How often do Colorado residents hear about vehicles traveling the wrong-way on a highway or crossing the centerline on a two-lane road? Sometimes, those involved in these dangerous situations manage to get out alive, but often, fatal motor vehicle accidents result that devastate families and communities throughout the country. These accidents may not happen as often as other types of crashes, but when they do, it is often with devastating results. What if it was possible to prevent a head-on collision?
Drivers may only have seconds to make decisions that could save their lives. It may help to already be armed with some information regarding what to do when a vehicle heads straight for them. One of the most important pieces of advice is to never veer to the left of a vehicle headed in the wrong direction. More than likely, any last minute maneuver by that driver would be to get back into his or her lane.
Instead, drivers should steer to the right, even if it means going off into a ditch. This would be better than slamming head-on into another vehicle. Decreasing speed could lessen the impact of any contact between the vehicles. The faster a vehicle is going, the more force the impact has, which could mean more damage to the vehicles and the occupants. Flashing lights and sounding the horn may also help since alerting the other driver in any way possible could avoid a collision.
When there is no time to get out of the way, fatal motor vehicle accidents often result. Even if a vehicle occupant survives, he or she usually suffers serious injuries. Colorado residents who lose loved ones or suffer severe injuries in head-on collisions caused by another driver may pursue restitution for the inevitable financial losses they incur. If the court rules that the other driver’s negligence led to the deaths or injuries suffered, an award of damages may be ordered.