Wrong-Way Accidents 

Car accidents can have a number of causes, including a driver making the mistake of driving the wrong way on a road. Wrong-way driving can lead to serious head-on collisions that can result in catastrophic injuries or even death. If you were hurt in a wrong-way accident that was not your fault, you need to reach out to a Schaumburg or Wheaton car accident attorney who can assess the merits of your case. At Therman Law Offices, we understand how to navigate these types of claims and can put our knowledge to use on your behalf. You have only a limited time to act in these cases, so it is important to move quickly after your accident.

Understanding Your Rights Following a Wrong-Way Accident

Wrong-way driving occurs when a motorist drives against the direction of traffic. This error most commonly causes serious head-on collisions. Wrong-way driving can happen at any speed and take place on a city street, a rural road, or a highway. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), wrong-way drivers are involved in 1.5 percent of overall deadly crashes. The NHTSA also found that, on average, approximately 350 people are killed each year nationwide in wrong-way highway accidents.

Wrong-way accidents can have a number of causes, including but not limited to:

• Distracted driving;
• Adverse weather conditions;
• Falling asleep while driving and crossing a median;
• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
• Disobeying traffic signs;
• A driver wrongfully entering an exit ramp onto the highway;
• Passing a vehicle and not getting back into the proper lane; or
• Excessive speeding and loss of control of the car.

Serious injuries can result from wrong-way accidents, such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, broken bones, paralysis, lacerations, and even death. These injuries can be extremely costly to treat, which is why Illinois law allows you to recover damages in your claim. These damages typically include medical costs, rehabilitation expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages, costs of future medical care, loss of earning capacity, property damage, and any other losses stemming from the accident.

Before any damages can be sought, however, the injured party’s attorney must establish that the wrong-way driver’s negligence was the cause of the accident and resulting harm. Wrong-way drivers are typically held accountable through a negligence claim for not recognizing that they are traveling in the incorrect direction. Negligence takes place when a driver causes injuries or death by failing to exercise reasonable care behind the wheel. Reasonable care refers to each individual’s obligation to drive a car in a prudent manner: namely, in the same way that a sensible driver would drive under the same or similar circumstances. In order to win on a negligence claim, an injury attorney needs to show that the defendant owed a duty of care to the plaintiff, the defendant breached the duty of care by driving in the wrong direction, and the defendant’s breach was a direct cause of the wrong-way accident and the plaintiff’s resulting harm. For instance, a sensible and prudent driver would be attentive to road signs and not improperly enter an exit ramp in the wrong direction.

If you have lost a loved one due to a wrong-way accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. These claims are complicated, and it is important to reach out to an attorney if you are contemplating such a claim.

Contact a Knowledgeable Lawyer in the Areas Around Wheaton or Schaumburg

Drivers who drive the wrong way on a road pose an enormous threat to every other person on the road. If you or someone close to you has been injured in a wrong-way accident caused by someone else’s negligence, you may be able to recover compensation for your harm. At Therman Law Offices, our experienced car crash attorneys are dedicated to providing personalized, detail-oriented representation at every step of the way. We take on clients from Wheaton, Schaumburg, Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Streamwood, Elgin, Bartlett, Hanover Park, Bensenville, Wood Dale, Bloomingdale, and Roselle, as well as other cities. To discuss your case in more detail, call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.