Although wrong way driving accidents account for only a small percentage of the fatal crashes that occur on U.S. roadways, the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration estimates this to be about 1%, they are among some of the more serious types of crashes that are reported. In fact, approximately 300 to 400 people die in wrong way collisions each year. If you are a victim of a wrong way collision that transpired in Cedar Rapids, IA or a family member of yours was killed in one of these tragic accidents, Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. is here to help and support you through this difficult time in your life.
One of the ways we can help you and your loved ones is by bringing a claim against the negligent party who was responsible for the accident. How does this benefit you? Well, when you file a claim and are successful, you receive what we refer to as damages, which is compensation that pays you for things like medical expenses, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium, etc. Wrong-way collisions can affect your life in a multitude of ways, some which interfere with your ability to earn income and afford everyday expenses. And if the accident left you requiring ongoing medical care, you might be entitled to receive compensation that will pay for this as well.
If you would like for one of our experienced car accident attorneys in Iowa City, IA to assess your incident and determine if you have a legitimate case on your hands, we encourage you to contact us at (319) 393-1020 to speak with one. Not only can we help determine if you have a case, but we can value it and aid you in recovering the amount we think you deserve.
What can a driver do to avoid an accident with a Wrong-Way Driver?
Aside from knowing who you can contact after having been involved in a wrong-way accident, it is important to familiarize yourself with the steps you can take to avoid this type of collision in the future. Some things professional race car driver David Zubrick recommends you do to avoid a wrong-way accident include:
- Keep your eyes high.
“You want to keep your eyes high, looking as far down the road as you possibly can,” says Zubrick. He also recommends that you don’t just focus on the cars that are directly in front of you, rather you want to be looking down the road so you can see what’s coming up ahead of you.
- Stay right at night.
Zubrick suggests that you stay as far to the right as possible when driving at night “because the wrong-way driver is most likely to be traveling in the far-left lane, thinking he’s driving the right way down the road, and that he’s driving safely in the right lane.”
- If you see a wrong-way driver coming at you, reduce your speed immediately.
If you encounter a wrong-way driver, you are going to want to “reduce your speed by taking your foot off the gas pedal and pumping the brakes.” The news outlet highlighted that experts recommend that you do not slam on your brakes as you don’t want to lose control of your vehicle but rather you begin to slow the car down by pumping the brakes instead.
- Steer right to avoid the wrong-way driver.
If a wrong-way driver is headed in your direction, “You have to turn one way or the other. It is best to turn right and go as far right as possible without leaving the roadway and losing control of your car,” said Zubrick.
In the event there is a driver to your immediate right, preventing you from turning right to avoid the driver headed in your direction, Zubrick recommends that you turn right anyway. He told the news outlet that “There may well be a situation where there’s a car right there on your right side but that you should turn right anyway and just push him off the road. That impact with a car on your side is way better than a head-on collision, which is potentially fatal. Your job is to survive this encounter.”
[Source: Click 2 Houston].
Now, as we mentioned above, it would be in your best interest to contact our office if you or someone you know was involved in a wrong-way accident in Iowa City recently so that we can determine if you have a viable case and how much it is worth. Although compensation cannot mend the injuries you or anyone else suffered, it does allow you to receive the medical care you need and deserve.
You can reach Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, P.L.C. at:
1921 51st Street NE
Cedar Rapids, IA 52402
Phone: (319) 393-1020
Fax: (319) 393-4000
Website: www.eellsandtronvold.com
