Personal Injury Lawyer for Wrong-Way Accidents

Wrong-way accidents don’t happen frequently, but when they do, the results can be devastating.

In August of this year, an Orlando man died after driving the wrong way on Florida’s turnpike. At the time of the accident, the man had been driving southbound on the northbound lanes before striking another vehicle head-on.

In April, a driver and a dog were killed in a wrong-way crash when his car struck a vehicle head-on. Three people in the other vehicle were hospitalized for non-life threating injuries.

Although data suggests that wrong-way collisions only account for about 3% of accidents that happen each year, they’re significantly more likely to result in a fatality. Those that don’t result in a fatality are significantly more likely to end with one or more people being seriously injured.

What Causes Wrong-Way Accidents?

In most instances, wrong-way collisions are a result of driver-error, in which the driver of the vehicle mistakenly entered a highway through an exit ramp. Common causes of this include drivers that are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, drivers who are under the influence of prescription medication (such as pain killers or sleeping pills) or drivers who are distracted (ie: texting, talking on the phone, etc.)

Lack of sleep, poor sign placement and poor visibility have also been known to be factors in wrong-way collisions.

What to Do If You’ve Been Injured

People who are injured in this type of accident often need significant, long-term medical care. Although the most common injuries include whiplash, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), or paralysis, injured parties may also suffer from bruising, broken bones and/or psychological trauma.

If you or someone you care for has been injured by a wrong-way driver, you’ll want to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as you’re able. It’s important that you hire an attorney that can help you get the compensation you’ll need to cover medical expenses, time off work and long-term care.

Naples Law Firm You Can Trust

The Law Offices of Marc L. Shapiro, P.A. is an award-winning firm that has more than 29 years of experience in helping accident victims get the compensation they deserve. We represent clients in Collier County, Lee County and Orange County, and our entire practice is dedicated to personal injury litigation.

For more information on what your case might be worth, call our office today to schedule a free consultation. Hablamos Español.