Responsibility for Wrong-Way Accidents

There’s normally no excuse for driving in the wrong direction. In most cases, when an accident happens, the driver who was traveling the wrong way is responsible for the accident. Wrong-way driving is especially dangerous because the force of the collision is often very high. Other drivers may have few options, if any, to avoid the accident.

Many wrong-way accidents cause serious injuries and deaths. At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we understand how wrong-way accidents happen and who is responsible. We seek compensation for your personal and financial damages. Contact us today to assert your right to compensation after a wrong-way collision.

What is wrong-way driving?

A driver is driving the wrong way if they are driving against the legal flow of traffic.

Wrong-way driving can occur in many situations, including the following:

• A driver enters the wrong lane of travel when turning from another road.
• A driver chooses an on-ramp instead of an off-ramp, or vice versa.
• A driver tries to pass on a road that has one lane in each direction by entering the lane going in the opposite direction and fails to complete the pass in time.
• A driver fails to see where the lane markings are.

How dangerous are wrong-way accidents?

According to the AAA Foundation(opens in new tab), from 2014 to 2023, there were 4,164 fatal wrong-way crashes on U.S. divided highways, causing 5,730 fatalities. This data does not include accidents and deaths due to wrong-way driving on undivided highways and other types of roads.

The number of deaths due to wrong-way accidents for 2021-2023 was as follows:

• 2021: 763 deaths.
• 2022: 796 deaths.
• 2023: 699 deaths.

More than 70 percent of wrong-way drivers involved in fatal accidents are male.

Among wrong-way drivers involved in fatal crashes from 2014 to 2023, the vehicle types were:

• Passenger cars: 57.9%
• Light trucks and vans: 38.2%
• Large trucks and buses: 1.5%
• Motorcycles: 2.2%

About 86% of wrong-way drivers had no passengers. About 81 percent of fatal wrong-way crashes happened in dark lighting conditions.

Wrong-way accidents in Missouri and across the country are often among the most serious and fatal types of accidents due to the impact of the collision. If two vehicles traveling at highway speeds collide head-on, the forces involved are extremely severe and often catastrophic.

Why do wrong-way accidents happen?

The AAA Foundation identifies the following wrong-way accident factors:

• Alcohol-impaired driving
• Older drivers
• Drivers without valid licenses

Some other common reasons why a driver may enter the wrong lane of travel include:

• Distracted driving. Drivers who are texting, talking on their cell phone, looking at a GPS, or failing to focus on traffic for other reasons can easily move into the wrong lane.
• Poor lighting. It’s harder at night to see lanes of travel, dividers, markers, and traffic signs.
• Entering the wrong ramp. Some roads have on- and off-ramps near each other, which can make it hard for drivers to know which ramp to use.
• Tired drivers. Drivers who are on the road for a long time are more likely to miss an exit, a sign, or other indicators of which lane to use.

Drivers may also enter the wrong lane if they are driving in unfamiliar areas, passing improperly, merging improperly, or for other reasons.

Is it possible to avoid a wrong-way accident?

The precautions you can take depend on traffic and road conditions. Possible ways to avoid a crash with a wrong-way driver include:

• Moving to the shoulder of the road.
• Moving into another lane of travel.
• Being aware of the vehicles in other lanes of travel when you drive.
• Using your horn.
• Using your headlights.
• Notifying the police that there is a wrong-way driver when it is safe to do so.
• Being extra cautious when driving on roads with only one lane in each direction.
• Being careful in curves.

How can governmental agencies and entities reduce the risk of wrong-way accidents in Missouri?

The Missouri Department of Transportation(opens in new tab) and local counties (such as Jackson County) can help reduce wrong-way accidents in the following ways:

• Educate the public about the risks of drunk driving.
• Support enforcement of drunk driving laws.
• Ensure that roadways are properly lit.
• Install signs near locations where wrong-way accidents are known to have occurred or are likely to occur.
• Use warning devices, such as flashing wrong-way signs, to alert drivers that they are traveling the wrong way.
• Use sensors to detect wrong-way drivers.

Vehicle manufacturers can also use technology to help alert drivers that they are traveling the wrong way.

FAQs

What types of injuries do wrong-way accidents cause?

Wrong-way accidents often cause catastrophic, permanent, chronic, and serious injuries.

Our Kansas City personal injury lawyers represent wrong-way accident victims who suffer:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Spinal cord damage, including paralysis
• Traumatic amputation/loss of limb
• Broken bones/fractures
• Organ damage
• Burn injuries
• Nerve, tissue, and muscle damage
• Back, neck, and shoulder injuries
• Loss of hearing or vision
• Scarring and disfigurement

We also file wrongful death claims for eligible family members if a loved one dies in a wrong-way accident.

Who is responsible for wrong-way accidents in Kansas City?

At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we work with the police, investigators, traffic reconstruction professionals, and others to determine the cause of wrong-way accidents and who is responsible. The defendants may include:

• The wrong-way driver
• The wrong-way driver’s employer, if the driver was acting within the course and scope of employment or the employer was independently negligent
• The owner of the vehicle, if the owner negligently entrusted the vehicle or is otherwise legally liable
• A manufacturer of defective car parts
• A governmental agency may, in limited circumstances, be liable under Missouri sovereign immunity exceptions.
• Missouri law permits limited dram shop liability against licensed on-premises liquor sellers in certain statutory circumstances, including knowingly serving a visibly intoxicated person or serving a person under age 21 when the seller knew or should have known the person was under 21.
• A construction work zone company that failed to direct you on where to go

At Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys, we may seek punitive damages against a driver who acted with deliberate and flagrant disregard for the safety of others.

Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys can help

If you are in an accident with a wrong-way driver, do not leave the scene. Contact authorities and wait for them to arrive on the scene. Police can prepare a formal report, and paramedics can treat you for your injuries.

Then, contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys for legal guidance. To schedule a free consultation, call us or use our contact form. We maintain offices in Kansas City as well as Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Parkville, and St. Joseph, MO, and in Olathe, Overland Park, and the Victory Hills area of Kansas City, KS.