Fatalities and Injuries Result From Texas Wrong-Way Auto Wrecks
Earlier this month, multiple vehicles were involved in a wrong-way crash on I-10 near San Antonio, Texas, in the early hours of the morning. The police believe the driver of the pickup truck was driving drunk when he headed the wrong way down the road. He hit a sedan on the side causing it to spin and then hit another vehicle before he stopped. Multiple people were taken to the hospital with injuries. A separate wrong-way accident a few weeks ago on I-35 led to two fatalities – the driver of a truck driving against traffic and the driver of the car he hit.
If you have been involved in a similar type of accident, do not hesitate to seek legal advice from the skilled Texas personal injury attorneys of the Bettersworth Law Firm. When you are injured because of someone driving the wrong way on a neighborhood street or highway, you deserve to recover from that person.
Wrong-Way Auto Accidents Plague Texas
Texas is one of the top states for wrong-way crashes, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. The organization’s research uncovered that there were 185 wrong-way accidents in San Antonio in 2011, which included seven fatalities. A special NBC 5 Investigation found wrong-way crashes increased 13 percent from 2013 to 2014, using TxDOT data. Between 2011 and 2015, there were 269 deaths related to wrong-way accidents and 2,800 injuries.
Texas is particularly interested in why these types of accidents happen. Seventy-two percent of wrong-way crashes happen after sunset, but many of the accidents occur after 2 a.m. – which might also be associated with the time many bars close, KXAN pointed out. There is a significant link between drunk driving and wrong-way auto accidents. This makes sense as someone who is impaired is less likely to be able to pay attention to the road, including road lines and signs.
Texas Is Making Changes
In order to reduce the number of wrong-way crashes, Texas is making some improvements. The state is lowering “wrong way” and “do not enter” signs. This is an attempt to do something new that may enable more people to notice the signs before making a deadly mistake. Texas also plans to add LED flashing lights alongside wrong-way signs on many major highways to increase the visibility of these warnings.
Recovering After a Wrong-Way Crash
If you or a loved one was injured because of a driver headed the wrong way down a street and hitting your vehicle, you deserve to recover from the person at fault. In most situations, you will work with the driver’s auto insurance provider first. However, many factors can come between you and a beneficial settlement from the insurer. It is best to work with a skilled New Braunfels personal injury attorney like those at the Bettersworth Law Firm to improve your chances of a satisfactory settlement. If working with the insurer is not possible, the lawyers of Bettersworth Law Firm are ready to represent you in court.
Sources:
http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Documents/SIR1201.pdf
http://www.nbcdfw.com/investigations/Wrong-Way-Crashes-in-Texas-Are-on-the-Rise-NBC-5-Investigates-290368361.html
http://kxan.com/2016/02/22/texas-leads-nation-in-wrong-way-crashes/
