Posted in Car Accident,Tennessee Accident Law on September 8, 2017
A 64-year-old woman was killed when the vehicle she was riding in was involved in an accident with another car in Rutherford County on Wednesday night.
Per a report by WGNS Radio, the accident happened at around 9 p.m. on West Northfield Boulevard near Sulphur Springs Road. An investigation by the Murfreesboro Police Department revealed that one of the vehicles involved in the crash—a Dodge Neon driven by a 36-year-old woman—exited its lane and entered the path of oncoming traffic before colliding with another vehicle—a Hyundai Elantra driven by a 30-year-old woman.
The victim was riding in the vehicle that crossed the center line of the roadway, entered the median, and then drove into the path of oncoming traffic. She was transported to Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital to receive treatment, and she was later pronounced dead. Two occupants in the Elantra were also injured and were transported to the same hospital to receive treatment for non-life-threatening injuries.
3 Common Causes of Wrong-Way Collisions
Because they often involve two vehicles colliding head-on at high speeds, wrong-way crashes are extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, they’re all too common on Middle Tennessee’s highways and interstates.
Victims of wrong-way and head-on collisions are often more likely to suffer disabling and even life-threatening injuries than victims of other types of accidents. Knowing the common causes of wrong-way collisions can help drivers be more alert and defensive, which in turn can help them reduce their chances of being injured in these types of crashes.
At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville auto accident attorneys know that there are three primary causes of wrong-way collisions:
Driving while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or certain medications can make drivers much more dangerous to themselves and others when they get behind the wheel. They may suffer from drowsiness, poor judgment, blurry vision, impaired reaction times, and even an increase in aggressive driving behaviors. All those factors can add up to cause drivers to enter roadways headed in the wrong direction, including major highways and interstates, as well as one-way streets.
Two-lane roads are common in Middle Tennessee, and they can be a source of frustration when drivers are behind slower vehicles. Passing is allowed in certain areas of these roads that are marked with split yellow lines. However, those areas are strategically chosen due to things like visibility and elevation changes to make passing as safe as possible. When drivers pass outside those areas, they may do so blindly, putting them at risk of being in the path of oncoming traffic and causing head-on collisions.
Another major cause of wrong-way collisions is drivers not looking where they’re going. Cell phone usage behind the wheel is a major epidemic in Murfreesboro and throughout the nation. When drivers are looking at their phones to send texts, get directions, or check social media accounts, their eyes aren’t on the road. Vehicles can travel the length of a football field in just a few seconds, and without continuous steering and correction, they can easily cross lanes or drive through medians. That’s also true for drivers who are sleepy or fatigued, as they may nod off momentarily—and that’s long enough to result in a wrong-way crash.
Other common causes of wrong-way collisions include unfamiliarity with a roadway or city, driving during inclement weather that causes poor or limited visibility, failure to pay attention to road signs, and medical emergencies.
Victims of wrong-way crashes frequently need immediate medical intervention to save their lives, and their roads to recovery are often long and difficult. They may need emergency surgery and physical rehabilitation, and it can be difficult for them to return to work. That means they’re often unable to afford their medical bills, especially when they lose the paychecks they depend on.
If you or someone you know was hurt in a wrong-way crash that was caused by a negligent driver, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. To find out how our legal team can put its three decades of experience to work for you, contact our Murfreesboro office today by dialing (615) 600-4941 or completing a free online form.
