After enduring an injury, the victim of a wrong-way collision in Atlanta can pursue damages in a claim against the negligent driver. Going after reimbursement for all that you lost in an accident can be an exhaustive task, especially when dealing with it on your own and with limited experience.
The knowledge, experience, and resources of an Atlanta wrong-way accident attorney can save you time and energy while helping increase your chances of success. Ali Awad, The CEO Lawyer, is dedicated to serving the Atlanta community through difficult times, like motor vehicle collisions, and he and his team can offer support as you pursue a claim. Scheduling an initial consultation with our team is free and comes with no obligation to continue with our firm’s services.
Our goals when conducting an initial consultation are to better understand the specific circumstances of your accident, map out a general course of action, and answer any pressing questions you may have about the upcoming steps in your accident claim. To schedule your free case review, call (404) 777-8800 or contact us online today.
How Can an Atlanta Wrong Way Accident Lawyer Help My Case?
Facing any type of accident can be scary, but experiencing the recklessness of a motorist driving the wrong way is especially serious because of the high possibility of extreme injuries. Today’s vehicles have huge mass and can reach deadly speeds; when a distracted or otherwise careless driver is approaching head-on down a wrong-way path, they create a dangerous environment for all other motorists, passengers, and pedestrians.
These accidents are unfortunately only becoming more common as the years go by, with wrong-way fatalities across the U.S. increasing from 451 in 2016 to 507 in 2020.
After a car accident, it is natural to feel unsure about the next steps to take. With property damage, new debts, and debilitating injuries, juggling an insurance claim in the mix can feel overwhelming.
Instead of going into the process alone and with limited knowledge, leverage the experience of an attorney to take some of the weight from your shoulders. When you work with a wrong-way accident lawyer, you’ll benefit from an entire team of dedicated professionals, all aiming for your claim’s success.
Your Atlanta personal injury attorney and their supporting staff can help you through the following types of services
- Claims representation from start to finish
- Legal knowledge and guidance
- Deep research into applicable laws and prior case outcomes
- Rigorous investigation of the crash, its circumstances, and the role of negligence in the at-fault driver’s actions
- Calculation of your full damages, including estimated future expenses
- Representation during claims administration and settlement negotiation
- Preparation for possible litigation and trial
What Causes Someone To Drive The Wrong Way?
A wrong-way accident refers to when a motorist is driving on the wrong side of the road and collides with another driver traveling down the correct side of the road. These accidents can happen anywhere and can oftentimes lead to serious injuries because of the severity of the impact in a head-on crash.
A person could accidentally drive on the wrong side of the road for a multitude of reasons, including:
- Intoxicated driving
- Distracted driving
- Driving on unfamiliar roads
- Falling asleep at the wheel
- Passing unsafely
- Ignoring lane markings or one-way signage
- Unable to see center lines on the road
- Medical emergency
- Aggressive or otherwise reckless driving
Is There Any Exception to Driving on the Right Side of the Road?
In the U.S., motorists should always drive on the right side of the road. There are very few exceptions to this rule, and even within said exceptions, it is unusual for a motorist to need to drive on the wrong side for long periods of time.
Georgia outlines these exceptions in State Code § 40-6-40, stating that all vehicles should remain on the right side of the road unless:
- The driver is legally passing another vehicle going in the same direction
- There is an obstacle in the road that requires the driver to temporarily merge left while passing the object in question
- The driver is on a road with at least three marked lanes
- Roadways are restricted to one-way traffic due to a collision, roadwork, or other events happening on the roadways.
Common Injuries Treated From a Wrong Way Accident
Each accident will look different, producing a distinct combination of injuries for every victim. Injuries from a wrong-way accident can vary in severity, but serious and devastating injuries are unfortunately all too common.
Wrong-way collisions are 12 times as likely to report severe injuries and fatalities as other types of car crashes, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. Some of the most commonly reported injuries from wrong-way accidents include but are not limited to:
- Head and neck injuries, including TBIs
- Spinal injuries
- Paralysis
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Burns
- Chest injuries such as broken ribs
- Hip injuries
- Deformation or dysfunction of the hands and feet
Because wrong way crashes involve directly opposing forces, sometimes at highway speeds, the impact and its effects on accident victims is likely to be great. They may even be pushed off the road, causing rollovers on inclines or secondary impacts with trees, objects, or other vehicles.
Even low-speed wrong way crashes on narrow one-way streets can produce catastrophic injuries, especially when pedestrians are involved. Crash victims are likely to sustain serious injuries, creating extensive damages as a result of the needed medical care and other post-accident expenses.
What Damages Can I Recover From a Wrong Way Accident in Atlanta?
After an accident, it is important to understand how, as a victim, you can be reimbursed for damages you have suffered along the way. When breaking down a damages claim, figures will be separated into multiple categories: economic (special) damages, non-economic (general) damages, and punitive damages.
Common economic damages sought in a wrong-way accident claim include:
- Medical bills, encompassing all care including emergency transport, ER fees, diagnostics, imaging, testing, medical professional treatments, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, medical devices, and all other reasonable and necessary treatment expenses.
- Future medical care costs, providing the victim with compensation for the expense of future appointments, rehabilitation, medications, home modifications, and more.
- Lost wages, referring to all losses to income as well as benefits, including any performance-based pay, bonuses, commissions, and other forms of income the victim was likely to earn based on past earnings statements.
- Out-of-pocket expenses made necessary by the accident, such as vehicle rental costs, the costs of parking at medical appointments, the need to hire someone for domestic services the injury victim cannot perform, etc.
- Vehicle repair and personal property replacement for any property damaged or destroyed by the accident
- Funeral and burial expenses for victims of a wrongful death accident
Accident victims can also claim their non-economic, or subjective, accident losses, compensating them for their pain, suffering, mental anguish, and loss of ability to enjoy the activities they once did as a result of their injuries, either temporarily or permanently.
Punitive damages may be awarded by a jury in cases that go to trial and that involve extreme recklessness, gross negligence, or intentionally harmful behavior. The cap on punitive damages for injury torts in Georgia is generally $250,000.
Talk to an Atlanta Wrong Way Accident Attorney When You Have Questions About the Claim Process
Below are some of the most common questions we receive.
How Long Do Wrong Way Accident Claims Take to Settle?
Every case is different, but most auto accident claims can be settled within nine to eighteen months. This is a variable timeline, meaning that depending on the circumstances of your case, finalizing a settlement may take longer.
What Is the Statute of Limitations on Accidents in Atlanta?
A claimant must file a notice of a claim within two years of the accident date to proceed. Rare exceptions exist in the case the claimant was a minor, fraud is suspected, or mental incapacity is involved.
If You’ve Been Injured In a Crash, Call an Atlanta Wrong Way Accident Law Firm Today!
After an accident, you may not be sure what the next steps are, but you can reach out to a professional for guidance. Walking through the process of a wrong-way accident claim alone can be daunting, with questions and concerns jumping out at every turn.
When you work with a skilled Atlanta wrong-way accident attorney, you’ll have the experience and education of an entire legal team to walk you through queries and any uncertainty you feel along the way. Not only that, but their services, resources, knowledge, and experience will raise the likelihood that your claim will compensate you for all damages you have suffered.
In just a few short years, Ali Awad has transformed a local firm into a national brand, expanding his passion for helping others. The CEO Lawyer has built up this nationally recognized firm by dedicating support to communities like Atlanta, and to get started, all it takes is a call.
Schedule your free, no-risk case review when you call (404) 777-8800 or contact us online.
