People never want to get into a car accident, but they sometimes occur. While people know about drunk driving and traffic violation accidents, they may not know the cause of wrong-way accidents.
As you understand these accidents and their causes, you can remain safe and minimize the danger.
What Are Wrong-Way Accidents?
Before you can know the common causes, you must understand what wrong-way accidents entail. To keep it simple, a wrong-way accident is a crash that occurs because someone traveled on the wrong side of the road.
While some think wrong-way accidents only happen when people drive on the left side of the road, they can also occur if someone enters the wrong ramp on a highway. For example, they could try to leave on an entrance ramp or enter through an exit ramp.
Usually, these areas place signs to prevent people from entering a place they shouldn’t. They don’t always work, so people can end up in accidents if they drive somewhere they should avoid, so they must remain vigilant.
Common Causes of Wrong-Way Accidents
You should understand the common cause of wrong-way accidents. As you know them, you won’t put yourself in those situations while looking out for them. You can take some steps and avoid the problem while watching out for others on the road.
Driving Under the Influence
It should surprise no one that driving under the influence leads to the most wrong-way accidents. That happens because they may ignore signs, misremember roads, and even end up on the left side of the road.
You should never drive while doing drugs or drinking alcohol. If you can’t drive, you should call someone to help you and avoid the road so you don’t hurt yourself or others. You can even call a taxi or a similar service to receive help and return home.
Ensure you look for people who seem to be under the influence. You should avoid them on the road and contact a police officer if you notice them. The officer can pull them over to protect others and prevent injuries.
Missing Do Not Enter Signs
Most areas have “do not enter” signs to prevent others from entering those locations. They work well since they provide immediate information to the people facing them without stopping those who need to use that portion of the road.
However, some people may make a wrong turn or miss the signs, driving somewhere they shouldn’t go. So always remain vigilant as you move and look at all the signs to ensure you don’t miss these crucial details.
You can’t help if someone enters your side of the road, so use your horn to get their attention. From there, you can see if one of you can back up to avoid an accident or anything escalating during the situation.
Becoming Distracted
Some people face distractions as they drive on the road. For example, they may notice something on the road or get distracted by the music playing. Some people also talk on their phones or with their passengers, which causes severe distractions.
Most people become distracted if they use their phones while they drive. For example, they may try to send a text, play games, or even adjust their navigation. A quick look at the phone can quickly lead to you going down the wrong road.
Do your best to avoid distractions as you drive so that you won’t run into any problems. You can also remain vigilant and watch for dangerous drivers to stay safe whenever you drive.
Making Wide and Tight Turns
You naturally need to make turns as you drive. Sometimes, you make a right turn at a corner, but you may need to turn left at times. Whenever you make these turns, you must remain in your lane to avoid an accident.
For example, turning too wide while turning right could place you in the incorrect traffic flow. If you turn too tight during a left turn, you’ll end up on the wrong side of the road. Either of these situations will cause you to face the wrong way and potentially end up in an accident.
Every road has guiding lines to help you stay on your side of the road. Follow those lines to avoid these dangerous situations.
Car Accident Lawyer
You may want to get in touch with a car accident lawyer if you were injured by another party. By having legal representation, your lawyer will handle all communications with the insurance company on your behalf and work toward securing a fair settlement for your car accident. Why risk being unfairly compensated and not having recourse to fix it?
When you hire a car accident lawyer from Brandon J. Broderick, you pay nothing upfront. We work on contingent fees that are only collected if we win your case. If we don’t win, you don’t pay. Don’t wait, contact us today for a free consultation. With our proven track record of success and our commitment to client care, we can turn your setback into a comeback.