Wrong-way drivers are extremely dangerous, and they regularly cause accidents with severe injuries. Unfortunately, fatalities are common in these types of accidents. If you or a loved one are involved in a wrong-way crash, you should know your legal rights. Speak with a Tulsa car accident lawyer today. According to the latest available information from the NTSB, on average, 360 people are killed each year in wrong-way-driving (“WWD”) crashes.
This accounts for about 2.8% of all fatal crashes on divided highways each year, and the trend has ticked upward since the data was last analyzed. The trend in Oklahoma is no different, as 24 motorists were killed on the roads from accidents caused by WWD in 2019, according to the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office.
If you were involved in a crash with a wrong-way driver and suffered injuries, you want to have a Tulsa car accident lawyer on your side right away.
Wrong-way-driving and the resulting car accidents can occur for several different reasons, but below are the most common ones in Oklahoma:
One of the leading causes of road accidents is drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The number of fatality crashes caused by drunk or intoxicated drivers is staggering despite stepped-up efforts by law enforcement to raise the awareness and punishment for these types of reckless driving. Intoxication can cause a driver to become confused, and this confusion can result in a driver entering the highway or one way street going the wrong direction. Intoxication, of course, also causes a slower reaction time to events and circumstances involved in driving, lack of judgment, and poor concentration, which individually or collectively can result in deadly accidents.
Distracted driving is also one of the leading causes of car accidents, including wrong-way crashes. There are three types of distractions: Manual, visual, and cognitive. Manual distractions are those distractions that result in the driver taking one or both hands off the steering wheel. These include doing things like smoking, drinking, and eating. Visual distractions are those that result in the motorist taking their eyes off the road even for a moment, such as admiring the view, glancing over at the GPS, or applying makeup. The third type of distraction is cognitive, which are things that cause the mind to drift away from focusing on the road.
Even with the assistance of road navigation technologies such as GPS, unfamiliarity with a new area can still lead to an accident, especially if one fails to follow the GPS instructions carefully. With that said, GPS navigation is not always 100% accurate, and some wrong-way crashes are caused by a driver following incorrect GPS instructions too literally. The problem can also occur when a driver unfamiliar with an area is relying on some directions they were given or when have in mind as to how to get somewhere, only to find themselves driving the wrong way on a divided highway or one way street.
A poorly designed road, highway, or onramp can sometimes be so confusing as to lead even a careful driver to end up driving on the wrong side of the road. These bad or poor designs include things like poor signage or merging lanes that have no warning signs to alert the driver that they are about to enter a one-way street or road. In Tulsa (and throughout other parts of Oklahoma), poor street and highway lighting can also play a significant role. Roads under construction can also increase the chances of even the most careful driver ending up driving on the wrong way and getting involved in an unfortunate collision.
If you or a loved one is involved in a crash with a wrong-way driver, our main goals are to ensure that those responsible for the crash are held accountable for the damage and injuries caused. This is primarily accomplished by doing everything we can to obtain financial compensation to cover your expenses such as:
These claims and lawsuits take time to get through the legal process but here are some of the things an our experienced lawyers will do while making sure you get the best outcome:
The law provides certain things that must be done or proven before anyone can be compensated for injuries they suffered in an accident. If you or a loved one has been injured in a wrong-way-car accident, our Tulsa car accident lawyers are here to help explain your rights and the legal process by which we can obtain maximum compensation for your injuries.
To make a strong case and obtain the maximum compensation for your injuries, we have quite a bit of work to do on your behalf, including conducting a thorough investigation to ensure that we have all the evidence and documents to make a strong case for your compensation. Some of this work includes the following:
If you have been injured in a wrong-way accident, the legal team of Wandres Law is ready to help. Contact us today to discuss your situation with one of our legal experts. The consultation is free.
Local Phone Number (918) 641-4044
Toll Free Statewide 833-ASK-WLAW
1202 East 33rd Street
Tulsa, OK 74105
3030 NW Expressway
Suite 200 # 392
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
