Seeking Justice After a Head-On Accident?
Speeding is something that everyone knows they should not do – but many do anyway. Whether a commuter is late for work, or a driver is feeling overly confident on a long stretch of highway, the result is the same: increased danger, particularly when vehicles are traveling toward each other on two-lane roads. Few traffic crashes are more devastating than head-on collisions, and when speeding is a factor, the consequences can be catastrophic.
The Physics of Speeding Into a Head-On Collision
Head-on collisions are violent, and drivers have no second chance to react or recover. When one vehicle crosses the centerline or median directly into the path of another, essentially, both vehicle speeds are combined in terms of force. If two cars travel at 60 mph, the impact is equivalent to hitting a solid wall at 120 mph. When you add speeding into the mix, it becomes a nightmare scenario.
Drivers often feel emboldened to push the speed limit or ignore it entirely on long, open roads in Texas. Speeding is dangerous driving behavior that increases the risk of being involved in a life-threatening crash. The Texas Department of Transportation (TX DOT) reports that 771 drivers, 285 passengers, and 79 pedestrians were killed in speeding-related fatal crashes in 2023. Head-on collisions caused 635 traffic deaths, as reported in the Texas Motor Vehicle Traffic Crash Stats, Calendar Year 2023.
How Speeding Sets the Stage for Head-On Collisions
Speeding can lead to head-on crashes in the following ways:
Loss of Control
Speeding reduces the time a driver has to react. Curves, inclement weather, and driver distraction increase the chances of veering across lanes. At high speeds, even a small swerve can push a vehicle across the centerline into the path of oncoming traffic.
Botched Passing Maneuvers
Texas drivers are no strangers to two-lane highways such as State Highway 16 and FM 109. When a driver is passing on a two-lane road, speeding can create a false sense of how much space and time are available. Passing judgment errors are one of the most common causes of head-on collisions in rural Texas.
Distracted or Impaired Driving Plus Excessive Speed
Drivers who are speeding may also be distracted, for example, by texting or adjusting a playlist, or impaired by alcohol or fatigue. A distracted, intoxicated, or fatigued driver who is also speeding is far more likely to cross into the wrong lane without realizing it until it is too late.
Liability for Head-On Collisions in Texas
Texas is an at-fault state for car accidents. The driver who caused the crash is responsible for paying damages. Speeding is a key piece of evidence in establishing fault. After a head-on collision occurs, investigators and insurance companies work to determine whether speeding was involved and, if so, by which driver.
Evidence That Proves Speeding
In personal injury cases involving head-on collisions, proving the at-fault driver was speeding can shift liability quickly. This can be proven in the following ways:
- Crash reconstruction experts can analyze vehicle damage, skid marks, and other physical evidence to determine speed upon impact.
- Traffic camera footage or dashcam recordings (increasingly common throughout Texas) can provide direct proof.
- Black box data from modern vehicles can show speed, acceleration, and braking patterns before a crash.
- Witness statements from uninvolved third parties can confirm erratic or high-speed driving.
Comparative Fault in Texas
Under the Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Section 33.001 – Proportionate Responsibility, a claimant who is more than 50% responsible for an accident cannot recover damages. If both drivers were speeding or otherwise driving negligently, the one assigned the largest portion of the blame may be barred from recovering damages altogether.
A claimant who is less than 51% at fault is not barred from seeking damages, but the recovery will be reduced by that party’s percentage of fault. For example, if your damages totaled $100,000 and you were assigned 20% of the blame for the accident, your recovery would be reduced by 20% to $80,000.
Real-Life Impact of Head-On Collision Injuries
Speeding-related head-on collisions are not fender-benders – they are life-altering events. Survivors are often left with catastrophic injuries, which may include the following:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Spinal cord injury and paralysis
- Crushed limbs and amputations
- Internal injuries and organ damage
- Burn injuries from post-collision fires
- Long-term psychological trauma
These injuries will not heal in a few weeks. They may require months or years of medical treatment, rehabilitation, loss of income, and changes in lifestyle and independence. In wrongful death cases, many families are left with grief, funeral expenses, and the financial blow of losing a breadwinner.
How Speeding Makes Liability Claims More Complex
Speeding increases the impact of a collision, and it can also make the aftermath more complicated. High-speed crashes can result in larger claims because of the severity of the injuries involved. Insurance companies will often fight harder to minimize their payouts or shift blame onto the victim. The following are common tactics used by insurers:
- Arguing that the injured driver was also speeding or otherwise contributed to the crash
- Minimizing injuries by claiming they were pre-existing or less severe
- Disputing fault altogether, particularly in rural collisions where fewer witnesses are available
For these reasons, early investigation and skilled representation matter. If you or your loved one has been seriously injured in a Texas head-on collision, securing evidence quickly, before it disappears, is essential for proving liability and recovering damages.
Our award-winning injury lawyers at DJC Law have been named among the National Trial Lawyers Top 100, awarded membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®. Contact us at (888) 853-8169 for fierce advocacy after a head-on collision.
