5 things that can lead to a wrong-way highway accident
For experienced drivers in the Chattanooga area, it can be unimaginable that they would ever go the wrong way on the highway or even a surface road. But head-on car accidents caused by a wrong-way driver happen regularly.
Driving the wrong way is usually the result of a negligence . Most wrong-way crashes happen because the driver on the wrong side of the road was negligent in some way. But other people, businesses, or governmental entities might share at least some of the blame. Things that can cause a driver to go the wrong way include:
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Distracted driving
- Sleep-deprived driving
- Unfamiliarity with the area leading to a wrong turn
- Other drivers not having their headlights on
- Other drivers blinding oncoming traffic by having their bright lights on
- Poor roadway maintenance, lighting or signage
The first four items on this list are examples of negligence by the driver on the wrong side of the road. Even if you are driving in a new area, pay close attention to your surroundings and avoid entering the highway through an exit ramp. The final item may indicate negligence by state or local government for failing to maintain a reasonably safe road. Any of these can lead to tragedy.
Drunk driver going the wrong way
A recent deadly collision between a car and motorcycle in Knoxville shows how this can happen. Police say the driver of the car was drunk and carrying an open container of beer when he crossed the center line and crashed head-on into a motorcycle. The rider, a 29-year-old man, was thrown from his bike and killed. The driver fled the scene, but police found him a short time later.
It appears that alcohol is to blame for this man’s death. The driver chose to drink and drive and ended up on the wrong side of the street. This behavior is unacceptable, and victims and their families have the right to take them to court to seek compensation.