Fatal Head-On Crash In Hartford
A 33-year-old man was killed in a head-on crash in Hartford last July 11, 2022. The authorities identified the man as Jermal McCall, a Hartford resident. Two other individuals were severely injured. The major crimes unit of the Hartford Police Department responded to the crash.
According to the police, the head-on collision occurred on Monday, at around 1 a.m., at the intersection of Fairfield and New Britain avenues, close to Zion Street. Authorities closed the intersection of Fairfield and New Britain from Zion Street to Summit Street and reopened the area later in the morning. Witnesses reported that two people required CPR. Two cars were severely damaged, and one caught on fire.
The driver, Jermal McCall, and front seat passenger of the Ford Focus were rushed to a nearby hospital with severe injuries. McCall was pronounced dead. The passenger, also a 33-year-old man, was seriously injured. The driver of the other car, an Altima, was also rushed to the hospital. He was also severely injured but in stable condition.
The Dangers Of Head-On Collisions
The vast majority of head-on collisions take place on two-lane roadways, according to a study by the Transportation Research Board (TRB). People may also be surprised to find out that a small number of head-on collisions involve drivers who are trying to pass rather than drivers who are entering a curve or driving straight.
The study also found that most head-on crashes happen due to unintentional reckless maneuvers. Put simply, the top causes of head-on crashes are negligent driving practices, such as:
- Driving while distracted, mainly texting or using the cell phone while driving
- Driving too fast when entering a curve
- Falling asleep while driving, usually due to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Driving down the wrong way on a one-way street
- Failing to follow traffic lights and stop signs
- Swerving to avoid hitting an object or animal on the roadway
Unfortunately, alcohol typically plays a significant role in head-on collisions. When drivers get behind the wheel while drunk, they lack the physical and mental ability to control their cars safely, resulting in unintentional but reckless maneuvers that lead to head-on crashes.
But it’s important to note that non-driver factors may sometimes contribute to or cause a head-on collision. For example, a road defect, like a pothole, or a vehicle defect, like faulty brakes, could force a driver to perform a sudden maneuver. Besides the possibility of death, severe and permanent injuries usually result when cars crash head-on. These injuries can include multiple fractures, spinal cord injury, internal organ damage, traumatic brain injury, severe lacerations, and disfigurement.
Connect With A Top Hartford Roadside Lawyer Now
If you’ve been involved in a head-on collision that resulted from another driver or entity’s negligent acts, you deserve and need to recoup fair compensation to help you cover all your accident-related damages. Reach out to Berman & Russo today to discuss your situation with our Hartford roadside lawyer. Dial 860-644-1548 or complete our online form to set up your free case review today.
