12. Wrong-Way Driving.

When you are driving and enter a roadway in the wrong direction, you might have made a mistake that could cause a horrific crash. Wrong-way driving is an especially hazardous top cause of car accidents because it often leads to fatal head-on automobile accidents, and the results can be deadly.

Our car accident lawyers have seen data showing how wrong-way driving is caused when someone drives a car the wrong way down a one-way street. Almost 61% of these accidents are caused by drunk-drivers taking place in the early morning hours (midnight to 6 a.m.) with the highest concentration at around 2 a.m. when bars typically close. Wrong-way driving is often a terrible mistake in judgment by a motorist at the wheel.

Common Wrong-Way Driving Scenarios That Cause Car Accidents

1. Getting on the wrong freeway entrance ramp. This is the most common occurrence of wrong-way driving when a motorist drives in the opposite direction of oncoming traffic that is either entering or exiting the freeway.

2. Turning on to one-way street in the wrong direction. This sort of car accident occurs many times in urban areas because downtown streets and metropolitan roads tend to have traffic flow in one direction instead of two.

3. Driving on the wrong side of the road or highway. After taking a wrong exit or getting your directions turned around, it is possible to find yourself going the wrong way.

Preventing Car Accidents Caused By Wrong-Way Driving

In addition to a standard “ONE-WAY” sign, most states place “DO NOT ENTER” (DNE) and “WRONG WAY” (WW) signs on roadways as an added alert for drivers. The problem is that most of these wrong-way driving car accidents occur during nighttime driving when visibility is low. While signs are designed to reflect the light from a car’s head lights, sometimes drivers do not see them when it is dark out.

As a result, the Department of Transportation is installing larger DNE and WW signs while also separating them for added effect with the idea being that the more chances for a driver to find out that he or she is wrong-way driving, the better.

There is also the added danger of avoiding a driver other than yourself who has made the mistake of wrong-way driving. If you see a car driving towards you in the wrong direction, flash your high beams to try to get their attention and pull over to the side of the road immediately. By clearing their pathway, you may be able to avoid an accident.

Call Our Lawyers If You’ve Been Injured From Wrong-Way Driving

All this really comes down to is the skill level and attention of the driver. If you do not take drugs or drink while driving, pay attention to the road and cars around you, and are aware of your surroundings, then the likelihood of making a wrong turn into on-coming traffic is very low.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was caused by wrong-way driving then call us now at 1-800-655-6585 or click here for a FREE consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer. Since 1992, our San Diego law office has been geared primarily towards auto accident claims. We know how the insurance companies work, so let our insider knowledge help you in your time of need.

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[caption id="attachment_21715" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Photo Credit: The San Diego Union Tribune"][/caption] Last week, we reported on a car accident in San Diego that resulted out of alleged teen street racing. In new developments, the 18-year-old driver charged with the death of the two teenagers involved in the street racing has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter among four other charges according to reports at the San Diego Union Tribune. The news follows the earlier arrest of another 16-year-old driver that was taken into custody on similar charges. Just shortly after his arraignment, Michael Johnson, the 18-year-old driver of a Volvo S40, said, according to his attorney, that he is not the responsible party in the tragic San Diego accident fatalities that occurred April 4. Accident reports indicate that Johnson was returning from a spring break beach party in La Jolla when he was allegedly involved in a street racing contest with another teen driver – the unidentified 16-year-old driver of a Volkswagen Passat whose name has not been released since he is a minor. According to Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler, the two vehicles were zigzagging across lanes at speeds reaching up to a staggering 100 m.p.h. The 16-year-old driver in the Passat lost control over the vehicle, causing the car to flip over several times across multiple lanes of the road. Two passengers, Anthony Foreman, 18, and Jayli Campbell, 16, were thrown from the Passat and died at the scene of the accident. Two passengers survived the crash. Charlotte McQuillen, survived the accident although she suffered serious injury as a result of the collision including reports that say the teen will have to recover from traumatic brain injury. Anthoney Taylor, 16, also survived the crash although his injuries are unclear at this time. Johnson did not flee the scene of the accident according to police reports and cooperated with authorities once officers assessed the scene of the collision. The teen has no prior criminal record, although authorities say his vehicle was found containing a small amount of marijuana. Johnson is being charged with intoxicated driving, although his lawyer says there were no field sobriety tests to confirm the teen’s alleged intoxication. Teen driving: reminders for concerned parents Last week, we blogged on actions parents can take to prevent teen car accidents. Tips include:

Sign a parent-teen contract. Download your free contract now.
Enforcing the rules. Every teen driver needs to know that rules are there for a purpose, and when they are broken, consequences will follow.
Have a DUI backup plan. As most parents can attest, there are many instances when teen drivers run into problems that supersede their know-how and maturity. Drinking is one of those problems. In cases of emergency, your teen should have an open-door policy where they feel safe to call you when they need help – such in the case of drunk driving or driving while intoxicated.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC The Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC are specialists in car accident injury. Every personal injury attorney in our San Diego office works hard to seek maximum recovery for every injured client. Your case is handled without any out-of-pocket costs, so do not hesitate to speak to a San Diego personal injury lawyer today for a free legal evaluation. Call us at 1-800-655-6585.