When you’re involved in a head-on collision, you’re at risk of serious injuries. In this type of crash, your vehicle, as well as the other, may have been moving at speed toward each other. If you both hit going the speed limit, you can expect the force of the collision to be multiplied and to be twice as serious as if you were in a rear-end collision traveling in the same direction.
The rapid deceleration of this kind of auto collision is what is so dangerous to occupants of passenger vehicles. Whiplash, head injuries, airbag-related chemical burns and other injuries are common as a result.
3 common injuries in head-on collisions
There are several injuries that could happen in a head-on collision. Here are three of the most common.
- Whiplash
The first injury that you can expect with a head-on collision is whiplash. Whiplash happens when the head swings forward or to the side forcefully before overextending in reverse from the way it came. That rapid overextension has the potential to tear ligaments, damage the disks in the neck and lead to brain injuries, which is why medical attention is necessary as soon as possible.
- Lacerations, scarring and abrasions
When an airbag deploys, there is a high risk of lacerations, scarring and abrasions. Even if the airbag doesn’t deploy, you could hit your head on the dashboard or be hit by debris. Broken glass may cause lacerations all over the body, some of which could be dangerous or life-threatening.
- Abdominal injuries
The abdomen is not meant to be subjected to rapid forces or hard hits, but with a sudden stop, there is a potential for the seatbelt to push into the skin and organs. This could lead to damage. It’s important to check the liver, spleen, diaphragm and kidneys for damage following a front-end collision.
After this type of crash, it should be your first goal to seek medical attention and to make sure you know what damage has been done. Early treatment may help you start recovering sooner and with less pain, so going to the hospital is a smart choice. After you’re medically stable, you can look into making a claim against the at-fault driver.