
Head-On Truck Collisions
Head-on truck collisions are among the most devastating types of truck crashes, often leaving victims with life-altering injuries and families forever changed. Learn how negligence and preventable errors contribute to these tragedies—and what steps you can take to seek justice.
That split second changed everything. Whether you're fighting to recover from catastrophic injuries, or mourning a loved one who never made it home - an 80,000-pound truck colliding head-on with your vehicle has forever divided your life into "before" and "after."
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in head-on crashes with larger trucks, 72% of those in passenger vehicles either lose their lives or face life-altering injuries.
Head-on collisions, especially those that involve a large commercial vehicle can be particularly devastating. We know this because we've walked this path with hundreds of survivors and grieving families. The devastating reality is that head-on crashes overwhelmingly impact passenger vehicle occupants, leaving their lives forever changed.

Whether you're fighting for your recovery or your family's future after losing someone, you don't have to face this alone. The experienced truck accident attorneys at The Law Firm for Truck Safety can help you build a case that results in the full and fair compensation your family is entitled to and holds all negligent parties accountable.
Contact Our Experienced Truck Crash Attorneys Today
Involved in a Head-On Truck Accident?
Contact Our Experienced Truck Crash Attorneys Today
Why Do Head-On Truck Collisions Happen?
Understanding how a truck crash happened is crucial to holding the right parties accountable. Our investigation teams have uncovered numerous causes behind these life-shattering collisions, many of which point to negligence by trucking companies or their drivers. A head-on crash with a semi-truck can be caused by a variety of factors, most of which are related to driver error, though there are some exceptions.
The Most Common Causes of Head-on Truck Collisions Are:
Distracted Driving
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 3,308 lives were lost in 2022 due to distracted driving. When truck drivers are distracted, it becomes much easier to make a wrong turn, veer into oncoming traffic, or fail to recognize they are going the wrong way on a one-way street.
Truck drivers who were driving while texting, talking on the phone, playing with a navigational system, radio, or mobile games are all too common in our truck crash lawsuits.

Reckless Driving
This can include speeding, changing lanes without signaling, not leaving enough space, or driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. All of these factors could cause a driver to swerve into oncoming traffic and hit another vehicle head-on.
Driver Fatigue
Drivers and transportation companies are under immense pressure to deliver goods as quickly as possible, which means they are incentivized to skip breaks and illegally elongate their already lengthy shifts of 11-hours driving and 14 hours on duty.
Not only can driver fatigue cause drivers to veer into oncoming traffic, or impair their judgment and spatial reasoning, it can also slow the driver’s reaction time, meaning they might not be able to brake fast enough to avoid colliding with another vehicle.

Missing or Inadequate Signage
In rare cases, head-on collisions can be caused by confusing, inadequate, or missing signage, a lack of appropriate lighting and road medians, or poor highway entrance and exit signage. Missing or inadequate signage could lead a driver to turn the wrong way down a one-way street or drive the wrong way down an entrance or exit ramp.
Poor Truck Visibility
A commercial truck without proper lighting, reflective tape, or visibility markers becomes a nearly invisible hazard on dark or low-visibility roads.
When trucking companies neglect these crucial safety features or drivers fail to maintain working lights, other motorists may not see the truck until it's too late to avoid a head-on collision.

Impaired Driving
Operating a commercial truck under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or impairing medications turns an 80,000-pound vehicle into a deadly weapon. When drivers make this reckless choice, their impaired judgment, blurred vision, and slowed reactions often lead to crossing center lines or driving into oncoming traffic.
Mechanical Issues
Sometimes head-on truck crashes are caused by mechanical issues. A blown tire could cause a truck to veer into oncoming traffic, and faulty brakes could cause a driver to lose control of the vehicle or swerve into another lane to avoid hitting the vehicle it’s trailing.
Even if a mechanical issue partially or fully caused the accident, there is a negligent party involved who needs to be held accountable, whether it’s the parts manufacturer, maintenance company, or a driver who failed to properly maintain his vehicle.

Regardless of what caused your accident, you shouldn’t have to pick up the pieces alone. A truck accident law firm that has a proven track record of handling head-on truck crash lawsuits can help. Our experienced truck accident attorneys know where to look for evidence - whether it's buried in driver logs, maintenance records, or company safety policies. We thoroughly investigate every detail to uncover who put you or your loved one in harm's way and hold them accountable.

Crash. Not Accident.
The word “accident” is often used to describe devastating truck crashes. Many people in need of legal help will search for a “truck accident lawyer near me” or the “best truck accident attorney”. We even use "accident" in our site name.
However, most truck “accidents” are not accidents at all.
Truck crashes are often caused by distracted, fatigued, poorly trained, or downright dangerous truck drivers and/or the unsafe business practices of the trucking companies and brokers that hired them. Every semi-truck accident lawyer at The Law Firm for Truck Safety is committed to helping those who have been irreparably harmed in commercial vehicle crashes and providing education to the public that crashes are not accidents.
Catastrophic Injuries and Wrongful Death Caused by Truck Accidents
When an 80,000-pound truck collides head-on with a passenger vehicle, motorcyclist, or even another truck driver, the consequences are devastating because the force of impact adds both vehicles’ speeds together. As such, head-on collisions with semi-trucks tend to result in serious, life-altering injuries and death. These injuries often require significant immediate medical attention, which becomes very costly very quickly.
Though Head-on Truck Collisions Can Cause a Wide Range of Injuries, Here Are Some of the Most Common We See in Our Head-on Truck Crash Cases:

- Paralysis
- Neck and spinal cord injuries
- Burns, cuts, and abrasions
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Amputation
- Orthopedic injuries
- Eye injuries
- Internal organ damage
- Death
Beyond physical injuries, victims often experience psychological trauma or PTSD after a head-on collision with a truck. Much like physical injuries, these emotional issues may require expensive treatment. And in some cases, could affect a person’s job performance.
Whether you're struggling with physical injuries, emotional trauma, or both, your suffering deserves to be acknowledged - and compensated. The true cost of a head-on truck collision goes far beyond medical bills. It includes every missed paycheck, every therapy session, every moment of lost independence, and every way your life has changed since that devastating crash.
Don't let insurance companies minimize your trauma or pressure you into a quick settlement that fails to secure your future.
Our experienced truck accident attorneys understand the full impact of these catastrophic injuries and will fight relentlessly to get you the comprehensive compensation you and your family deserve.

We limit our caseload to solely serve victims of catastrophic truck crashes. In turn, our lawyers are able to give our clients and their cases the attention, care, and resources they deserve.
Injured in a truck accident? Let us be a resource for you.
Injured in a truck accident? Let us be a resource for you.
Call 800.628.4500 and learn how our team of experienced truck crash attorneys can help you find justice for your truck crash injuries.
What to Do after a Head-on Truck Crash: Critical Steps
In the chaos following a devastating truck collision, knowing what to do can feel overwhelming. Whether you're a survivor dealing with severe injuries or a family member who lost someone irreplaceable, these important steps can protect your rights and future if you find yourself in a head-on collision with a delivery truck, dump truck, or other type of semi-truck.
Immediate Actions:
- Seek emergency medical care, even if injuries seem minor.
- Reach out to law enforcement to secure a record of the crash report.
- Record information about the vehicles involved in your crash, including plates, make, model, and DOT number.
- Document the crash scene. If possible, take photos of vehicle positions and damage.
- Get contact information from any witnesses.


In the Days Following:
- Follow all medical treatment plans carefully
- Document everything about your injuries and recovery
- Keep all medical bills and crash-related expenses
Protecting Your Future:
- Contact an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible.
- Preserve any evidence from the crash
- Keep records of missed work and lost wages
- Document changes in your daily life and capabilities
- Save all communication about the crash


For Grieving Families:
- Secure copies of all accident reports and medical records
- Gather documentation about your loved one's income
- Keep records of funeral and burial expenses
- Document the impact on family members
- Protect your rights to wrongful death claims
Remember: While you focus on what matters most — your recovery or spending time with your loved ones – The Law Firm for Truck Safety’s experienced legal team can handle the complexities of your case.
Our head-on truck crash attorneys are ready to fight back against insurance companies and ensure those responsible for your crash are held accountable while you concentrate on healing.
What Can I Expect if I File a Claim After a Head-On Accident with a Semi-Truck?
After your truck accident, don't be surprised if the trucking company's insurance company reaches out to you with a settlement offer. When this happens, you’ll want to have the support of a truck accident attorney by your side. Typically, these initial offers are well below the amount survivors and surviving families are owed.
A good truck accident lawyer will:
- sit down with you to first establish goals for your case — financial or otherwise.
- then gather significant evidence and begin crafting a narrative.
- file a claim on your behalf with the trucking company’s insurance carrier.
- fight to get you a fair settlement.
While some cases can be settled out of court, sometimes going to trial is necessary. When looking for an attorney for your head-on truck crash, it’s essential to find a personal injury lawyer who’s not afraid to take your case to court and fight for what you deserve.
At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, we work up every case to prepare it for trial. We do this because if nothing else, this allows us to negotiate settlement terms from a position of strength.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire the Best Trucking Accident Lawyer?
The best truck accident lawyers know that after a devastating truck crash, the last thing you need is another bill to worry about. This is why these personal injury law firms won’t charge upfront for representation. Instead, a good head-on truck crash attorney will work on a contingency basis. This means that the personal injury law firm won’t collect legal fees unless they win your case.
The experienced head-on truck accident attorneys at The Law Firm for Truck Safety work exclusively on a contingency basis, so we don’t win unless you do. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation about your head-on truck collision case.
Let us show you why, when it comes to head-on truck accident lawsuits, experience matters - without any financial risk to you.
Did You Know?
At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, we have:
more NBTA (National Board Trial Advocacy) board-certified truck accident lawyers and attorneys with Class "A" commercial driver’s licenses than any other firm in the nation.
Expertise Matters.
Establishing Liability in Head-On Collisions
In head-on collision lawsuits, determining who's legally responsible isn't as straightforward as it might seem. Insurance companies and trucking corporations have teams of lawyers and investigators whose whole job is to minimize their liability.
They're literal experts at hiding evidence, finding loopholes, and deflecting responsibility if it means the amount their client pays out is lessened.
This is why having an experienced truck accident attorney is crucial. At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, we know where to look and what to look for. Though truck drivers are very commonly at fault in head-on collisions, they are usually not the only liable party.
Here Are a Few People and Entities Commonly Named in Head-on Truck Crash Lawsuits:
In head-on truck crashes, the devastating collision is often caused by the truck driver's negligent decisions behind the wheel. In our head-on truck accident cases, we frequently see dangerous behaviors like driving distracted, driving while fatigued, driving drunk or otherwise impaired, failing to perform regular maintenance or properly secure their cargo, speeding, and more.
When a truck driver’s negligence causes a head-on collision, it’s likely that they will be one of the parties named in your lawsuit.
If the trucking company is responsible for any of the following actions, they may be held accountable and owe you restitution:
- hired unqualified drivers or drivers with bad records
- failed to train drivers or schedule enough rest time
- incentivized drivers to skip their scheduled rest times
- failed to maintain their fleet

If the semi driver or trucking company outsources maintenance efforts to a third party and that business fails to catch or resolve a mechanical issue that fully or partially causes a head-on accident, the maintenance company could be found liable.
When a crash is caused by a mechanical failure in the truck, head-on collision attorneys will investigate the company that manufactured the faulty part. If the manufacturer of the truck or truck part failed to conduct appropriate testing or knew the part was faulty but didn’t recall it, they could be sued.

Sometimes liability extends beyond the truck that hit you. Another truck driver's reckless actions - like aggressive lane changes, sudden braking, or dangerous passing maneuvers - can force other truckers to swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid a collision.
Even if this negligent driver didn't directly impact your vehicle, they can still be held legally responsible for causing the chain of events that led to your head-on crash.

In rare circumstances, a government entity could be named in your lawsuit. If your accident involved a city vehicle like a bus, fire truck, or police car, you may be able to sue. The same could be true if you can prove that the roads were poorly maintained and caused your accident. Though immunity may come into play, a seasoned truck accident lawyer may be able to help you recover funds for your injuries.
Determining liability and how many parties to name in your truck accident lawsuit is complex, so it’s essential to enlist the help of an experienced head-on truck accident attorney. By leaving liable parties out of your lawsuit, you’re leaving money on the table. More importantly, you’re allowing drivers, trucking companies, or other parties to continue to get away with unsafe practices.
Contact a Proven Head-On Collision Truck Accident Attorney
The aftermath of a head-on truck collision changes everything. Whether you're struggling with catastrophic injuries or mourning a loved one taken too soon, you shouldn't have to fight for justice alone.
The Law Firm for Truck Safety and its attorneys bring unique qualifications to your fight:
- More National Board of Trial Advocacy board-certified attorneys than any other firm nationwide
- Five lawyers holding commercial driver's licenses – giving us first-hand insights into the rules trucker drivers must follow
- Extensive trial experience specifically in catastrophic truck crashes
- Deep truck crash litigation and truck safety expertise, which is essential in uncovering critical evidence that general personal injury firms might miss.
- Offices in Ohio, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Illinois supporting truck accident victims, nationwide.

While you focus on what matters most - healing or honoring your loved one's memory—let us focus on your legal battle. We understand the weight of what you're going through, and we're ready to fight for the justice you deserve. If you or a loved one has been injured by a truck, contact the head-on collision attorneys at The Law Firm for Truck Safety today.
Our attorneys will guide you on your path to justice with dignity and purpose. There's no risk, and no obligation - just experienced advocates ready to fight for your future.
Do You Have a Case?
If you or a loved one have been impacted by a head-on truck crash, we would be honored to have a free case consultation with you. Your story, your pain, and your quest for justice matter deeply to us.
At The Law Firm for Truck Safety, our trucking lawyers are standing by, waiting to help you fight for the justice you deserve.
Our semi-accident lawyers are committed not only to seeking justice but also to providing you and your family with the support needed to forge ahead after your oversized load crash.
Call The Law Firm for Truck Safety today to schedule your free case consultation with the truck accident attorney located near you.
CALL TODAY: (800) 628-4500