Wrong way auto accidents are by far the deadliest type of accident for the simple fact that they usually involve a head-on collision at a high speed. For those lucky enough to survive a wrong way auto accident, they could suffer a long-term, debilitating injury.
At Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton in Provo, UT, we have over two decades of experience in handling auto accidents and wrong way driving cases. Our attorneys are equipped to help the victims in auto accidents receive compensation for the pain and suffering they have endured.
Why Wrong Way Driving Accidents Happen
Wrong way driving auto accidents are becoming increasingly common. Circumstances that lead to them include:
- Drunk Driving: You have likely heard on the news at one point or another a story about a drunk driver going the wrong way on the highway. Alcohol affects your ability to operate a motor vehicle. It also impacts your ability to see and understand the signs you are reading. A drunk driver may mistakenly enter an exit ramp and wind up causing a fatal head-on collision.
- Difficulty Understanding Signs: Drunk drivers are not the only ones who experience difficulty reading signs. When visibility is low, drivers with below average eyesight may struggle to make out instructions on what to do.
- Lack of Signs: Clearly marked signs are scarce or often missing, especially in more rural areas. Drivers are left to assume which ramp is the entrance ramp in such cases.
- Poor Visibility: Inclement weather, such as fog, heavy rain, and snow can affect your ability to read signs.
- Distracted Driving: Drivers who are texting, talking on the phone, or talking to passengers may mistakenly enter an exit ramp.
- Confusing or Poor Ramp Design: There is no uniform design for entrance and exit ramps. Parallel ramps can be particularly confusing for some drivers.
Facts about Wrong Way Driving
Most of the time, drivers responsible for wrong way accidents are under the influence of alcohol when they happen. However, drunk drivers are not the only causes of wrong way accidents. Even sober drivers with full mental capacity can cause a crash. Here are some facts about wrong way driving:
- Drivers above the age of 70 account for a disproportionately high percentage of wrong way accidents.
- Wrong way driving accidents are more common on the weekend than they are during the week, due in large part to the increased percentage of intoxicated drivers on the road.
- Wrong way accidents are more likely to happen at night. Poor visibility, fatigue, and alcohol play a role in this.
- Entering an exit ramp is the most common way in which drivers end up going in the wrong direction.
- On average, about one person dies every day in a wrong way driving accident.
Visit Us Online
If you suffer an injury in a wrong way driving accident, you may be rewarded compensation to cover your costs. The elite team of attorneys at Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton will work to make sure you receive full compensation for your damages. To learn more, visit us online or call us today at (801) 370-0505.