Head-On Crashes in Rockford

One of the most devastating types of car crashes involves a head-on collision. To be sure, when two vehicles are traveling in the opposite direction and collide at a high rate of speed, the resulting injuries and property damage can be extremely severe.

Ultimately, if you have been involved in a head-on crash in Rockford, it is imperative that you reach out to a dedicated attorney for help recovering the compensation that you deserve. In addition, learning more about this type of crash can help prepare you for your accident claim.

Loss of Control Crashes in Rockford

Generally, when the tortfeasor (negligent driver) loses control of a vehicle, it’s either because of excessive speed, or a medical condition.

Speed is very often a factor if it is raining or if the road is curvy. Road oil mixes with water and forms a thin glaze on the surface. So, especially if the car’s tires are slightly worn, the vehicle essentially floats. With little traction, there is also little control. A few extra ticks on the speedometer could mean disaster.

If the tortfeasor speeds around a curve or while changing lanes, the tortfeasor also often oversteers during this maneuver. Then, the tortfeasor overcompensates to keep the vehicle straight. That overcompensation sometimes causes the vehicle to careen out of control.

In terms of medical episodes, thousands of Rockford drivers struggle with diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, and other conditions that may cause a sudden loss of consciousness. Often, these events occur with no warning whatsoever. Drivers are supposed to inform the state of their medical conditions and hospitals are supposed to report these cases to authorities. But sometimes, these things do not happen, for various reasons.

If the Rockford car wreck was foreseeable, a hospital or clinic may have third party liability in these cases, as outlined below.

Establishing Liability in a Head-On Crash

There is a difference between fault and negligence. Many drivers are at fault for an accident, but they are not negligent. The accident could have been caused by a momentary lapse. For example, talking to a passenger is technically distracted driving. However, most Winnebago County jurors would not consider such a lapse to be negligent.

But if the tortfeasor’s conduct fell below the standard of care, the tortfeasor may be negligent and therefore responsible for damages. If the tortfeasor violated a safety law, like speeding or making an unsafe lane change, liability is even easier to establish.

Here in Rockford, the aforementioned damages usually include compensation for both economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages may be available in some cases.

As medical professionals, doctors and hospitals have a high standard of care. Almost any medical, diagnostic, or other such error could be considered negligent. However, the injury must be foreseeable. It is foreseeable that a person with epilepsy will have a seizure while driving, but it is not foreseeable that another doctor might make a medical mistake during corrective surgery.

Connect with Tenacious Attorneys

For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Rockford, contact Fisk & Monteleone, Ltd. We do not charge upfront legal fees in negligence cases.