Santa Rosa Head-On Collisions

Every year, dozens of head-on collisions are reported in Santa Rosa, California. In 2023, state crash data reveals Santa Rosa had 35 head-on crashes, representing 6.78 percent of all collisions in the city that year. Nationally, just 4 percent of all car accidents are classified as head-on wrecks. 

Most head-on collisions happen in Santa Rosa’s busy intersections, often when a driver is distracted, impaired by drugs or alcohol, or suffering from road rage. When you’re involved in a frontal crash because of someone else’s actions, it’s important to hold them accountable. The experienced Santa Rosa car accident lawyers at Singleton Schreiber can help.

Singleton Schreiber is an award-winning personal injury law firm dedicated to helping crash victims and families move forward after catastrophic auto accidents. We help our clients stand up to manipulative insurance companies, powerful vehicle manufacturers, and government agencies whose interests aren’t aligned with those our firm represents. The case results we achieve speak volumes about the difference we make in our client’s lives, with more than $3 Billion in damages recovered.

Demand financial justice for your head-on crash by putting our experienced legal team in your corner. We offer a complimentary case review, so contact our Santa Rosa, CA, law office today.

What’s a Head-On Collision and Why Do They Happen?

A head-on crash is defined as an auto accident where the front ends of two vehicles moving in opposite directions collide. While head-on car accidents don’t happen all that often, they’re notorious for the damage they can cause. Statistically speaking, head-on crashes are responsible for 14 percent of all car accident fatalities in the United States.

While there are several factors that can contribute to a head-on collision in Santa Rosa, some of the most common causes include:

Wrong-Way Driving

Driving a vehicle on the wrong side of the road is a major cause of head-on collisions. Wrong-way driving can be done accidentally if a driver is unfamiliar with Santa Rosa’s infrastructure or intentionally if a motorist is feeling aggressive and tries to pass another vehicle by driving on the wrong side of the road. Either way, out of the 3 percent of wrong-way accidents that unfold on busy highways, most result in catastrophic head-on collisions.

Improper Turning

California state crash data published by the Office of Traffic Safety indicates that improper turns were a factor in 31.43 percent of Santa Rosa’s head-on crashes in 2023. A driver is most likely to cause a head-on collision by making a left-hand turn without checking for oncoming traffic in the intersection.

Right of Way Violations

Right-of-way violations are a factor in 31.43 percent of head-on crashes reported in Santa Rosa, CA. This means a driver’s negligent or willful refusal to yield the right of way to a pedestrian, bicyclist, or oncoming vehicle contributes to nearly one-third of the city’s head-on collisions annually.

Speeding

Drivers who speed will require longer to react to changes in traffic (such as a light turning from green to yellow to red) and need more space to bring their vehicle to a complete stop when they hit the brakes. Similarly, speeding increases the likelihood that a driver will lose control of their vehicle. If a driver loses control - especially around other vehicles moving toward them - they might swerve into oncoming traffic and cause a head-on crash.

Driver Distraction

Distracted drivers are more likely to have difficulty maintaining their lane of traffic. If a driver is focused on their phone, they might veer into oncoming traffic and cause a head-on collision if approaching vehicles aren’t able to brake or swerve out of the way.

Vehicle Defects

While driver errors and negligence will often be the root cause of a head-on collision, some frontal crashes happen because of vehicle defects, often involving brakes or steering columns. Vehicle defects can prevent a driver from controlling a vehicle properly and, for instance, maintain their lane or swerve to avoid colliding with oncoming traffic.

How Can I Get Compensation After a Head-On Crash in Santa Rosa, CA?

Given the violent nature of head-on collisions in Santa Rosa, it’s common for vehicle occupants to suffer severe and/or life-threatening physical trauma, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, crush injuries, nerve damage, bone fractures, amputation injuries, and the wrongful deaths of close family members.

Since California is a fault-based state, you’ll have the opportunity to seek compensation for these injuries from the party responsible for causing the head-on crash. More precisely, you can file a claim with their insurance company to recover damages for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. Benefits can be paid up to the at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits, which, beginning in 2025, must be at least $30,000 (per person) in bodily injury and $15,000 in property damage.

Your damages will likely exceed the at-fault driver’s policy limits, especially if they opted to purchase the state’s minimum insurance requirements. When this happens, an experienced California personal injury attorney in Santa Rosa can help you launch a civil car accident lawsuit in pursuit of the full value of your head-on collision case.

Call Singleton Schreiber For Assistance After a Head-On Collision in Santa Rosa, CA

If someone else caused your head-on collision, you deserve financial justice. Singleton Schreiber can help you fight to get the maximum financial award to which you’re entitled under California state law.

Our Santa Rosa car accident lawyers are nationally acclaimed civil litigators known for compassionate representation and the ability to win top-tier case results day in and day out. We’re local Santa Rosa personal injury lawyers supported by national resources and a passion for making a difference in our client’s lives.

You’ll only have a limited time to seek compensation after a head-on collision in Santa Rosa since California imposes a two-year statute of limitations in most situations. So, don’t hesitate to reach out to our respected legal team to set a time for a free consultation today. We’re always here to take your call - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.