Wrong-way car accidents are not the most common type of car accidents but they are worthy of special consideration for one very important reason: They so often lead to catastrophic injuries or even death. Today we are going to look at the top causes of these terrible accidents. If you have been injured in a wrong way accident, or have lost a loved one in this type of accident, please contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consutlation.
The seriousness of wrong-way accidents
A wrong-way accident is one in which two cars collide head on because one vehicle was traveling the wrong way. There is often no time to brake and it is common for both vehicles to be traveling full speed. As a result, the force is significant. The driver and front seat passenger are in particularly high risk of receiving critical injuries.
Drugs and alcohol are involved in most wrong-way accidents
By far, the top cause of wrong-way accidents is a driver using drugs or alcohol before getting behind the wheel. A driver who is intoxicated can easily become disoriented and can enter the road or freeway ramp in the wrong direction. When this type of accident occurs, one of the first things the police will look for is drug or alcohol use by one or both parties.
Other causes of wrong-way accidents
To prevent the most common cause of wrong-way accidents, simply do not drive if you have been drinking or using drugs. That is easy to avoid on a personal level, but of course you cannot prevent other drivers from doing so. You also cannot prevent many of the other causes of wrong-way accidents, which include poor lighting, improperly placed road signs, roads or freeways that have not been marked, and drivers in unfamiliar areas.
There is one remaining cause of wrong-way accidents that is becoming more common: Distracted driving. The unfortunate reality is that many of the technologies that are designed to keep us safer behind the wheel are actually having the opposite effect and making it more dangerous to drive. You can prevent this by not using your phone or other smart device while driving. When you use your GPS, use your common sense as well – if roadways have significantly changed then it is possible for GPS to instruct you to drive the wrong way.
Call us today for help if you have been injured in an accident
If you have been impacted by a car accident then you should contact a personal injury attorney right away. You can call Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 and request a free legal consultation. We will go over your options, let you know what we recommend, and listen to your needs. If we decide to take your case, it will be on a contingency basis that requires you to pay nothing upfront – and nothing if we do not win your case.
