Wrong-way collisions are relatively low types of motor vehicle accident in the U.S. but are, nonetheless, one of the deadliest kinds.
Recently these collisions have taken the spotlight in Ohio news after a fatal collision on Interstate 75 this month.
According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, wrong-way accident fatalities have doubled since 2015.
Last year there were 8 fatalities from intentional wrong way crashes. As of April 2016, that amount has doubled to 16 deaths thus far!
Even though these accidents are rare, their impact is often more dangerous and fatal than most road collisions due to the frequency of head-on crashes.
ODOT and state officials are working to figure out a way to curb these quickly rising fatality rates and have highlighted several scenarios a wrong way accident can occur.
Statistics have shown multiple causes for drivers intentionally/unintentionally driving in the wrong direction:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol
- Driving under the influence of drugs
- Confusion over a traffic pattern
- Making a U-Turn on the highway
- Suicide
- Distracted driving
Last year resulted in 533 wrong way crashes in Ohio.
There have been 16 deaths total in 2016—that is 4 deaths per month from one rare type of accident! Officials are doing what they can and it’s time the rest of us do our part by driving safe to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and other fellow drivers on the road.
People are not attentive for many reasons, and these numbers show that accidents as a whole are on the rise.
When drivers are inattentive due to texting or talking on the phone, or – even worse—under the influence of drugs or alcohol, the risk for a mix of different accidents can happen.
This alone is a compelling reason to make sure you have Uninsured Motorist Coverage because when accidents arise and the party at fault does not have insurance or minimum coverage, you’ll be in a deeper hole than before.
For a few dollars a month you can have umbrella coverage that will cover you in the event of a serious accident—your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering will all be covered and make your case easily worth much more.
If you or a family member was severely injured in a wrong-way collision, call me immediately. Make sure you are covered by UIM and umbrella coverage; it will be one phone call to your agent that you’re glad you made!
As your Ohio car accident lawyer, I’ll be there for you, and I’ll Make Them Pay!®
Author: Tim Misny | For over four decades, personal injury lawyer Tim Misny has represented the injured victim in in birth injury, medical malpractice, and catastrophic injury/wrongful death cases, serving “Cleveland, Akron/Canton, Columbus, Dayton and neighboring communities.” You can reach Tim by email at misnylaw.com/ask-tim-a-question/ or call at 1 (800) 556-4769.