Rochester, New York, Wrong-Way Car Accidents

Jed Dietrich, Esq., is Recognized as a Best Lawyer of America Who Has Dedicated His Career to Every Rochester and New York Resident Who Has Suffered Because Of Another Person’s Negligence.

While most people understand that they should stay in their lane and drive in the same direction as traffic, wrong-way accidents still happen with alarming regularity. Compared to other types of car crashes, wrong-way accidents are often catastrophic. Recent research suggests that half of these collisions end in some level of injury, while 25% cause serious injury or death.

If you, or a loved one, have been hurt in a Rochester wrong-way car crash, the costs of recovery may seem insurmountable. You might be burdened by massive medical bills, disabled, and facing months of intensive physical rehabilitation. All the while, you may be unable to work, losing the same income you need to pay for health care and keep a roof over your head.

Whenever you are hurt by another person’s negligence, you could be entitled to significant compensation through an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent nearly two decades fighting for the rights of people harmed by negligence across Rochester and Western New York. Since our founding, our hardworking team of attorneys and legal professionals has helped our clients secure more than $175 million in compensation. We could help you, too. Please call us today at 585-939-3939 to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.

Some accidents are truly unavoidable. However, wrong-way car crashes are often atypical. Compared to other types of collisions, these accidents are almost always caused by another driver’s negligence.

Alcohol is a common culprit. In one recent incident, a Lockport father was killed by a motorist traveling the wrong way on Route 104 in Parma, about 15 miles outside of Rochester. According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, the suspected perpetrator appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

Drunk driving is, in fact, among the most common causes of wrong-way car crashes: the American Automobile Association estimates that over 60% of identified wrong-way drivers had blood alcohol content levels above the legal limit of 0.08 grams per deciliter.

However, wrong-way car accidents can have other causes, too. They include:

1. Impairment: Motorists under the influence of drugs or alcohol are the most likely to be involved in, or cause, a wrong-way car accident.
2. Age: Scientists have found a significant correlation between age and incidences of wrong-way collisions. Drivers over the age of 65, and drivers under the age of 25, are overrepresented in these types of crashes. In fact, drivers over the age of 70 are much more likely to be involved in wrong-way crashes on divided highways than they are to be involved in regular crashes.
3. Distraction: Drivers who are texting, speaking on the phone, or otherwise distracted are more likely to take a wrong turn or go against the flow of traffic than motorists who are attentive to their surroundings.
4. Recklessness: Sometimes, people intentionally drive against traffic to “save time” after missing a highway exit.

While wrong-way car accidents have many potential causes, most can be attributed to negligence. When an intoxicated, distracted, or incapable driver hurts you or a loved one, you should never have to bear the burden of recovery alone. Jed Dietrich, Esq., strives to provide his clients with the highest level of personal injury service. A recognized Super Lawyer and American Institute of Trial Lawyers Litigator of the Year, Jed Dietrich, Esq., has the experience necessary to advocate on your behalf. Please send Jed Dietrich, Esq., a message online today to discuss how you could secure compensation after a Rochester wrong-way car accident.

Although wrong-way car crashes are relatively rare compared to other common types of automobile accidents, they are often severe. The National Transportation Safety Board, for instance, found that 22% of all wrong-way car accidents on Michigan highways were fatal, compared to 0.3% of all other highway accidents. This is because many wrong-way crashes are head-on collisions, which transfer massive amounts of force to vehicle occupants.

While some people may feel fortunate to have survived a wrong-way crash, they may have still suffered serious injuries. Recently, a disoriented 81-year-old man exited a service station on the New York Thruway near Rochester. State troopers believe that he traveled for eight miles in the wrong direction before he hit another passenger vehicle; the elderly driver and two other people died on-site, while another two individuals were hospitalized in critical condition.

The costs of a wrong-way car accident can be immense. Certain spinal cord injuries, for instance, can cost more than $200,000 to treat. Other injuries may culminate in disability, thereby necessitating prohibitively expensive long-term care. You might also have to pay out of pocket for damages like:

1. Medical treatment, including emergency procedures, surgery, and post-operative care;
2. Physical rehabilitation and therapy;
3. Prescription medication;
4. Lost income from work; and
5. Funeral costs and burial fees.

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. could help you secure the compensation you need to treat your physical injuries, alleviate emotional trauma, or cover the funeral costs of a lost loved one. However, you need to act fast: New York has a statute of limitations that will prevent you from filing a claim if you wait too long to take action. Even if you are still within the statute of limitations, critical evidence relating to your case could get lost, destroyed, or otherwise compromised. Do not let justice evade you: call Jed Dietrich, Esq., at 585-939-3939 today, or send the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. a message online.

Even when the other driver is clearly at fault, obtaining compensation after a Rochester wrong-way car accident can still be challenging. After all: car insurance companies are for-profit businesses, and they will do everything they can to minimize the value of your claim. They might dispute the necessity of procedures your doctor prescribed or suggest your own recklessness somehow contributed to the accident.

While insurance companies and adjusters often use aggressive tactics to cow car accident victims into accepting low-ball settlements, you do not have to accept intimidation and bad-faith negotiations. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. will:

1. Communicate with the insurance company, law enforcement, and medical services on your behalf;
2. Initiate your insurance claim or file a personal injury lawsuit in accordance with New York state laws and deadlines;
3. Investigate your car accident to show that the other driver was at fault;
4. Consult experts to determine and appraise the value of your short-term and long-term medical needs;
5. Calculate the value of your claim; and
6. Fight for the highest possible compensation, whether we are negotiating with an insurance company or have taken the negligent party to court.

You stand your best chance of making a full recovery when you have a seasoned professional in your corner. Please call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. at 585-939-3939 to schedule your free consultation.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 585-939-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Rochester, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!