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Kentucky Wrong-Way Accident Lawyers
Strong advocacy when drivers traveling in the wrong direction cause accidents
There’s no excuse for driving in the wrong direction. Drivers have a duty to focus on the roads they take and the traffic around them. At Crandall & Pera Law, we have 30 years of experience and working relationships with liability professionals to show why a driver was going the wrong way and why that driver should be held liable for any accidents they cause. Our Kentucky car accident lawyers demand compensation for a victim’s medical bills, pain and suffering, loss of income, and property damage. We also represent families when wrong-way collisions are deadly. Call us now to hold irresponsible drivers liable for fatalities, catastrophic injuries, and other serious injuries.
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Table of Contents
- How dangerous are wrong-way accidents?
- Why do drivers in Kentucky travel the wrong way?
- What steps should drivers take to ensure they are traveling in the right direction?
- What injuries do wrong-way crashes cause?
- Who is responsible when a wrong-way accident happens in Kentucky?
- What is the value of my Kentucky wrong-way accident case?
- Do you have a Kentucky wrong-way accident near me?
How dangerous are wrong-way accidents?
The AAA Foundation examined wrong-way accidents and fatalities between 2010 and 2018. The organization found that there were 2,921 wrong-way accidents in this time period, causing 3,885 deaths – an average of 430 deaths each year. Slightly more than 52% of the people who died in wrong-way accidents were drivers. About 40% of the fatalities were the occupants of other cars. In the last three years of the study, there were more than 500 fatalities each year due to wrong-way driving.
About 13.5% of wrong-way drivers drive on a license that was suspended, revoked, or expired, compared to 4% percent for right-way drivers. More than 86% of wrong-way drivers did not have a passenger compared to 62% of right-way drivers. Wrong-way drivers are more likely to drive an older vehicle.
Head-on crashes are among the most dangerous types of accidents because the impact of a crash depends on the combined speed of the vehicles. Drivers who are traveling the correct way often have few options to get out of the way of a wrong-way driver.
Why do drivers in Kentucky travel the wrong way?
Types of wrong-way accidents
At Crandall & Pera Law, our car accident lawyers handle all types of wrong-way accidents, including:
- Passing by using an oncoming traffic lane
- Entering a one-way street
- Crossing over into an oncoming traffic lane
- Mistaking an on-ramp for an off-ramp and vice versa
- Entering the incorrect lane when turning
- Losing consciousness due to alcohol or some medical reason
Our Kentucky wrong-way accident lawyers work with the police and investigators, and through the formal discovery process to show why the driver who struck you or a loved one was traveling the wrong way.
Drunk driving
One of the leading causes of wrong-way accidents is driver intoxication. In Kentucky, it is illegal for any person to drive if they have a BAC of 0.08 or higher, while they are under the influence of alcohol or other substances that affect their ability to drive. No driver should ever drink and drive.
According to Recovery Ranger, a substance abuse organization, alcohol can slow a driver’s reaction time and affect their judgment. Alcohol causes drowsiness and can reduce a driver’s coordination (such as applying the brakes correctly). Alcohol diminishes a driver’s ability to judge speed and distance. Some drivers become more aggressive and take more chances when they drink.
If the police file DUI charges, we coordinate your case with the criminal case. There is no requirement that the police file criminal charges. At Crandall & Pera Law, we understand how to show a driver was intoxicated in other ways than a criminal case.
Other causes of wrong-way driving
Our car accident lawyers hold wrong-way drivers accountable if they drive the wrong way for any reason, including, but not limited to, the following:
- Driver distraction. Drivers who are texting, using a mobile phone, eating, or doing anything that takes their focus away from their driving can easily miss a directional sign, a notice of construction, or traffic patterns, causing them to drive in the wrong direction.
- Driver fatigue can cause a loss of focus. Some drivers actually fall asleep if they’re too tired.
- Poor visibility. The chances of driving the wrong way increase if the roads or signs are not well-lit, the lane markings are not clear, or there are obstructions that make choosing the correct lane more difficult.
- Improper passing. Drivers must be extra cautious when they pass, especially on two-lane roads and roads that have curves. Drivers should not pass if the lane markings indicate that passing is improper.
- Old age. Seniors are more likely to have confusion or lose focus due to physical and cognitive impairments. Most older drivers have difficulty seeing at night due to cataracts and other causes. Drivers with dementia should not drive.
- Other reasons. Our Kentucky wrong-way accident lawyers are also ready to show that a driver chose the wrong lane of travel because of a lack of familiarity with Kentucky roads; unclear traffic signs; unclear construction warnings; confusing intersections; bad weather; and defective steering mechanisms, lights, and other defective car parts.
What steps should drivers take to ensure they are traveling in the right direction?
The Kentucky Department of Transportation and other state and private organizations, along with manufacturers, can help reduce the number of wrong-way accidents in different ways, including the following:
- DUI enforcement and education
- Designing roads and placing clear signage that shows which roads drivers should and should not take
- Installing rumble strips to alert drivers that they’re not in their lane
- Installing sensors to alert drivers that they are traveling the wrong way
- Separating the on- and off-ramps by a sufficient distance to avoid confusion
Drivers shouldn’t drive or use drugs (including prescription drugs that could make them drowsy). They should comply with construction signs, know where the shoulder of the road is located, and focus on the road in front of them at all times.
What injuries do wrong-way crashes cause?
Wrong-way accidents often cause life-changing or life-ending injuries due to the large impact of head-on collisions. At Crandall & Pera Law, we represent car accident victims who have any type of serious injury including spinal cord damage, paralysis, traumatic brain injuries, fractures/broken bones, traumatic amputations/loss of limb, crush injuries (such as internal organ damage), burns, nerve damage, and other injuries that often require long-term care or a lifetime of care.
Our Kentucky wrong-way accident lawyers also represent families when a wrong-way accident is fatal.
Who is responsible when a wrong-way accident happens in Kentucky?
At Crandall & Pera Law, we file personal injury and wrongful death claims against everyone who is responsible. The defendants may include the following:
- The wrong-way driver
- The employer of the wrong-way driver
- The owner of the vehicle, if the owner and driver are different
- A seller of alcohol to a driver the seller should have known was intoxicated
- The manufacturers of defective car parts
- The Kentucky Department of Transportation and other government agencies/entities
- Other drivers
- Construction companies that don’t properly warn drivers of lane changes
What is the value of my Kentucky wrong-way accident case?
At Crandall & Pera Law, our lawyers work with your doctors to understand the full scope and severity of your injuries. We demand compensation for all your damages to date and all your future damages, including:
- Medical expenses of every type including the costs of hospitals, doctors, and rehabilitative professionals
- Loss of income, loss of work benefits, and permanent disability benefits
- Physical pain and emotional suffering
- Car and any other property damage
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Inability to use a body part
- Inability to enjoy life’s pleasures
- Loss of consortium
Our Kentucky wrong-way accident attorneys often file punitive damages in this type of case because wrong-way driving is reckless.
At Crandall & Pera Law, we represent families in wrongful death actions when a wrong-way accident is fatal.
Do you have a Kentucky wrong-way accident near me?
Yes. We meet clients at our office located at 201 E Main St., Suite 530, in Lexington, KY. If your injuries prevent you from traveling, we can discuss alternate arrangements to meet you. We also consult with clients by phone and through video applications.
We’re here to answer your questions and explain how the claims process works.
Contact Crandall & Pera Law now
We know how angry and frightened you are. Your life has been turned upside down by an irresponsible driver. At Crandall & Pera Law, we’ve been fighting for accident victims and families for 30 years. Our trial lawyers have a strong record of verdicts and settlements. We’re ready to fight for your future. Please call us or use our contact form to schedule a free consultation.