Wrong-Way Car Accident Lawyers

Drivers have an obligation to adhere to traffic regulations to avoid injuries. Ideally, drivers should be correctly trained and familiar with the roadways. Sadly, one wrong turn can have catastrophic ramifications, particularly if that wrong turn puts the driver in the path of approaching traffic.

Wrong-way car collisions are among the most common and dangerous types of crashes in Kansas. When drivers are in the path of oncoming traffic flow, it usually results in fatalities and debilitating injuries due to the head-on nature and speed of the crash. Still, even a vehicle moving at a lower speed may lead to severe injuries if such scenarios arise.

If you have been the victim of a wrong-way car accident in Kansas, you may have grounds to seek compensation from the negligent party. Enlist our skilled wrong-way car accident lawyers at Bretz Injury Law to help you hold the liable party accountable and recover the compensation you deserve.

Steps To Take if You See a Wrong-Lane Driver

As a driver, you depend on others to operate their vehicles responsibly and safely. However, encountering an oncoming car in your lane presents a critical and dangerous situation. With limited time to react—especially at high speeds—avoiding a collision becomes extremely challenging. Despite these circumstances, taking the right actions in those crucial moments can significantly increase your chances of protecting yourself and others.

Here’s what to do if you see oncoming traffic:

• Decelerate by hitting the brakes
• Steer away from the path of the approaching car
• Flash your headlights and honk
• Drive into a ditch or shoulder of the road
• Get off the road or pull over
• Call law enforcement

Knowing what to do during a head-on collision can help save lives and prevent property damage, severe injuries, or even death. Remain calm and take appropriate action to avoid an accident with the wrong-way driver. If you’ve been the victim of an accident in the wrong direction of traffic, get medical attention immediately and talk to an experienced car accident lawyer to understand your legal options.

Common Causes of Wrong-Lane Driver Crashes

The causes of Kansas car accidents may vary, but they are usually the result of some form of negligence or driver error. Although these crashes aren’t among the most prevalent types of accidents, they tend to be more devastating. This is mostly because cars usually move at high speeds, and the negligent driver or accident victim has little time to react.

The cars usually crash head-on, increasing the chances that victims may sustain debilitating injuries such as paralysis, brain trauma, disfigurement, broken bones, or wrongful death. Here are some common driver error situations that may cause wrong-way collisions in Kansas:

Impaired Driving

Alcohol is known for its mind-altering effects and can affect your body in various ways, making driving unsafe. Ten-year crash data has shown that Kansas drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs were more likely to be involved in injury-causing and fatal wrong-way car accidents.

When someone drives under the influence of alcohol, they may experience several concerning effects, including:

• Difficulty in making sound judgments
• Blurred vision
• Slowed reflexes
• Delayed reaction times
• Overwhelming sleepiness
• Unpredictable and erratic movements

Each of the above factors significantly heightens the risk of a driver swerving into the wrong lane and causing a crash.

Distracted Driving

Driving safely requires total concentration with your eyes and hands on the steering wheel. Any activity that removes your attention from driving is a distraction. Distractions can make you veer into oncoming traffic flow or make a wrong turn onto a street.

Distractions can either be manual, visual, or cognitive. When a driver looks in a particular direction, their body will instinctively rotate the steering wheel in that direction. If your attention is on something to your left, your vehicle will start moving into the left lane. Not paying attention to your surroundings may result in a head-on collision with an oncoming car.

Fatigued/Drowsy Driving

Driving while fatigued can lead to many of the same impairments as alcohol consumption. What’s even riskier is that fatigued drivers often hit the road at night.

When drivers sleep behind the wheel, they pose a serious and real danger to themselves and other road users. This is because drowsy and fatigued driving impairs the reaction time and judgment of the driver, increasing the chances they will drift into the wrong lane. Some groups are more susceptible to drowsy driving than others, and they include:

• Commercial truck drivers
• Drivers taking certain medications
• Drivers working long shifts
• Drivers with untreated sleep disorders
• Drivers who don’t get quality sleep

Knowing the common driver errors on the road can help you avoid being the victim or perpetrator of a wrong-way car accident. If you’ve been involved in a wrong-way crash in Kansas due to driver error, request an accident report to get started with the claims process. Contact the car accident attorneys at Bretz Injury Law to help you prove driver error resulted in your injuries.

How Road Defects Lead To Wrong-Lane Accidents

In many accidents involving drivers heading in the wrong direction, the blame often falls on the person traveling in the incorrect lane. However, it’s crucial to recognize that road defects can also contribute to such accidents. Several road irregularities can potentially lead to incidents of vehicles traveling in the wrong direction. These defects may include:

• Road design issues. A driver may erroneously access a highway traveling against traffic due to confusing access or unclear signage and cause a wrong-way accident.
• Detours. Rerouting traffic without proper signage can cause drivers to drive in the wrong lanes, leading to wrong-way accidents.
• Lack of warning signs. A driver may enter a street in the wrong direction due to a lack of “Do Not Enter” signs and poorly marked ramps.
• Poor lighting. Drivers may likely miss road signage on poorly lit roads, causing wrong-way car crashes.

Wrong-direction auto crashes resulting from road defects can be complex. If you sustained an injury in a wrong-way crash due to road defects, don’t presume your case isn’t valid because you cannot pinpoint the at-fault party. We can help! The skilled wrong-way car accident lawyers at Bretz Injury Law can help you determine the cause of the crash and hold the responsible parties liable.

Liability in Kansas Wrong-Lane Accidents      

Although it should be clear who’s at fault for a wrong-way crash, things aren’t always straightforward. Liability for resulting damages will be determined based on various circumstances, including both driver’s actions in the moments leading to the collision. There are instances when the driver in the correct lane could be partially liable. Among the ways the driver in the correct roadway lane could be held liable for the accident include:

• Speeding to hinder the other driver from getting into traffic
• Decelerating to obstruct the other driver from joining
• Tailgating a car to hinder another driver from joining
• Not permitting a merging driver into traffic flow
• Brake checking to frustrate a merging driver

If your account of what transpired differs from that of the other driver, you need compelling evidence proving the other driver was at fault before you recoup compensation. The personal injury attorneys at Bretz Injury Law can assist you in compiling the necessary evidence to prove liability. Our attorneys will help you obtain the following:

• Visual evidence, such as dashcam and traffic cam footage showing moments before the crash
• Witness statements
• Proof of breach of care
• Proof of traffic regulations violated
• Evidence that the driver’s negligent actions caused the accident
• Testimony of accident reconstruction experts

Kansas follows the comparative negligence doctrine. If you are partly responsible for the car accident, the amount of compensation you can recover is reduced in proportion to the percentage of your fault. If you are found to be 50% or more at fault for the crash, you will not recoup any monetary compensation from the other driver.

Navigating the complexities of wrong-way auto crashes, especially within Kansas’s no-fault insurance system, can be challenging. Establishing the liability of the driver at fault can pose a significant difficulty. Our seasoned team of wrong-way car accident attorneys at Bretz Injury Law will gather essential evidence, prove liability, and fight for the fair compensation you need.

Injuries Caused by Wrong-Lane Driver Accidents

Considering the severity of head-on collisions in wrong-way accidents, the aftermath often involves severe injuries, extensive property damage, and, tragically, loss of life. These incidents typically lead to substantial medical expenses, a significant reduction in earnings due to the inability to work, enduring physical and emotional pain, and other related consequences.

Individuals involved in wrong-way collisions are at risk of experiencing a range of injuries, such as:

• Neck, back, and spine injuries, including herniated discs or whiplash
• Brain injuries or concussions
• Broken bones
• Chronic pain
• Internal organ damage
• Lacerations and soft tissue injuries
• Burns and permanent scarring

Often, wrong-way collisions result in the loss of life, and according to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), there were approximately 414 wrong-way traffic crashes in 2021 in Kansas.

Talk to Our Skilled Attorneys in Kansas for Legal Representation

Wrong-way drivers usually pop up out of nowhere, and the resulting crashes lead to devastating consequences. Victims typically suffer lasting injuries that render them incapable of earning or performing regular tasks. The wrong-way driver may not necessarily be at fault, so seeking compensation can be complicated and expensive. Seeking legal counsel is the best way to navigate the legal complexities and recover damages.

At Bretz Injury Law, our car accident attorneys understand Kansas personal injury laws and have the necessary resources to conduct independent investigations into the accident, including obtaining and reviewing police reports, witness statements, and other evidence.

Our legal team has assisted many car accident victims and has recovered over $300 million to help our clients recover. We will build a strong case and help you navigate the claim process toward an acceptable settlement as you concentrate on recuperating.

Call us today at 620-RESULTS to arrange a no-cost consultation, or fill out our contact form to get started. And note that we haven’t sent a bill to an injured client since 1997.