Wrong-way accidents are among the most dangerous that occur on Florida’s roads and highways. They typically involve head-on collisions that lead to serious or fatal injuries. They also often occur at high speeds.
Approximately 350 people die in the United States each year because of wrong-way drivers, according to data from the U.S. Department of Transportation. To some people, it might seem shocking that this many wrong-way accidents can happen. How is it that they have not been completely eradicated?
The National Transportation Safety Board developed a special report analyzing data from wrong-way accidents to find common trends. Below are a few of the agency’s findings:
- Drivers over the age of 70 were disproportionately at fault in wrong-way accidents. It could be that difficulty noticing signage plays a role.
- Most wrong-way collisions occurred after a vehicle entered an exit ramp, which could happen due to unclear signage or lack of familiarity with a city.
- Wrong-way collisions most frequently occur at night, likely due to a combination of tired drivers, intoxicated drivers and poor visibility.
- Wrong-way crashes most frequently occur on weekends. Again, this is likely due to the fact that people drink more alcohol on the weekends.
- The majority of wrong-way drivers are intoxicated behind the wheel. In fact, it is the most common cause of wrong-way accidents overall.
If a negligent driver caused a serious accident and you’ve been injured as a result, you may need to seek compensation from that driver or an insurance company. For further guidance, meet with a knowledgeable Bradenton personal injury lawyer at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez, Murphy & Walsh.