As many as 350-400 people die every year because of drivers heading the wrong way down the road. Of those wrong-way accidents, as many as 3% occur in Illinois. There are many factors that can lead to a wrong-way accident. Sometimes drivers going the wrong way on a freeway are drunk or under the influence of drugs, as was the case with a fatal accident that happened in Los Angeles in November. Or a driver might be overly tired or distracted, which could impair his or her reaction time nearly as much as driving while under the influence.
Sometimes a wrong-way accident isn’t the result of a negligent or erratic driver. Even if the driver is completely sober, wrong-way driving can still occur. For instance, if it is hard to differentiate one on-ramp from another off-ramp, or if there aren’t adequate signs indicating which ramp a driver should take, a driver might enter an off-ramp by mistake and head the wrong way down the freeway. All too often this ends in a deadly collision.
Proper signs can prevent wrong-way collisions
Wrong-way drivers are always a danger to themselves and everyone else. Wrong-way crashes are more likely to be fatal, in comparison with other types of auto accidents. The reason for this is simple. If a driver is speeding down the road and they collide into an object that’s not moving, they are likely to sustain severe injuries, if not a fatality. If a driver is speeding down the freeway in the wrong direction and crashes into another car that is speeding toward it, the results are catastrophic.
Highway off-ramps and on-ramps must be clearly marked. The more difficult it is for a driver to determine where the on-ramp is, the more likely it is that they will enter an off-ramp by mistake and find themselves heading into the path of speeding cars. Every off-ramp must have adequate, legible “Do Not Enter” and “Wrong Way” signs to make it very clear to motorists which roads they should not go down.
Illinois auto accident lawyers at Coplan & Crane know how important it is to have solid legal representation after a wrong way collision. These accidents are likely to be far more severe than other accidents and the aftermath can be incredibly overwhelming. If you or a loved one was involved in an auto accident, don’t wait. Contact us today. We have the knowledge and expertise to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
