Wrong-Way Car Accidents
If a motor vehicle driver in California causes a wrong-way car accident, he or she can be held responsible for injuries caused by the crash. The damage caused by these crashes can be severe, as they often take the form of head-on collisions and high-speed crashes. As a victim of this type of car accident in California, a Los Angeles car accident attorney can help you find out if you may be eligible for financial compensation.
What Is a Wrong-Way Car Accident?
A wrong-way car accident describes a motor vehicle collision that occurs because one of the drivers is traveling in the wrong direction. These accidents are most common on highways, one-way roads and ramps. Wrong-way car accidents can often be prevented with proper care exercised by a motor vehicle driver to ensure that he or she is entering a road from the correct direction. This requires a driver to pay attention at all times and obey all traffic signs.
The Dangers of Wrong-Way Car Accidents
Wrong-way car accidents are not a very common type of crash, but they are disproportionately responsible for a large number of traffic accident deaths each year. These accidents are often catastrophic due to the circumstances: wrong-way crashes generally take the form of head-on collisions that occur at high speeds.
When two vehicles that are traveling in opposite directions collide head-on, the collision occurs at the combined speeds of both vehicles. If one car was traveling on a highway at 65 miles per hour (mph), for example, and a wrong-way driver was traveling at 80 mph, a head-on collision involving the two would take place at a total speed of 145 mph.
Why Do Wrong-Way Accidents Occur?
The severity of wrong-way car accidents has led to investigations by safety organizations such as the National Transportation Safety Board and Caltrans to determine what causes these accidents and how they can be prevented. Issues commonly associated with wrong-way accidents in California include:
- Driver negligence: drivers can make many mistakes that result in wrong-way car accidents, such as driving while drunk, distracted or drowsy. Driver inexperience, failure to pay attention to the road, speeding and reckless driving can all contribute to these crashes, as well.
- Poor visibility: public roads should have enough street lighting provided for drivers to be able to see and read relevant road signs, including signage warning drivers that they are headed the wrong way on a road or ramp.
- Improper road signage: the infrastructure of a road can make a difference to the odds of a wrong-way crash. There should be signs that are meant to be seen when a driver is approaching a road from the wrong direction, such as red reflectors and Do Not Enter or Wrong Way signs.
It has been discovered that certain locations in California are more prone to wrong-way accidents than others. While Caltrans is working to improve the engineering of high-risk areas, it is still up to drivers to obey traffic laws and pay attention to the road to prevent these disasters.
How to File a Claim for a Wrong-Way Car Accident in California
If you get injured in a wrong-way crash in California, you have the right to hold the at-fault driver accountable under the state’s tort-based insurance law. You can file an insurance claim against the other driver if he or she is responsible for the crash, as all drivers are required to carry minimum amounts of automobile insurance.
If an investigation finds that your wrong-way accident occurred due to the government, however, such as inadequate lighting or signage, you could have grounds to file a lawsuit against the agency in addition to or instead of another driver. A claim against the government for an unsafe roadway could lead to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and more.
Contact a specialized personal injury attorney in Los Angeles for assistance filing a claim after a wrong-way car accident. The right lawyer will guide you through the claims process, connect you to top doctors in your area, and make sure you have everything you need to recover and move forward. Your lawyer will use proven legal strategies to collect maximum compensation for your wrong-way car accident claim.