What to Do if a Car Is Coming at You Head-On

As a driver, few things are scarier than seeing a vehicle come barreling at you head-on. With mere seconds to react, the evasive actions you take could be life-saving. Although less common than other types of car crashes, head-on accidents can result in serious and even fatal injuries.

In 2017, head-on collisions were estimated to have a 58 percent fatality rate. When these accidents occur, drivers are often traveling or turning the wrong way and are not aware of their errors. That is why drivers should always pay close attention to traffic signs, these will tell you if you are on the wrong side of the road. However, in some cases, motorists may be operating their vehicles under the influence or driving while distracted.

It is important to signal the other driver and take actions to get yourself out of their path. Below are six easy steps to keep in mind when a car is coming at you head-on.

1. Keep Your Eyes Ahead

Always pay close attention to the road ahead. The sooner you spot a vehicle heading straight for you, the more time you have to take evasive measures. What is more, those behind you will also have the benefit of added time.

2. Flash Your Headlights and Honk Your Horn

When you spot a driver traveling on the wrong side of the road, your first assumption may be that they are intoxicated and unaware of their surroundings. While you might not have much luck in catching the attention of an inebriated driver, it may be that you are facing someone who is:

● Driving while texting or otherwise distracted

● Falling asleep behind the wheel

● Experiencing automotive malfunction

Flashing your lights and tapping your horn should be your first response. Hopefully, these auditory and visual warnings will be sufficient for getting the other person to correct their mistake.

Given that both of you will be approaching each other at high speeds, however, you will have little time to take evasive actions of your own. Thus, you do not want to wait around after flashing your lights and using your horn. Instead, you should get out of the way as fast as you can.

3. Slow Down Your Car

Take your foot off the gas and begin braking. Quickly scan your surroundings to determine the safest place to go. While you have no control over the oncoming car, slowing down your own vehicle will give you a bit more time to respond and catch their attention. It will also alert other drivers around you and give them a chance to react.

4. Try Steering to the Right or Veering off the Road

If there is room to the right of you, try moving into the right lane. If there is an emergency lane or rest stop that you can enter, this could be a perfect choice. Keep in mind that even veering off the road can often prove less hazardous than crashing into another car head-on.

Try not to worry about damaging your vehicle. Your main priority is to keep yourself from suffering a life-altering injury. Whether your vehicle is struck or not, you can always talk with a head-on collision accident lawyer to learn whether you can collect damages.

5. Relax Your Body and Maintain Normal Driving Position

If you are not able to avoid collision with an oncoming vehicle, focus on evading a direct, head-on hit. Having a car nick the side of yours will change the direction of impact forces, and it may potentially limit the risk of severe physical harm.

If a crash becomes inevitable, do your best to avoid tensing up. If you keep your body and muscles loose, you can reduce the overall effects of the impact. Not only are drivers prone to tensing up before crashes, but they often tend to twist to one side, hunker over their steering wheels, or hunch down in their seats. Keep in mind that all of your in-car safety features are designed to protect you when you are in your normal driving position. These include:

● Safety restraints

● Airbags

● Crumple zones

When you tense up and attempt to achieve a defensive posture, you actually minimize the efficacy of these features. Try to relax and trust that the safety features will protect you.

6. Call for Help

Despite your best efforts, the collision might be unavoidable. If you were involved in a car accident make sure that you and your passengers are safe and stable. Call 911 immediately. Do not count on the fact that some other driver will call them because they might not. You must receive medical help as soon as possible.

If you were not injured severely, start documenting the crash and contact your insurance company. Make sure to talk to anyone who was close to the scene and get their contact details, so you can reach them in case you will need further information about what happened.

Take photos of any injuries linked to the crash and then move on to the damage caused to the vehicle. If there is any property damage, document that too. Do not forget about the other driver’s car. Get as many details about it as possible.

When the police arrive, try to tell them calmly everything that happened. Maintain an objective perspective when telling your story. Try not to attribute blame, that is not your job. This will be up to the police and your insurance company.

However, if you feel that the compensation you got from your insurance company after a head-on collision is not fair, contact a lawyer. This is when proper documentation of the accident becomes essential. Photos from the scene of the accident, witness statements, medical bills can all be used to secure you proper benefits.

Keep Your Cool

Whenever you find yourself facing a potential car accident, it is important to keep your cool. By thinking fast and reacting quickly, you may be able to avoid a head-on collision altogether. At the very least, you can take some steps to minimize the impact.