May 19, 2020
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports that one of the leading causes of death for New Hampshire children, teens, and young adults are motor vehicle accidents. According to the New Hampshire State Police, the majority of fatal car accidents are the result of impaired driving, distracted driving, and the failure to abide by traffic and safety laws. In a recent study, the Insurance Information Institute (III), found over 10 percent of these accidents were head-on collisions.
Frontal crashes or head-on collisions typically occur when one vehicle was on the wrong side of the road and collides into an oncoming car. These accidents usually happen when a person improperly drives down a one-way road or highway, or if they were driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Head-on collisions often result in severe injuries and damages because of the nature of the impact. Individuals or representatives of those who suffer injuries in a New Hampshire head-on collision may be able to recover for their damages against the at-fault driver.
New Hampshire head-on collision victims who wish to recover for their losses must be able to establish that the other party was negligent. Under New Hampshire’s negligence per se standards, an at-fault party may be liable for violating a statute that was designed to prevent the same type of harm the plaintiff suffered. This theory may be applicable in cases where the at-fault party was texting and driving or failing to keep to the right side of the road. In these instances, proof that the at-fault driver was engaging in these behaviors is sufficient to show negligence. In cases where negligence per se does not apply, the plaintiff must prove that the defendant did not meet the standard of care in operating their vehicle, and the result was injuries to the plaintiff.
In these cases, police reports and eyewitness accounts describing the scene of the accident are integral to establishing fault. For example, recently, a New Hampshire news source described a multi-vehicle head-on collision. After the accident, eyewitnesses told police that they saw the man veer out of his lane and drive into oncoming traffic, ultimately crashing into three other cars. The 20-year-old man and his passenger were taken to the hospital and are receiving treatment for life-threatening injuries.
Although eyewitnesses can be crucial to the success of a claim, they are not always available. In such cases, challenges may arise because the impact of a head-on collision will often drastically change the position of the vehicles. This may result in confusion regarding the circumstances leading up to the accident.
Have You Suffered Injuries in a New Hampshire Head-On Collision?If you or someone you know has suffered serious injuries or died in a New Hampshire car accident, contact the injury attorneys at Peter Thompson & Associates. The lawyers at our firm understand the overwhelming toll that car accidents can have on a person and their family. We work diligently on behalf of our clients to ensure that they receive excellent representation in their claims against negligent motorists. By conducting thorough investigations, engaging in in-depth case preparation, and skillful litigating claims, our attorneys have recovered significant compensation on behalf of New Hampshire injury victims. Contact our office at 1-800-804-2004 to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney at our law firm.