“Two Parents and Three Children Gone In Fatal Wrong-Way Accident,” you read from the headline— or some variant of this on your local news sources. More Sacramento lives lost due to the negligence of a wrong-way driver. The latest accident took place on Howe Avenue near American River Drive, when a Volvo going the wrong direction took the life of an individual, and severely injured another.
We hear of these wrong-way accidents all too often here in Sacramento, and because of this, we may downplay the severity of this issue. While our state leaders are working to help fix the issue at hand with things like:
- Larger “Do not enter” signs
- Signs now equipped with flashing LED lights and cameras that send a picture to local authorities
- Red reflectors faced the wrong way to inform drivers they have made a mistake
What Is Causing These Accidents?
Cal Trans is responsible for making changes to keep our roads safer, and while they are doing what they can, they fear the main reason for these accidents is something that’s out of their control—driving under the influence. Edward Cartagena, Caltrans Media Information Officer states,
“The overwhelming majority of wrong-way drivers are impaired and not in a condition to be driving in the first place, with 69% of the drivers having a blood alcohol content (BAC) over the .08— the legal limit.”
While wrong-way accidents are less common than other types of auto accidents, their exceptionally high fatality rate makes them an issue needing immediate attention.
What Can Be Done?
As seen above, many of these accidents are caused by a driver under the influence, meaning there isn’t much that can be done to prevent that. However, there are many defensive driving tips that may help you avoid them if you spot a wrong-way driver on the road, including:
- Anticipating what’s ahead - Always be sure to scan your surroundings as far as you can see, and across the entire roadway.
- Take caution driving on weekends and at night - NTSB shows that 70% of wrong-way accidents take place between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. This number jumps higher on the weekends, which is likely contributed to increased consumption of alcohol.
- Avoid distractions - Driving distracted lowers your ability to react to unexpected situations, such as spotting a wrong-way driver. Driving distraction-free can help you avoid these accidents undoubtedly.
Piering Law Firm Can Help
Wrong-way accidents are caused by driver negligence and there is no reason you should have to live with the negative impacts accompanied by being involved in one. At the Piering Law Firm, our team of trusted Sacramento auto accident attorneys understands the negligent, selfish act that is known as wrong-way driving—along with the lasting impact these accidents can have.
If you’ve been injured in an auto accident due to no fault of your own, you have rights and we want you to know that you don’t have to go down the road of recovery alone. For over 35 years our team here at Piering Law Firm has been helping individuals injured by negligence seek the compensation they deserve to return to their prior lifestyles.
Call us today (916) 476-2399 to schedule your free case evaluation. We would love to discuss how we can help you heal.