Anyone traveling in Western North Carolina has probably noticed how some drivers don’t pay full attention to the road. That’s dangerous in a mountainous place that has a lot of narrow lanes and tight corners. This lack of focus can lead to devastating head-on collisions, totaled cars, and serious injuries.
If a careless driver crosses the lines and leaves you or a loved one seriously hurt, please contact Melrose Law. We offer a free case consultation to all injured victims and their family members.
It’s a no-risk way to find out how to hold a reckless driver responsible and how to get full support for your recovery.
What Causes Head-On Collisions on WNC Roads
Living in a mountainous region like Western North Carolina has plenty of advantages. But curvy, narrow roads are definitely one of the disadvantages when it comes to safe travel. The problem is only made worse by the lack of care some local drivers show and their lack of focus on the road. Visitors vacationing in the area also contribute to head-on risk because they often have no experience driving on such hilly roads.
A tight bend or a blind corner makes it very easy for drivers looking at cellphones or playing with their radios to veer out of a lane into oncoming traffic. Big rigs and Amazon vans navigating narrow roads can take up more than just one lane, especially in a tight turn.
These are just a few of the most common reasons that drivers end up in frontal impacts on mountainous routes:
- Drivers going too fast and losing control in a curve
- Drivers going too fast on icy roads
- Drivers unfamiliar with mountain driving
- Drivers texting
- Drivers answering calls on cellphones
- Drivers not being alert and spotting hazards like fallen trees or animals in the road until the last second, and then swerving
- Large trucks, delivery vans, and 18-wheelers taking up more than one lane
- Car owners ignoring car maintenance dangers like bald tires and worn brake pads
- But when driving around places like Asheville, it’s easy to spot the many drivers who are focused on what’s ahead.
Distracted driving is especially dangerous in a busy place like Asheville, where city traffic mixes with narrow routes and faster speeds.
The drivers who cause these accidents and their insurance companies should be fully responsible for the damages they cause and the medical bills the victim receives. Sadly, car insurance adjusters for at-fault drivers often work harder to push the blame onto another driver than to actually help hurt and financially-strained victims.
A skilled accident lawyer can fully investigate accidents and collect the right evidence to leave insurers with no choice but to accept liability. An experienced attorney also has the negotiation skills to usually earn victims much more for recovery than they could earn themselves.
We’ve helped mountain accident victims in Asheville, Waynesville, and across WNC.
The Dangers of a Head-On Collision in Western North Carolina
There’s a reason North Carolina Highway Patrol officers dread getting a call about a head-on accident. These accidents can be devastating and lead to catastrophic injuries.
The forces involved are usually much more powerful than in a normal side-swipe or rear-end. That’s because the speeds of both vehicles are factored into the impact, basically doubling the impact force. Both vehicles come to a stop incredibly fast, but the strain is transferred to the occupants inside the vehicles.
Unfortunately, on a route like Town Mountain Road, the speeds involved can go even higher. That’s because in a blind curve, drivers may not have a chance to hit the brakes before a collision, adding to the blunt force trauma victims experience. Victims can strike the dashboard or steering wheel. They may be showered with broken glass. Some victims are sent flying through the front windshield to endure a second collision with the road surface.
Head-On Collision Injury Risks
Patients may endure broken legs as their legs are pressed into the floorboard. They may suffer broken arms as they grip a steering wheel. Victims can be left with serious facial lacerations and neck and spine damage. Of course, the skull and brain are also vulnerable. A Traumatic Brain Injury can leave victims with memory issues, trouble controlling their body parts, and seizures.
If you are a victim, you may need support for a week, a month, or for a lifetime. However, another way that car insurance companies try to limit your compensation in a head-on collision is to cast doubt on injuries. They may find a doctor who will say your injuries aren’t as bad as first thought. This happens as you may be set up for years of back pain or future surgeries.
Your Melrose Law representative works with your doctors to determine the level of support you’ll need now, and potentially in the months ahead. Then your lawyer asks for full compensation for current bills and the bills and care you are expected to need in the future.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer After a Collision on a Mountain Road
If you suffer a serious injury in an accident, you may require the help of a skilled attorney to help you secure the support you need to recover.
Melrose Law will fully investigate your car accident and those responsible. The evidence gathered can make a big difference in the outcome of your case and the level of support you and your family receive. We can also help you take on trucking companies or delivery companies if a careless truck driver causes an accident in a curve.
Melrose Law offers a free case consultation to all mountain car accident victims. There’s no obligation for your case review, and your consultation remains completely confidential. If you do require our help to earn what’s fair, you won’t need to bring any money with you to hire us. We don’t get paid unless we win your case for you. Then our pay comes out of the settlement check that an insurer must write for you.
