When a motorist drives the wrong way on the road, it can easily lead to head-on collisions, resulting in catastrophic accidents, severe injuries, and fatalities. As expected, head-on collisions are some of the most serious types of car accidents as both vehicles travel at high rates of speed and impact each other directly.
If you suffered injuries or losses related to a car accident with a driver operating a motor vehicle in the wrong direction, learn how a car accidents caused by a wrong-way driver lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 can help you learn more about your legal rights.
Understanding the Causes of Wrong-Way Accidents
Every accident on the roadways will have a different set of facts and circumstances, and wrong-way accidents are no different. However, there are certain specific causes of wrong-way accidents that are often seen more frequently. These causes include the following:
Senior Drivers
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) indicates that many car accidents are the result of a wrong-way driver that is older and perhaps has either physical or cognitive challenges.
The NTSB research states that drivers that are over the age of 70 compose 15% of all wrong-way accidents in the United States. In some cases, this may occur as a result of poor vision or slower reflexes due to age. In other cases, unfortunately, wrong-way accidents may actually result from the neuro-cognitive challenges that develop in elderly seniors, including dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Distracted Driving
One type of distracted driving that can cause you to veer into the wrong lane is texting and driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that texting and driving accounts for over 2,800 fatalities within the United States every year.
While texting and driving is a serious issue on the roadways, there are other circumstances in which a driver may have distractions that result in a wrong-way accident. Some examples of distracted driving may include distractions inside or outside of the vehicle, overall inattention, changing the radio station, attempting to determine directions with a GPS system, eating, drinking, or smoking.
New Location and Unfamiliarity
In some cases, a wrong-way accident is simply the result of a driver operating their motor vehicle in a new location with which they have little familiarity. This may occur in some large downtown cities that have several different one-way streets going in opposite directions.
Any lack of signs, poorly lit or marked roads, or construction zones can make a driver even more confused regarding their circumstances, which can easily lead to a wrong-way accident.
Drowsy Driving
Many wrong-way accidents occur at nighttime, which may be the result of poor lighting or the inability to see clearly. However, in many cases, drowsy driving is to blame for wrong-way accidents.
When a driver is significantly fatigued while operating a vehicle, they will not have the same ability to respond quickly to dangerous situations. Additionally, if a driver falls asleep behind the wheel of a car, they can easily cross over multiple lanes and therefore cause a wrong-way accident.
Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs
Any motorist that makes the decision to drive a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol has already made a poor decision. The judgment of a person under the influence of drugs or alcohol remains seriously and significantly impaired.
Drunk or drugged drivers often operate their vehicles in a reckless or negligent manner simply because they do not have full use of their cognitive faculties. Many drunk or drugged drivers will speed or fail to obey traffic signals or signs. As a result, a driver that is under the influence of alcohol or drugs can easily cause a wrong-way accident resulting in serious injuries or death.
Additional Causes of Wrong-Way Accidents
The list above of causes of wrong-way accidents does not include every possible scenario. Some other examples of causes of wrong-way accidents may include the following:
- Operating a motor vehicle with excessive speed
- Reckless driving
- Veering into another lane of traffic to avoid debris on the road
- Inclement weather conditions
- Failing to notice that a driver entered an exit ramp on the highway in the wrong direction
- Failing to return to their own appropriate lane after passing a vehicle on the roadway
No matter the reason that another motorist directly hit your vehicle in a wrong-way car accident, you likely have injuries, damages, and losses as a result. Consider calling our team to learn how a car accidents caused by a wrong-way driver lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC can help you negotiate with insurance companies, and build a strong personal injury case to receive the compensation you deserve.
Compensation for Wrong-Way Accidents
As a victim of a wrong-way accident, you have the legal right to pursue compensation from the negligent party for any injuries and losses. Some of the types of compensation you can receive related to your car accident may include the following:
- Medical bills
- Future medical bills
- Lost wages
- Future loss of wages
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Punitive damages
Consulting with a lawyer can help you understand how much compensation you may have the legal right to receive regarding these different types of injuries and losses. For example, any person that suffers any type of disfigurement, paralysis, the inability to return to work, or disability will receive a higher amount of compensation than a victim who suffers less severe injuries or losses.
Learn How a Wrong-Way Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you suffered injuries due to a driver going the wrong way on the road and causing an accident, you might have the legal right to compensation. Learn how a car accidents caused by a wrong-way driver lawyer at Ben Crump Law, PLLC at (844) 730-0233 can help you with your legal case and help answer your questions.
