A head-on collision can leave you facing serious injuries, months of medical treatment, and questions about how the crash happened in the first place. When two vehicles collide from opposite directions, determining which driver crossed the centerline or entered the wrong lane can become one of the most important issues in an injury claim.
If another driver caused the crash, a Maine head-on collision lawyer can investigate what happened, gather evidence of fault, and help you pursue compensation for the losses you have suffered. At Mann Law, we help people seriously injured in Maine car accidents understand their rights and navigate the insurance process with clear, personalized guidance.
Contact us at 207-709-0900 to discuss your case in detail.
Unlike many crashes in which vehicles are traveling in the same direction, a head-on collision brings together vehicles moving in opposite directions. The resulting impact can cause devastating injuries even when neither vehicle was traveling at an unusually high speed.
Head-on crashes can result in traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, multiple fractures, internal injuries, and other conditions requiring hospitalization and extensive rehabilitation. Some are fatal.
Maine’s rural roads can present particular concerns in head-on collisions. State Route 9, known as ‘The Airline Road,’ is a largely rural route between the Bangor area and the Canadian border. A review of Maine crash risks identifies Route 9 as one of the state’s dangerous roads, citing factors such as higher travel speeds, wildlife, limited services, and its remote stretches.
For families affected by a serious head-on collision, however, the important question is not simply where the crash happened. It is why one vehicle ended up in the path of another.
A vehicle can enter an opposing lane for many reasons. A driver may become distracted, fall asleep, drive while impaired, attempt an unsafe pass, lose control because of excessive speed, or fail to navigate a curve safely. Confusion can also cause a motorist to enter the wrong side of a divided highway.
Determining the cause matters because crossing the centerline does not, by itself, tell the entire story. Investigators may need to determine what the driver was doing immediately before the crash and whether another factor, such as a mechanical failure or the actions of another motorist, contributed to the crash.
That investigation becomes especially important when both drivers are seriously injured, and neither can provide a complete account of what happened.
Physical evidence can help reconstruct a head-on collision even when the people involved cannot explain what happened.
The Maine State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit conducts in-depth investigations of major traffic collisions throughout the state. Reconstruction specialists examine human, environmental, and mechanical factors and may analyze roadway evidence, vehicle damage, speeds, collision sequences, photographs, and other information to determine how a crash occurred.
Other evidence may include vehicle event data, skid and tire marks, debris patterns, dashcam or surveillance footage, witness statements, cell phone records, and toxicology evidence when impairment is suspected.
A police investigation can provide important information, but an injury claim may require additional investigation. An attorney can obtain available records, preserve evidence that may otherwise disappear, and work with appropriate experts when the circumstances of the crash remain disputed.
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The Client Experience
A head-on collision is one of the most violent kinds of crash on the road, and the injuries usually match. Here is what working with our team looks like, in the words of the people who have lived it.
A head-on impact rarely leaves room for doubt about how serious the case is. We treat it that way from day one.
“A van in the opposite lane suddenly headed toward our ditch. The result was a head-on crash. Our van was totaled and we were both injured. I was in the hospital for 26 days. Chrissy and Robin have done a wonderful job representing us.”
Nancy R., Google Review
When the other driver crossed the line, literally, we make sure that is reflected in the outcome.
“A drunk driver crossed the double yellow line and hit me head on. The airbags sounded like a gun going off.”
Russell K., Google Review
Recovering from a head-on crash takes time. We handle the claim so that time is not also spent on the phone with insurers.
“My car was totaled and I suffered personal injuries. Christine Mann assured me my job was to heal and to get better while they would worry about the rest.”
Betty G., Google Review
A head-on crash can leave you seriously hurt through no fault of your own. We cannot undo the collision, but we can carry the weight of the claim, and stay beside you until you are able to move forward.
The financial consequences of a serious head-on crash can continue long after someone leaves the hospital. Medical treatment may include surgery, rehabilitation, physical therapy, follow-up care, and treatment for permanent injuries. A person may also miss months of work or be unable to return to the same career.
Depending on the circumstances, an injury claim may seek compensation for medical expenses, lost income, reduced future earning capacity, pain and suffering, permanent impairment, and other losses caused by the collision. When a head-on crash is fatal, eligible family members may have additional rights under Maine’s wrongful death laws.
There is no meaningful average value for these cases. At Mann Law, we look at how an injury has affected the person rather than making promises based on settlements or verdicts from unrelated cases.
Under Maine’s comparative negligence law, 14 M.R.S. § 156, an injured person may still recover when their own conduct contributed to the accident, provided they were not equally at fault. When the claimant shares responsibility, the jury reduces the damages by the amount it considers just and equitable in light of the claimant’s share of responsibility. If the claimant is found equally or more at fault, they cannot recover.
This can become particularly important in a head-on collision. An insurer might argue that both drivers contributed through speeding, distraction, an unsafe passing maneuver, or other actions. A careful investigation can help establish how much responsibility each driver actually bears.
Serious head-on collisions require more than submitting medical bills to an insurance company. When fault is disputed, or injuries will affect someone for years to come, the evidence must tell a clear story about both how the collision occurred and what it has cost the injured person.
A head-on crash attorney in Maine can investigate liability, preserve evidence, review insurance coverage, document current and future losses, and handle communications with insurers while you focus on your recovery.
Attorney Chrissy Mann’s previous experience in insurance defense gives her insight into how insurers investigate accidents, evaluate medical evidence, and challenge serious injury claims. Today, she uses that perspective to anticipate potential issues and prepare cases with those challenges in mind.
Mann Law brings more than 50 years of combined experience to personal injury cases while maintaining the personal attention that matters when you are dealing with a life-changing injury. If you want to learn more about how we handle vehicle collision claims, visit our Maine car accident lawyer page.
Head-on collisions can result from distracted driving, impairment, fatigue, speeding, unsafe passing, or a driver losing control and crossing the centerline. Liability generally rests with the driver whose negligence caused the crash, but determining fault may require examining the actions of both drivers and other contributing factors.
In some cases, another party may share responsibility, such as an employer whose employee caused the crash while working or a manufacturer responsible for a vehicle defect.
Fault can be determined through physical and electronic evidence even when both drivers are too seriously injured to provide a complete account. Investigators may examine vehicle damage, tire marks, debris, final vehicle positions, event data, photographs, video, witness statements, and other evidence.
For particularly serious crashes, reconstruction specialists may analyze speeds, vehicle dynamics, roadway evidence, and the collision sequence to determine which vehicle crossed into the opposing lane.
Yes, potentially. Under Maine’s comparative negligence statute, 14 M.R.S. § 156, your claim is not automatically barred simply because you contributed to the accident. You may recover if you were less at fault than the other side, although your damages can be reduced to reflect your share of responsibility. If you are found equally at fault, you cannot recover.
Maine’s rule is somewhat different from a simple percentage-based formula. The statute directs the jury to reduce damages by a dollar amount it considers just and equitable based on the claimant’s responsibility for the harm.
Some of the most important evidence may include crash-scene photographs, vehicle damage, tire and skid marks, debris patterns, witness statements, video footage, and electronic data from the vehicles. Cell phone records and evidence of alcohol or drug impairment may also become important depending on the circumstances.
After a serious head-on collision, you may know that the other vehicle entered your lane but have no idea why. Or the insurance company may be questioning fault before you have had an opportunity to understand what the evidence shows.
Mann Law can help you find those answers. We will listen to what happened, investigate the circumstances of the collision, explain your legal options, and help you decide what comes next. Contact Mann Law to learn more about how we can assist.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page
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