A head-on collision happens when two vehicles traveling in opposite directions strike each other front to front. This is different from a T-bone collision, where the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another, though both can produce similarly severe injuries.If you've just been through one, you're likely in pain, overwhelmed, and trying to figure out what happens next. Here's what you need to know, in plain terms, and how we can help.
What to Do Right Now
- Get medical attention immediately, even if you feel like you can walk away. Some of the most serious injuries from a head-on crash don't show symptoms right away.
- Call the police so an official report gets filed.
- Take photos of both vehicles, the road, and the surrounding area if you're physically able.
- Get witness contact information if anyone stopped or saw what happened.
- Don't give a detailed statement to the other driver's insurance company before talking to an attorney. What you say now can be used to reduce what you're owed later.
Do You Need a Lawyer After a Head-On Collision, and What Does It Cost?
Head-on collisions tend to produce the most severe injuries of any type of car accident, and the claims that follow are rarely simple. The at-fault driver's insurance company will look for any way to shift blame or minimize what they pay. Having a lawyer evens that playing field.
We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing upfront, and we only get paid if we recover money for you. A free consultation costs you nothing and gives you a clear picture of where you stand.
How Much Is a Head-On Collision Case Worth in South Carolina?
There's no single number that applies to every case. Your case's value depends on the severity of your injuries, your medical costs, lost income, and how clearly fault can be established. For a full breakdown of how South Carolina calculates damages, see How Much Is My Car Accident Worth.
One example from our own case results: a client was hit head-on by a dump truck that crossed the centerline. The crash broke his hip, leg, arm, and three toes. The trucking company's insurance paid its full $1,000,000 policy limit, and we secured an additional $225,000 through our client's own underinsured motorist coverage, for a total settlement of $1.225 million.* Read the full case result.
That case illustrates something important about head-on collisions specifically: the injuries are often severe enough that the at-fault driver's insurance alone isn't enough to cover them. If that happens in your case, your own underinsured motorist coverage may be able to make up the difference.
*The results are specific to the facts and legal circumstances of each of the clients' cases and should not be used to form an expectation that the same results could be obtained for other clients in similar matters without reference to the specific factual and legal circumstances of each client's case.
How Common (and How Serious) Are Head-On Collisions?
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash data, head-on collisions account for roughly 10 to 11% of all fatal crashes nationally each year. They're also disproportionately a rural problem: about 13% of fatal crashes in rural areas are head-on collisions, compared to fewer than 7% in urban areas. That matters in South Carolina, where a large share of our highway miles are rural two-lane roads without a median separating opposing traffic.
What Causes Head-On Collisions
- Drifting over the center line, often from distraction, drowsiness, or impairment
- Passing on a two-lane road and misjudging the distance to oncoming traffic
- Driving the wrong way on a one-way street or highway ramp
- Losing control on a curve, wet road, or icy patch
- Mechanical failure, such as brake failure, like in the case above
Injuries Common in Head-On Crashes
Because the forces involved are so much greater than in most other collisions, head-on crashes frequently cause:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
- Broken bones, especially in the hips, legs, arms, and feet
- Chest and internal organ trauma
- Severe lacerations
In the most serious cases, a head-on collision proves fatal, and the crash becomes the basis for a wrongful death claim.
Who's at Fault in a Head-On Collision?
In most head-on crashes, one driver crossed into the other's lane, which usually makes fault fairly clear. But insurance companies will still look for any argument that shifts blame onto you.
South Carolina follows a modified comparative negligence rule. Under SC Code § 15-38-15, you can still recover compensation as long as you're found to be 50% or less at fault for the crash, though your compensation is reduced by whatever percentage of fault is assigned to you. If you're found to be 51% or more at fault, you're barred from recovering anything. That's why getting the full picture documented early matters, before the other driver's insurance company has a chance to shape the narrative.
Common Questions About Head-On Collision Claims
If you were seriously hurt, yes. Head-on collisions tend to produce injuries and claims large enough that the insurance company will actively work to reduce what they pay you. A lawyer levels that out, and it costs you nothing upfront to have one.
It depends on your injuries, medical costs, and lost income, among other factors. See How Much Is My Car Accident Worth for a full explanation, or contact us for a free case evaluation.
This happens often, especially without independent witnesses. Skid marks, vehicle damage patterns, and nearby traffic or dashcam footage, like in the case above, can help establish what actually happened.
This is common in head-on crashes given how severe the injuries tend to be. Your own underinsured motorist coverage may be able to make up the difference.
South Carolina generally gives you three years from the date of the accident, though exceptions can shorten or extend that window depending on your case.
Talk to a Columbia Head-On Collision Lawyer
If you've been hurt in a head-on collision in Columbia or anywhere in South Carolina, we're ready to talk through what happened and what your options look like. Contact the Law Offices of Kenneth Berger for a free consultation.
Call us at (803) 790-2800 (Columbia) or (843) 427-2800 (Myrtle Beach), or fill out our online contact form. We'll get back to you promptly.
Kenneth Berger
Founding Attorney & Author
Kenneth “Kenny” Berger has dedicated his professional life to representing deserving human beings and their families in life-altering injury and wrongful death cases across South Carolina. Through consistent application of values such as honesty, hard work, and generosity, he has helped achieve noteworthy results while also earning the respect of clients, colleagues, and community.
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