Motorists driving the wrong way on a road can lead to head-on collisions resulting in catastrophic injuries or death. Head-on collisions are extremely dangerous due to the amount of force displaced when two vehicles directly impact each other according to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) safety studies. As a result, many injuries suffered from wrong way accidents are serious or life-threatening.
If you were in an accident due to another motorist driving the wrong way in Chicago, Illinois, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444 to discuss your case with a member of our team.
Causes of Wrong Way Accidents
While every accident is different, there are some causes of wrong way accidents that tend to occur more frequently. A Chicago wrong way accident lawyer can potentially assist with a number of cases, including:
Driving Under the Influence of Drugs or Alcohol
Drivers who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of either drugs or alcohol remain impaired in their judgments and oftentimes drive on the wrong side of the road, or going the wrong way on one-way streets. Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol also tend to behave more recklessly and may speed or disobey traffic signals and road signs.
Fatigued Driving
Oftentimes, if a driver remains fatigued and operates a motor vehicle, they will not have as much cognitive ability to understand one-way signs on streets, or simply may have impaired judgment. Driving while drowsy, or falling asleep at the wheel, can lead to several different kinds of accidents on the roadways including wrong way accidents.
Older/Younger Drivers
Unfortunately, many wrong way accidents are due to older and younger drivers not understanding the rules of the road.
Distracted Driving
With cell phones as part of the fabric of our society, oftentimes drivers are unable to resist the temptation to make a phone call or answer a text message while driving. Any type of distraction while driving, including texting and driving, can easily lead to a driver’s failure to notice a one-way sign or other traffic signals. These negligent drivers are often the cause of wrong way accidents due to being unaware of their surroundings.
Unfamiliarity with the Area
In some cases, a driver is simply unfamiliar with the area they are driving through. Some large downtown cities, such as Chicago, have streets that only travel one way. If there is any lack of signage, poorly marked roadways, or a construction zone in which the driver remains confused on which way to travel, a wrong way accident may occur. There are only a few exceptions to driving on the right side of the road based on Illinois Statute 95, paragraph 11-701.
Other Reasons
There are a number of other reasons a wrong way accident could occur including a driver passing a vehicle and failing to get back in their own lane, excessive speeding or reckless driving, severe weather conditions, road construction, wrongfully entering an exit ramp on a roadway or highway, and more.
Negotiations with Insurance Companies
If you suffered injuries due to a wrong way accident, you may be able to file a claim with the insurance company of the negligent driver. While an insurer’s responsibility is to compensate a victim for their injuries, in many cases insurance companies attempt to prevent a victim from receiving the compensation they may be entitled to under the law. Some of the tactics that insurance companies use to avoid paying out full and fair settlements to victims include:
- Indicating that the victim was either fully or partially liable for the wrong way accident.
- Indicating that the medical treatments were unnecessary, or that the injuries were minor and not as severe as claimed by the victim.
- Indicating that the missed work due to the injury suffered in the car accident was unnecessary.
- Attempting to record the conversation to use the words of the victim against them and offer a lower settlement amount.
- Attempting to obtain all of the medical records of a victim, not just the ones that relate to the wrong way accident.
- Attempting to prove that the injuries were actually due to the victim’s pre-existing condition and had nothing to do with the wrong-way accident.
- Indicating that the victim failed to provide sufficient evidence and documentation with respect to medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, etc.
- Attempting to offer an extremely low settlement offer in the hopes that the victim will accept it and move on.
- Attempting to tell the victim that a series of several payments will occur, when in fact once they cash the first check it will complete their settlement negotiation.
- Purposefully delaying the claim process or claim payment in order to frustrate the victim so that they will simply take a lower settlement once offered by the insurance company.
Visiting with an insurance company can prove challenging and legally complex. In many cases, insurance companies may make efforts to attempt to have a victim accept a low settlement offer. A Chicago wrong way accident lawyer can negotiate with the insurance company, and if they refuse to give you a fair settlement, the team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm may take the case to court and fight for the financial award you may be entitled to.
For a free legal consultation with a Wrong Way Accidents Lawyer serving Chicago, call (800) 794-0444
Compensation for Injuries Related to a Wrong Way Accident
If you suffered injuries related to a wrong way accident, those injuries may have led to serious or severe medical bills, the loss of wages due to an inability to return to work, the loss of future wages for any disfigurement, disability or paralysis, property damage, and pain and suffering. You may be able to receive compensation for these damages, and a Chicago wrong way accident lawyer can help you start the process of securing that.
Chicago Wrong Way Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 794-0444
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm Today for Legal Support
If you suffered injuries due to a driver colliding with your vehicle when they were driving the wrong way on a road, contact our legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 794-0444. We want to help ensure you do not suffer further damage from this situation. We do not shy away from tough cases, so do not hesitate to reach out for legal help.
Call or text (800) 794-0444 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
