NTSB targets wrong-way drivers

March 08, 2013

NTSB targets wrong-way drivers

Article provided by Burke Lasseter LLC
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When you are driving down the highway, you are probably anticipating aggressive drivers or perhaps drivers weaving in and out of their lane while talking on their cellphone. However, one scenario that you probably did not prepare for is a driver barreling towards you while going the wrong direction on the highway. You may think that it is a rare occurrence, but it happens more often than you may think.

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) an average of 360 people are killed nationwide each year in fatal accidents caused by wrong-way drivers. Most of the deaths occur from high-speed collisions that are head-on. Wrong-way accidents are much more likely to be fatal than other types of car accidents. Twenty-two percent of wrong-way accidents are fatal, compared with one percent of other accidents.

The most common ways for drivers to get in a situation where a wrong-way collision is possible are making a U-turn on the highway, entering an exit ramp from the wrong direction and using an emergency turnaround to cross a median.

According to the NTSB, the majority of wrong-way accidents--about 60 percent--are caused by drunk drivers with a blood alcohol level that is more than twice the legal limit. Nearly 10 percent of such accidents are caused by repeat offenders. However, drivers who are 70 years old or older are also a significant cause, responsible for 15 percent of wrong-way accidents.

The NTSB concluded that the most effective way to combat wrong-way accidents is to crack down on drunk drivers. As a result, board is expected to recommend that all states pass laws requiring first-time drunk driver offenders to install ignition interlock devices in their cars. These devices work by testing the driver's breath for the presence of alcohol, preventing the engine from starting if the concentration is too high. Currently, Georgia law mandates the use of such a device for second-time DUI offenders.

Consult an attorney

Whether Georgia will decide to implement the NTSB's recommendation is a matter of speculation. Regardless of whether implementation occurs, Georgia drivers who are injured in wrong-way crashes can seek legal recourse by filing a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages such as medical bills, lost wages and future medical expenses. Similarly, drivers who, because of their negligence, cause the death of another driver can be held accountable in a wrongful death lawsuit.

If you or a loved one have been injured in a wrong-way accident, contact an experienced personal injury attorney to protect your right to compensation.