Drivers who purposely or unknowingly drive the wrong way on a street pose a serious risk to others on the road. Due to the fact that vehicles are heading directly towards each other at a high speed, there is little or no time for drivers to react and avoid the collision. If you’ve been injured in this type of accident, it is important to seek the help of a qualified Miami attorney who can analyze the facts of your case.
Just last month, five people were killed in a wrong way crash on I-95 in northern Miami-Dade County. In that case, a woman in a pickup truck was driving south in the northbound lanes of I-95 when she side swiped one car and hit a sedan head-on near the Miami Gardens Drive exit. A total of five vehicles were involved in the wreck. Unfortunately, accidents like this happen more often than you may think.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that wrong way drivers are involved in 1.5% of all fatal crashes. The NHTSA also notes that on average about 350 people are killed each year nationwide in wrong way freeway crashes. Some of the most common causes of wrong way accidents include the driver making an error and wrongly entering an exit ramp onto a freeway or the driver operating their vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
If you’ve been injured in a wrong way accident that was not your fault, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for medical expenses, pain and suffering, rehabilitation expenses, lost income and benefits, property damage, and more.
It is important to note, however, that obtaining compensation requires establishing the negligence of the other party. Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care while driving. Reasonable care is defined as how a sensible driver would operate his or her vehicle under similar circumstances. The idea behind the doctrine of negligence is to prevent foreseeable harm. For example, a sensible driver would be vigilant about road signs and not wrongly enter an exit ramp because it is foreseeable that such conduct could cause an accident and injure others on the road.
If you’ve lost a loved one in a wrong way accident, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim against the at-fault party. Under Florida law, only certain surviving family members are eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Wrongful death claims are complicated, and it is important to speak to an attorney if you are contemplating pursuing such a claim.
At the Law Offices of Robert Dixon, our Miami car accident attorneys have helped many victims recover the damages they deserve after wrong way accidents. While we aim to settle every case as efficiently as possible, we are not afraid to zealously advocate for your rights at trial. With years of experience, you can rest assured that you will be getting diligent legal advice every step of the way. We proudly serve clients from throughout South Florida. Do not hesitate to call us at 1-877-499-HURT (4878) or contact us online today.
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