Head-On Collision Results in Fatality of Pensacola Resident

A recent accident caused the death of an Escambia County woman, along with injuries to her now-widowed husband. The crash is an example of the deadly potential of head-on collisions.

On a recent evening, a 71-year-old Pensacola woman was riding as a passenger in a 2011 Nissan Altima, which her husband, 60, drove. The couple was traveling south on Ninth Avenue near Keating Road in Pensacola when the accident occurred. A 1968 Dodge Coronet, driven by a 26-year-old Pensacola resident with two passengers in their 20s, was traveling north on Ninth Ave. when the driver lost control of his car and ended up in the southbound lane. The Coronet struck the Altima partially head-on. All five individuals involved in the crash were taken to the hospital, but the 71-year-old woman was the only person who died in the collision.

Head-on collisions account for only a small share of the overall number of traffic accidents in the US, making up about 2% of all crashes. However, accidents are far more likely to be fatal when cars hit head-on. Head-on collisions make up an average of 10% of all roadway fatalities annually, and 53% of all head-on collisions cause an injury of some degree to those involved in the accident. These types of crashes are more likely than others to stem from grossly negligent or reckless behavior on behalf of the drivers, often resulting from drivers who have nodded off at the wheel, are driving while distracted by their phones, or are driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Those driving in rural areas are particularly at risk of being involved in a head-on crash, as curving back roads may be poorly-lit, offering a driver too little time to adjust to a bend in the road before crossing a double-yellow line into the path of oncoming traffic. Since drunk drivers often have particular difficulty in keeping their car between lane lines, they tend to cause a large share of head-on collisions. Signage that is insufficient at indicating a bend in the road may also be a contributing factor in a head-on crash, possibly making a state or municipal office partially liable for damages resulting from the accident.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a head-on crash or a collision with a drunk or reckless driver in the Florida panhandle or southern Alabama near Mobile Bay, contact the compassionate, effective, and trial-ready personal injury lawyers at Whibbs Stone Barnett Turner, PA for a consultation on your claims at 888-219-4561, with offices located in Pensacola, Ft. Walton Beach, and Fairhope, Alabama.