Chest Compressions
- Organ Damage
- Internal Injuries/Bleeding
- Air bag injuries
Contact an Auto Accident Attorney
Accident victims often wonder if they need an attorney, and the answer is almost always yes. The insurance company agents have years of experience and are good at their job which is to pay you as little as possible or nothing at all. You need someone just as experienced to help you level the field. Talk to someone you can trust to be on your side and get you what is yours under the law.
The attorneys at Kaufman and Stigger, PLLC, have that knowledge and a combined 100 years’ experience in helping clients get the results they deserve. To discuss your case, call Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC today, at (800) 937-8443 or click here to contact them online.
