Wrong-way collisions occur when two vehicles traveling in different directions collide due to one of them driving the wrong way according to traffic laws. These accidents can lead to serious injuries and deaths due to the force of the impact, especially since they often take the form of head-on collisions. Victims who are injured in wrong-way crashes in San Antonio may be eligible for financial compensation.
What Does a “Wrong-Way Crash” Mean?
A wrong-way crash is a type of motor vehicle accident where two vehicles collide because one is traveling in the direction opposite the flow of traffic. Traffic laws in Texas keep lanes of opposite-direction traffic separated, either by lines of paint or concrete medians.
If a driver is negligent, or fails to act with proper care behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, he or she could end up driving the wrong way down a highway, interstate or one-way street. This can cause devastating traffic accidents, such as high-speed head-on collisions.
What Causes Motorists to Drive on the Wrong Side of the Road?
A motor vehicle driver in San Antonio may travel against the correct direction of traffic on a particular road for a variety of reasons, including:
- The use of drugs or alcohol, including prescription drugs
- Confusion or disorientation
- Medical condition or emergency
- Distracted driving
- Driving while tired or fatigued
- Failing to read road signs or markings
- Confusing roadway or intersection design
- Inadequate road signage
- Low visibility conditions
In rare cases, a driver may intentionally drive the wrong way, such as to evade law enforcement. However, most of these accidents are caused by driver negligence.
In Texas, the driver who is at fault for causing a wrong-way car accident is held responsible for paying for a victim’s medical bills and property damage. However, the victim must prove fault to qualify for car insurance benefits. Proving fault requires clear and convincing evidence that the other driver (or a third party) caused or contributed to the crash through an act of negligence.
Negligence has four parts:
- Duty of care
- Breach of the duty of care
- Causation for the accident
- Damages suffered
The defendant or accused party must have owed the victim a responsibility to act in a way that avoids causing a car accident. The duty of care must have been broken or violated, such as with careless or reckless driving behaviors, and this must have caused the wrong-way accident. Finally, the victim must have suffered damages or losses in the crash, such as a bodily injury.
Proving Fault in a Wrong-Way Car Accident Case
You or your car accident lawyer in San Antonio will have to prove fault to recover compensation for a wrong-way crash in San Antonio. Although the types of evidence involved vary, they may include a police report, photographs of the crash, video footage, eyewitness testimony, driver and passenger statements, citations given for traffic violations, and testimony from a qualified expert witness.
Proving fault in a wrong-way car accident case can be difficult. It often requires a thorough investigation of the crash and careful evaluation of available evidence. If you hire a San Antonio injury attorney to represent you during your car accident claim, you can relax and focus on healing from your injuries while your attorney investigates your collision and handles the legal process for you. Learn more during a free consultation with an attorney at Hill Law Firm.