Technology in automobiles continues to improve the safety of drivers and passengers but when it comes to head-on collisions - well, these types of accidents are bound to end in injuries if not wrongful death fatalities.
Recent statistics place the number of head-on vehicle collisions at only a mere two percent of all the various types of car and truck crashes annually - but they account for ten percent of traffic fatalities.
The causes are numerous - but most often can be traced to drunk or distracted driving or wrong way driving due to driver disorientation. Of course, airbags and seatbelts have helped to reduce the severity of injuries and number of fatalities - with one study claiming their combined usage reduces mortality rates in head on collisions by up to eighty percent.
There are certain steps that a driver can take that will help minimize the chances of becoming a victim of a head on collision.
First, don't tailgate and use all the technology at your disposal to keep other drivers apprised of your driving intentions (turning, stopping, etc.)
In addition, be alert to the driving behavior of the vehicles around you. If someone is tailgating - let them pass, if the road conditions are not optimal - slow down...and don't speed, especially at night when something may jump out in front of your vehicle causing you to swerve - and head for a vehicle on the other side of the road.
Greg Baumgartner is a personal injury lawyer and the founder of the Baumgartner law firm, which is dedicated to helping personal injury victims seek civil justice. If you would like to speak with a Houston accident attorney call the Baumgartner firm.
