Posted in Car Accident,Drunk Driving,Negligence,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on January 12, 2015
Wrong-Way Collision on Interstate 65 Kills One, Critically Two Others
A wrong-way collision on Interstate 65 near Briley Parkway in Madison, Tennessee, killed one man and sent two other people to the hospital with critical injuries early Sunday.
According to a report by wsmv.com, the accident occurred when a 38-year-old woman driving a Cadillac Escalade drove her vehicle down an interstate exit and began traveling south in the northbound lanes of I-65.
After a short time of driving the wrong way, the woman struck a Corvette driven by a 41-year-old man from Brownsville, Kentucky, head-on. The man died due to the injuries he suffered in the accident.
The driver of the Escalade and her passenger both suffered serious injuries and were transported to Skyline Hospital for treatment.
Metro police stated that the driver of the Escalade admitted to consuming alcohol and that she smelled strongly of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes, and her speech was slurred.
Police also stated that the woman will face charges of vehicular homicide by intoxication and vehicular assault when she is released from the hospital.
What Causes Wrong-Way Collisions?
Wrong-way accidents are a particularly dangerous type of accident because they almost always occur in the early morning hours and involve high-rates of speed and head-on collisions. At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville car accident attorneys know these accidents have a few common causes, including:
Although interstate signs are often designed to reflect light to make them easier to see at night or in inclement weather, conditions such as fog or heavy rain can make it difficult to read signs. Lack of visibility can also make it difficult for drivers to determine if a roadway is an entrance or on-ramp for an interstate or highway, especially if they driving at a time when there aren’t many other motorists on the road.
Road work and construction can sometimes reroute roadways and traffic lanes. That can cause drivers who are normally familiar with a stretch of road or interstate to become confused—especially if the on-ramps and exits are moved or rerouted to a different part of the road. In addition, drivers may become distracted by the presence of road work or road crews and take a wrong turn and end up traveling the wrong direction down the interstate or highway.
The most common cause of wrong-way accidents is alcohol. According to estimates by highway officials in Florida, as many as 50 percent of all drivers involved in wrong-way accidents were under in the influence of alcohol at the time of the collision. Because alcohol impairs judgment, decision-making abilities, and even vision, impaired drivers may not notice or look for signs indicating they are going the wrong way down an exit ramp, causing them to travel down the interstate going the wrong direction at high speeds and creating an extreme danger to other drivers.
The Nashville car accident lawyers at Matt Hardin Law know that wrong-way accidents can cause debilitating injuries, disabilities, and even death—especially when alcohol is involved. We have no sympathy for drunk drivers who get behind the wheel and injuries innocent victims, and it’s our goal to stand up for victims and their families.
If you or someone you love was injured in a wrong-way accident caused by a negligent driver, we want to help you get compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses. Contact us today by dialing (615) 200-1111 or by filling out a free online form. Because we work on a contingency fee, you won’t owe us any money unless we get money for you, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
