Head-on Crashes in Ventura

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to a crash involving three vehicles on SR-1, south of Las Posas Road in Ventura at 4:35 p.m. on August 11. Five people were injured, and one was killed. The vehicles involved include a BMW, a Ford truck, and a Honda. Two of the Honda passengers sustained seatbelt injuries, while one in the Ford truck sustained lacerations.

According to the CHP, the Honda and BMW were moving southbound while the Ford was moving northbound. The BMW crossed into the northbound lane and hit the truck head-on. The impact caused the truck to cross into the southbound lane and crash into the Honda. The BMW driver died at the scene. Authorities don’t know why the BMW driver landed in the opposite lane and are investigating whether drugs or alcohol were involved.

The Serious Consequences of Head-On Crashes

Head-on crashes occur when the front section of a vehicle crashes into the front section of another vehicle. These types of accidents are the most severe motor vehicle crashes because they usually cause severe or fatal injuries due to the sheer amount of force at play when two powerful moving objects crash head-on into each other.

This force can be even more deadly when one of the motor vehicles is significantly bigger than the other (like the BMW crashing head-on into the Ford Truck), moving much faster than the other vehicle, or when a vehicle accelerates quickly to pass a nearby vehicle and crashes into an oncoming vehicle. Common injuries resulting from head-on crashes include the following:

• Whiplash
• Fractured bones
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Blunt force trauma
• Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
• Chest injuries
• Facial injuries
• Back injuries
• Internal organ damage
• Burns
• Internal bleeding

Any driver whose actions cause a head-on crash can be held liable for covering the losses of people who have been injured in the crash.

Why Head-On Crashes Occur in Ventura

The top cause of head-on crashes is driver error. Drivers may engage in risky driving behaviors or fail to use sound judgment when driving. Common factors that cause or contribute to head-on crashes include, but aren’t limited to, the following:

• Distracted driving
• Speeding
• Drowsy driving
• Not yielding the right of way
• Improper or sudden lane changes
• Driving while drugged, drunk, or otherwise impaired
• Improper turns
• Ignoring stop signs and red lights
• Dangerous road conditions, such as potholes, slippery or uneven road surfaces, missing signs, etc.
• Mechanical malfunctions, such as defective brakes, tire blowouts, etc.

Most head-on crashes happen at high rates of speed. Unfortunately, the risk of serious and fatal injuries increases as the speed of the vehicles increases.

Get In Touch With a Ventura Car Accident Lawyer

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a head-on crash, reach out to the Ventura car accident lawyer at Bamieh & De Smeth to learn more about your legal options and how we can help you secure the compensation you deserve. To arrange your free case review with our Ventura car accident lawyer, please call our office at 805-643-5555 or send us an online message.