Wrong-way driving is something we see all too often in Los Angeles. In fact, it’s one of the three most common causes of car accidents in the area. The other two are distracted driving and driving while intoxicated and, in fact, there tend to be more than one of these factors at play in an increasing number of accidents. It makes sense that a drunk or drug-taking driver would be more likely to drive the wrong way, whether through missing signage, missing a turn and trying to get back to where they were, or simple loss of attention. One of the most dangerous forms of wrong-way driving involves taking a sharp left turn, without paying sufficient attention to surrounding traffic.
As car accident lawyers near Los Angeles and recent news stories can attest, intoxication and wrong-way driving are increasingly going together.
On Monday, January 15, five people were injured after a Chevrolet Tahoe was driven the wrong way along the northbound 405 freeway in Westwood. The Tahoe was headed southbound in the carpool lane, around 12.30 am, when it collided with a Ford Explorer traveling in the correct direction, causing that car to spin and crash into a Honda Civic. A fourth car, a Mercedes Benz SLK500, was struck by debris from the earlier collisions. Alcohol and drugs were found to be amongst the contributing factors in this car accident, which could have been significantly more serious at a busier time of day. The 28-year-old driver of the Chevrolet Tahoe is amongst the five injured and has been arrested, while the incident remains under investigation.
Car accidents involving wrong-way driving, particularly where multiple vehicles are involved, can be difficult to investigate due to the complexity. There’s normally a chain of events, rather than a clear-cut moment of collision, and that’s before you consider the DUI aspect. If you, or a loved one, have been injured by a wrong-way driver in Los Angeles, a car accident attorney with years of experience in the field can help you achieve the best possible outcome. Of course, that won’t heal your injuries or, in worst-case scenarios, bring back your loved one, but conviction and compensation may help to ease the pressure.
However serious the car accident was, a case of wrong-way driving will normally only be resolved with the help of camera footage and witness statements, which are pretty much impossible to obtain and analyze without expert legal representation. The Los Angeles Law Offices of Howard Craig Kornberg car accident attorneys will dedicate their time, expertise, and resources to determine liability in your wrong-way driving case.
To find out how we could help with your specific instance of wrong-way driving, schedule a free consultation with a Los Angeles-based car crash attorney by contacting us on 310-997-0904 today. At this appointment, we will evaluate your case, and how we can help you claim compensation for any damages, losses, or injuries you may have incurred.