The wrong-way driver caused multiple accidents while traveling on the Golden Glades Interchange including an accident that sent another driver to the hospital, according to CBS Miami.

Wrong Way Driving Accidents are a Serious Safety Issue

Wrong-way driving accidents result in between 300 and 400 death each year in the United States. That means wrong-way accidents comprise approximately one percent of the total number of traffic-related deaths that occur each year. While this may appear to be a small percentage, wrong-way accidents often involve head-on collisions at high rates of speed so they are generally more severe than other automobile wrecks, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

The data in Florida is not much better. In 2015, there were approximately 1,490 wrong way driving accidents in the state which resulted in 1,454 injuries and 96 deaths, according to News 4 Jax.

Damages That Can Be Pursued in a Personal Injury Case Against a Wrong-Way Driver

If you or a loved one was seriously injured by a wrong-way driver, you can pursue financial restitution for your harms and losses. The forms of financial restitution available through a personal injury claim are typically broken down into three categories: economic damages, non-economic damages, and punitive damages.

Economic damages include those itemizable harms you suffered as a result of the accident. They include medical bills (both incurred and future expenses such as rehabilitation and prescription medication costs) and lost wages as result of time missed from work due to your injuries.

Non-economic damages include the emotional distress, psychological trauma and pain and suffering associated with the collision. These losses are generally difficult to calculate, as there is no true economic value that can be placed on the amount of distress you or a loved one suffered.

Both economic and non-economic damages are intended to return you to where you were before the accident. Essentially, they are meant to make you whole. This is why you need an experienced Miami car accident lawyer on your side who has the skills to present your case to a jury is so important. You want a lawyer who will make sure all of your harms and losses are properly compensated.

In some major accident cases, the injured party can also pursue punitive damages. These are damages meant to punish the reckless driver. They are not recoverable in all cases. In fact, punitive damages are only pursuable by an injured party when there is evidence of intentional misconduct or gross negligence.

Another hurdle is the fact that the Florida legislature placed a statutory limitation or “cap” on punitive damages. In Florida, an award for punitive damages cannot exceed three times the amount of the award of compensatory damages or $500,000, whichever is larger.

Speak to an Experienced Miami Car Accident Lawyer Today

The experienced car accident lawyers of the Miami office of Alan Goldfarb, P.A. are here to help you recover maximum compensation for your harms and losses. Contact our office today to schedule a free, confidential case review.

Resources:

miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-gardens/article160928199.html

miami.cbslocal.com/2017/07/12/wrong-way-driver-slams-vehicles-golden-glades/

news4jax.com/news/florida/nearly-1500-wrong-way-crashes-in-florida-last-year

According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) wrong-way collisions occur when a car is driving on divided highways or access ramps in the opposite direction of traffic flow. In Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation reports that 280 wrong way crashes killed 75 victims in Florida highways between 2009 and 2013.

Why do Wrong Way Accidents Happen?

The investigation into the wrong way accident is still ongoing and it may be awhile before investigators know what caused this particular accident. However, the NTSB conducted an investigation into wrong way accidents and found that causes of wrong-way accidents include:

• Drunk Driving: driving while intoxicated impairs a driver’s judgment and vision. This means that intoxicated drivers are less likely to see and follow road signs.
• Confusing Road Signs: many wrong way accidents occur when a car enters an exit ramp. This may in part be due to bad signage and a driver’s unfamiliarity with a city. Oftentimes poorly lit signs fail to give unfamiliar drivers enough information about access ramps.
• Senior Drivers: the NTSB reports that drivers over 70 are often represented as at fault drivers in wrong way accidents.
• Time of Day: the NTSB found that 78 percent of wrong way accidents occur between 6:00 pm and 6:00 am. The mix of drowsy and/or drunk drivers, and the lack of light make it more likely for wrong way accidents to occur during these hours.
• Day of the Week: most wrong way accidents crashes happen on the weekend. This is partially due to the fact that more people go out and drink on weekends.
• Road Position: many wrong way collisions occur in the driving lanes closest to the median. The NTSB study found that seven out of nine wrong way accidents occur in this lane.

Let us Help you Recover from a Wrong Way Accident

Regardless of the cause of a wrong way accident, victims deserve compensation. Contact the Miami car accident attorneys at the office of Alan Goldfarb, P.A. if you have sustained injuries in an accident in Florida. We can help you seek compensation for medical costs, lost wages and emotional distress after a wrong-way accident. Let us provide you with the legal guidance you need to make a good decision for your family. Contact us today at 305-371-3111 to schedule an appointment.