One of the most frustrating types of car accidents is wrong way car accidents. It’s hard to imagine what would cause a driver to go down a street the wrong way. Perhaps he is lost. Or, more likely, he is under the influence of alcohol or drugs and has no idea what he’s doing.
The problem with wrong way accidents is that the victim has no way of anticipating it. Not that we drive around waiting for an accident to happen. However, we certainly don’t expect someone to come barreling toward us going the wrong way down a road.
We are trained to look out for people who are speeding or driving erratically. Common sense tells us to do this. There’s nothing that prepares us for a driver who is coming toward us down a one-way street. This is one reason why the injuries from a wrong way car accident can be so dangerous. Not only are we completely off-guard, but the type of person who is driving the wrong way is probably the same kind of person who is speeding or driving recklessly.
Car Accident Attorneys in Nevada Can Get You the Compensation You Deserve
Wrong way car accidents can cause pretty serious injuries. They will likely be much more serious than what you’d suffer in a rear-end car accident. Given the recklessness of the accident and the likelihood of speeding, you can expect to suffer any of the following types of injuries:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Internal injuries
- Bruises and abrasions
- Facial disfigurement
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and head injuries
- Back injuries
- Wrist and arm injuries
- Burns
Any of these alone can be life-altering. Combined, they can be devastating or even fatal. You need an experienced car accident attorney to help prove your injuries were caused by the accident. They will use your medical reports and witness statements to show that the injuries are the result of the defendant’s recklessness.
Causes of Wrong Way Car Accidents
There are many different reasons why wrong way car accidents can take place. It is almost always the fault of one driver. One driver is doing what they are supposed to do on the right side of the road. They are going about their business when they see a car coming toward them the wrong way. There is nowhere to go and no way to avoid a collision. Sadly, the victim can do nothing but brace themselves for the impact.
Some of the most common causes of a wrong way accident include:
- Fall asleep at the wheel
- Following a faulty GPS
- Drunk driving
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Losing control of the car
- Intentional or reckless driving
All of these reasons can be classified as reckless or wanton behavior. Aside from losing control of the car, there is no justification for driving down the road the wrong way. Your car accident lawyer will file a claim against the other driver’s insurance company. Hopefully, they will pay your claim. If they refuse to do so, you’ll have to file a lawsuit against the insurance company and perhaps even another driver personally.
How a Nevada Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
If the insurance company does not agree to pay your claim, you are going to want to consult with a Nevada car accident lawyer. Your attorney may need to hire experts to testify not only to your injuries but also to causation. Wrong way car accidents seem like they’d be easy to prove. However, you will still have to prove that the other driver was at fault.
The defendant’s attorney may claim that his client was not at fault. He can argue that he was having a seizure or perhaps was under the influence of legal prescriptions. The Attorney may also claim that there were not street signs stating that the street was a one-way street. He may argue that another car caused the impact and he was as much a victim as you.
You are going to want an experienced car accident attorney to handle your case. He is going to have to prove that it was not your fault. He has the knowledge and skills to retain the experts necessary to prove the defendant was indeed at fault.
Contact a Car Accident Lawyer in Las Vegas Today
If you’ve been the victim of a wrong way accident, you need a lawyer. Contact a professional who has decades of experience handling car accident cases. The initial consultation is free. You can ask any questions or concerns you may have.