Why Do Wrong Way Crashes Happen 101

There is a myriad of how wrong way crashes can happen and a plethora of reasons for wrong way accidents to occur. Distracted driving is a leading root cause of collisions due to the multitude of settings that can disturb a drivers attention to the road. DUI or Driving while intoxicated, speeding, and driving when one is sleepy are very common explanations that crashes occur in Arizona, but across the US. The AZDOT or Arizona Department of Transportation’s Crash Facts Report of 2019. This record showed that Arizona pushed almost one hundred thirty thousand (130K) collisions that year. Almost five thousand wrong way crashes were purported to be related to alcohol use.

Rear-end accidents, multi-vehicle collisions, T-bone accidents, or wrong-way crashes are not all that uncommon in Maricopa county. Recently, the number of wrong-way crashes reported has been startling to say the least. When a motorist drives in the opposite direction down the 101 or the 10, typically it is only a matter of time before a wrong direction crash occurs. Wrong-way crashes are extremely hazardous as well as usually lead to tragic outcomes consisting of life-altering injuries as well as in one of the most significant instances, fatality. Annually, wrong-way mishaps are responsible for approximately four hundred lives lost throughout the country.

FACTS: Wrong Way Crashes Happen?

In Arizona, many highway exits can be potentially puzzling to understand while driving, even at the speed limit. Typically, signs are displayed with the words “One Way” or “Wrong Way” with reflective paint. They are there to warn motorists of how to continue with or change the direction they are heading. However, these signs are not readily recognized because they are not commonly seen signs. Most drivers hopefully will never see these signs. In contrast, the same driver sees stop signs hundreds of times a day and therefore are much more readily recognizable.

When a person has been consuming alcohol, is sleepy, is sidetracked, or is lost in a location unknown to them, they can easily misconstrue or completely miss seeing these important warning signs and keep heading in the wrong direction and drive head-on into oncoming wave traffic. There are times when a driver can be totally alert and conscious but building sites that cause redirected traffic and also re-painting lanes may be really confusing. Regardless of the scenario, if a vehicle drives down a road in the wrong direction it is the driver who will be at-fault for any resulting collisions or crashes.

Obviously driving while drunk or under the influence of legal or illegal drugs and adds to the statistics of wrong way car crashes. Wrong way driving threatens not only the driver it threatens pedestrians, bicyclists, and also other motor vehicles that not expecting to see or deal with the chaos that a wrong way driver causes. Reduced reaction time, misjudgments, lack of ability to see clearly, or just losing consciousness behind the wheel all can happen. Most of those scenarios will wind up with personal injuries to the driver as well as those sharing the road. It is all-too easy for a wrong way driver not to recognize how egregious their actions and the results they will cause, until it is too late.

Have You Been Injured By in an Arizona Car Accident by a Negligent Driver?

If you were on the receiving end of a person who drove directly into you because they were disoriented for reasons of honest confusion or because they were under the influence, you have the right to sue them for compensation. It is important that you recover the money necessary to pay for any property damages and medical expenses you experienced. In addition, you may also be able to recover pain and suffering, mental trauma, loss of consortium, or even punitive compensation depending on the details of your accident experience.

If you or a loved one were involved in a wrong direction collision and you suffered bodily as well a personal property damage in Arizona you are legally entitled to financial compensation for those injuries and damages.

Additionally, you may also be able to recover pain and suffering, mental trauma, loss of consortium, or even punitive compensation depending on the details of your accident experience.

Our Phoenix automobile accident injury attorneys at TUCKER MILLER LAW will fight on your behalf to ensure that you are fairly compensated for the damages you sustained in your accident. The Phoenix serious injury attorneys at TUCKER MILLER LAW focus completely on Arizona personal injury cases so we know exactly how to tackle even the most complicated situation and deliver a win for our clients.

The reason we know how to exactly represent your case is that we used to work for third party insurance companies, and we know what they are going to do before they know it!!

If you or a loved one have been affected by a wrong way driver please give us a call asap as time is of the essence.

Call TUCKER MILLER LAW’s Arizona personal injury attorneys today at (602) 870-5511 to schedule your free consultation.