Wrong way collisions pose severe dangers to both the occupants of the vehicles involved and other road users. These crashes often occur at high speeds and with limited reaction time, resulting in devastating head-on impacts that often lead to fatalities or serious injuries. Additionally, wrong way collisions increase the risk of multiple-vehicle accidents and can cause significant damage to property and infrastructure. The abrupt and unexpected nature of these crashes makes them particularly hazardous, emphasizing the importance of proactive measures to prevent and mitigate the occurrence of wrong way incidents.
What is a Wrong Way Collision?
The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration defines wrong-way crashes as “…one in which a vehicle traveling in a direction opposing the legal flow of traffic on a high–speed divided highway or access ramp collides with a vehicle traveling on the same roadway in the proper direction.” In 2021, there were 697 wrong way driving fatalities.
If you or a loved one was injured as a result of a one-way driver, contact a local car accident lawyer for help. You deserve to understand your legal rights and get a full and fair settlement for your injuries.
Wrong Way Crash Leads to Death of Lynden Resident
As reported by mybellinghamnow.com, a woman, who was one of two Lynden residents hospitalized following a fatal crash near Arlington, has died of her injuries. The Washington State Patrol (WSP) news release on Saturday, April 13 indicated that the 70-year-old woman had passed away at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.
The woman was a passenger in the car driven by a Lynden man that was hit by a wrong-way driver on northbound I-5 on Monday, April 1. The wrong-way car then collided with a second vehicle and rolled on the freeway while the other two cars left the road. The wrong-way driver was a 43-year-old man from Arlington. He later died from his injuries at Providence Medical Center.
WSP is still investigating the crash.
Causes of Wrong Way Collisions
Wrong-way crashes can have various causes, including:
- Impairment. One of the most common causes is impaired driving, often due to alcohol or drug use. Impaired drivers may not recognize signs indicating the direction of travel or may be too impaired to react appropriately.
- Confusion or distraction. Drivers may become confused or distracted, especially at complex interchanges, poorly marked exits, or in unfamiliar areas. This can lead to inadvertently entering an exit ramp or one-way street in the wrong direction.
- Medical conditions. Medical conditions such as dementia, seizures, or other cognitive impairments can cause drivers to become disoriented or confused, leading to wrong-way driving incidents.
- Fatigue. Driving while fatigued can impair judgment and reaction times, increasing the likelihood of making errors such as entering a roadway in the wrong direction.
- Poor signage or road design. Inadequate or confusing signage, poorly marked lanes, and unclear road markings can contribute to wrong-way driving incidents, especially at night or in adverse weather conditions.
- Driver error. Sometimes, drivers simply make mistakes, such as missing a turn or misinterpreting road signs, leading them to enter a roadway in the wrong direction.
- Intentional acts. In rare cases, wrong-way driving incidents may be deliberate, such as in cases of suicide attempts or criminal behavior.
Addressing wrong-way crashes often involves a combination of strategies, including improving roadway design and signage, implementing technology such as wrong-way detection systems, enforcing traffic laws, and educating drivers about the dangers of impaired or distracted driving.
Seek the help of a car accident lawyer
If you or a loved one was injured in a collision because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
