A frontal collision between two vehicles can be frightening and devastating. You should check on everyone involved if possible, call 911, and get an ambulance on the way if anyone is hurt.
Then, if it’s safe and you feel up to it, it’s a good time to start collecting the evidence you might need for the coming insurance battle. You’ll want all the evidence you can find that demonstrates who was to blame.
A skilled Bakersfield attorney can help you build your case and force car insurance companies to accept liability. If you were injured in an accident caused by a careless driver, contact Maison Law for a free case consultation to find out what your next move should be.
How Many Head-On Collisions Occur in Bakersfield?
California’s Transportation Injury Mapping System (TIMS) reports there were 1,435 accidents involving injuries in Bakersfield in 2025. 75 of those accidents were recorded as involving a head-on collision. Head-on collisions in the city were also responsible for at least 2 tragic deaths.
The Insurance Information Institute (III) reports that the U.S. documented 4,230 fatal head-on crashes in 2023. That made up around 11% of all fatal accidents in the U.S. for the year.
Head-On Collision Dangers in Bakersfield
Head-on collisions are a frightening risk on any Kern County road each day. They are the most dangerous type of crash because they carry the speed of both vehicles into an impact, doubling the collision force involved. That’s devastating for the occupants inside the vehicles.
Adding the weight and height of a produce truck, or a semi-truck, and the hazards only multiply. They can happen along busy streets like Mt. Vernon Avenue when careless drivers drift into oncoming traffic, even crossing medians. They might occur along Route 178, when a confused driver enters the highway going the wrong direction.
These are a few of the ways a head-on crash might unfold:
- Distracted drivers veering over the center line
- Drowsy drivers
- Delivery drivers struggling to keep trucks or large vans in the lane
- Wrong-way drivers
- A drunk driver’s mistake
These factors might be apparent as they happen, but the California Highway Patrol might blame the wrong driver. The other driver’s car insurance company will likely want to blame the wrong driver too.
But a skilled Bakersfield car accident lawyer can fully investigate the accident, secure witness testimony, and even call in accident reconstruction teams. Strong evidence will be the best way to keep car insurers honest and force them to turn over the maximum in recovery support.
Building Your Case After a Head-On Collision
Right after an accident, you’ll want to assess your injuries and the condition of others involved. Make a call to 911 and request an ambulance if anyone is hurt in any way.
Once the scene is secure, and if you are left strong enough, it’s the best time to secure evidence, because much of it will be cleaned up or hauled away once the scene is secured.
Try to complete these important steps:
- Tell the Bakersfield Police everything you can remember about the crash, including if the other driver was making erratic moves.
- Allow Paramedics to check out your injuries and go to the emergency room if they advise it. Ask someone with you or a helpful witness to grab some evidence for you.
- Take pictures. Show the damage to both vehicles. Show debris and skid marks. Take photos of any injuries that are visible.
- Get contact information from witnesses.
- Exchange driver’s license and insurance information with the other driver if an officer doesn’t provide it to you.
- Don’t say “my bad” or “I’m fine” after an accident. A car insurance adjuster can twist these statements to make it look like you admitted fault or that you weren’t hurt. Both statements could turn out to be false.
- Contact your own insurance agent to report the crash, even if you weren’t at fault.
- Schedule a doctor’s appointment even if you’ve already been to the ER. Get all injuries documented with your physician, especially any new pain that arises.
- Schedule a free consultation with a Bakersfield Lawyer.
When do I need a lawyer for my case?
If your injuries are very minor, or if the head-on crash only results in car damage, you may be fine handling your case yourself.
It’s when you have a serious injury, like a Traumatic Brain Injury, bone fractures, and knee, neck, or back injuries, that you should consider a lawyer’s help. These injuries come with much higher price tags, which make insurers fight you even harder to avoid providing compensation.
They can try to shift the blame in the accident, or try to downplay your injuries so you’ll accept a lower settlement. An experienced lawyer will know what your injuries are worth and what you’ll need to recover fully. Then they demand the full amount for you.
Contact a Bakersfield Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one were hurt in a head-on collision in the Bakersfield area, it’s a good idea to contact Maison Law for a free, no-obligation case consultation.
We want to make sure you receive full support for your medical bills now and in the future. We will demand that the paychecks you’ve lost while you’ve been stuck on the couch are replaced. We also want you to receive support for the pain and the emotional distress you’ve had to cope with.
And if you need our help, you don’t have to worry about having the money to pay a lawyer. We don’t charge anything unless we win your case. Then our fee is paid out of the support that a car insurance company must send to you.
