Who is at fault in a head-on collision depends on who crossed the centerline or violated a traffic law. Below, the Kirkland car crash lawyers at Max Meyers Law will tell you more about who is at fault for head-on collissions in Washington State.
Who can be liable for a head-on collision?
Liability depends on the circumstances of the collision. There are quite a few things that can contribute to these accidents:
- Drowsy driving
- Distracted driving
- Confused driving (new or elderly drivers)
- Improperly turning or passing another vehicle
- Ignoring traffic signals or signs
- Driver loses control of vehicle
- Roadway design – left-turn lanes, “suicide” lanes, reversible lanes, lack of center median
Depending on the circumstances of the head-on crash, your liable party might be:
The Driver
In almost every case, the driver who crossed over into oncoming traffic, violated a traffic law, or misread a sign will be liable.
Consider a few examples:
Alan is driving while under the influence of alcohol on a two-lane rural road. He is weaving from side to side in his traffic lane. When he crests a hill, he enters the lane for oncoming traffic and crashes in a tractor trailer that was driving in that lane.
Alan’s intoxication caused him to leave his lane of travel. He is liable for the head-on accident.
Beth is driving home after pulling a double shift. She nods off to sleep, and her car drifts into the path of oncoming traffic. Beth’s fatigued driving makes her liable for the head-on crash.
Carla is driving around her new city. Unfamiliar with the roads, she misses the “Wrong Way” sign and drives down a one-way road, where she crashes into another car.
Edie is late for work, and gets stuck behind a slow truck on a two-lane rural road. She pulls out into the oncoming traffic lane to pass the truck. She misjudges the speed of an oncoming vehicle and crashes into it. Edie is at fault in the head-on collision.
Third Parties
In some cases, the driver of the car that drifted into oncoming traffic might not be liable. This might occur if any of the following caused the driver to lose control of his vehicle:
- A sudden medical emergency;
- Tire blowout,
- Pothole,
- Another problem with the vehicle,
- Swerving to avoid a pedestrian or another driver
Note: If the driver suddenly had a heart attack, for example, no one will be at fault, due to the sudden medical emergency defense.
Other Drivers or Pedestrians
If the driver lost control after swerving to avoid someone or something that unexpectedly entered his lane, whoever entered the lane will likely be at fault.
These cases can be difficult to prove as the negligent party likely left the scene. A car accident lawyer from Max Meyers Law, PLLC will examine surveillance video and interview eyewitnesses to determine whether anyone saw the accident happen and/or saw the negligent party’s license plate number.
A Government Entity
Many head-on crashes result from poor roadway design or maintenance. Left-turn lanes and reversible lanes are frequently the sites of head-on crashes. The lack of a center median also causes a number of head-on collisions.
The government entity responsible for the design and maintenance of the roadway may be responsible if you can prove unsafe design or maintenance caused the accident. For example, if the entity knew the paint on a turn lane was fading but did nothing to touch it up, it could be liable if a driver could not see the paint and was involved in a head-on collision in a turn lane.
The government might also be liable if a lack of signs made the road’s direction unclear (e.g., no wrong-way signs at the beginning of a one-way road).
A Manufacturer
If the accident resulted from a tire blowout or a defective part or vehicle, the manufacturer might be liable. For example, if Fred was navigating a turn when his power steering went out, he could hold the manufacturer liable if the power steering failure was due to a defect.
Get help from a Kirkland car accident lawyer.
These cases are complicated and sometimes involve many different parties. If you were injured in a head-on accident, call the office of Max Meyers Law, PLLC today at 425-399-7000 for help navigating your accident claim.
