All car accidents can lead to serious or devastating injuries, but some types of accidents are naturally more catastrophic than others. Wrong-way accidents are more likely to result in serious or permanently disabling injury. Head-on collisions can lead to life-threatening or fatal accidents to the driver and front seat passengers. If you or someone you know recently sustained injury or experienced a wrongful death due to wrong-way driving in Phoenix, contact the wrong-way driving accident lawyers at Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A. to schedule a free case evaluation.
Are Wrong-Way Crashes Common?
Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration indicates that 300 to 400 people die each year in the country from wrong-way accidents. Unfortunately, these accidents are largely preventable. Despite proper marking and signage, driving in the wrong direction causes accidents that contribute to hundreds of American deaths each year. Why?
The National Transportation Safety Board collects data on crashes to identify common trends and make safety recommendations. After years of collecting data on wrong-way crashes, it found the following elements play a role in this type of accident:
Age
The NTSB found that drivers over the age of 70 are most likely to be involved in wrong-way accidents. Several factors may play a role: decreased visual acuity, delayed reaction time, and possible cognitive dysfunction.
Time of Day
According to the NTSB, most accidents occur between the hours of 6 pm and 6 am. A variety of factors are likely at play – driver fatigue, low visibility, and more people operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Over three-quarters of wrong-way accidents occur during this time, so you can greatly reduce your risk of an accident by avoiding travel at these times.
Wrong-way crashes are also more likely to occur on a weekend instead of during the work week – likely because people are more likely to drink and drive then.
Unfamiliarity With the City
Many wrong-way crashes occur when a vehicle enters a highway on the wrong ramp (an exit ramp instead of an entrance ramp). This may not be because a driver is under the influence of alcohol – he or she may simply be unfamiliar with the city design.
Studies also show that cloverleaf and partial cloverleaf highway designs are more confusing to drivers and that entering a highway on the left leads to more wrong-way accidents. Even sober drivers can end up on the wrong side of the road if they’re confused or if there’s inadequate signage.
Wrong-Way Driving Accidents Can Lead to Serious Injuries
Unfortunately, wrong-way driving accidents often lead to serious, permanently disabling injuries and deaths. Though a head-on collision can result in any number of injuries, the following are some of the most common:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), which often require a lifetime of intensive care
- Spinal cord injuries, resulting in paralysis or loss of sensation
- Multiple fractures
- Neck injuries
- Crush injuries, which can lead to a life-threatening condition called compartment syndrome
- Internal organ damage
- Wrongful death
Your Phoenix Wrong-Way Accident Attorney
Head-on collisions can have devastating consequences that affect you and your loved ones for a lifetime. If you’ve experienced serious injuries or lost a loved one in a wrong-way accident, you may be able to hold the other driver responsible for the full extent of your damages, including all of your material and immaterial losses. Contact the Phoenix car accident attorneys at Begam Marks & Traulsen, P.A., and schedule a free initial consultation with our firm today. Let us help you hold the other driver accountable for his or her negligent actions.