Indianapolis Wrong-Way Accident Attorneys

car driving against the road on the highway

Few traffic accidents have a greater potential to do serious harm than a wrong-way collision. Wrong-way drivers often trigger head-on collisions, in which the full speeds of both vehicles combine into a single overwhelming force.

Drivers who carelessly or recklessly drive against traffic in Indianapolis should be held accountable for what they’ve cost their victims both financially and personally, from the expense of medical bills and lost income to the physical pain and emotional discomfort associated with debilitating injuries.

Has a wrong-way driver in Indianapolis injured you? If so, the personal injury attorneys at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC want to help you demand full compensation for what you’ve lost.

Contact us today for a free consultation with our Indianapolis wrong-way accident lawyers. We stand ready to provide you with the fearless, passionate, and experienced legal representation you deserve.

The Dangers and Consequences of Wrong-Way Crashes

Wrong-way crashes are among the most devastating types of car accidents due to their high likelihood of head-on collisions. These accidents often occur at high speeds, leaving little time for drivers to react and avoid a catastrophic impact.

Common causes include impaired driving, distracted driving, or confusion on roadways, such as entering a freeway through an exit ramp.

Common injuries associated with wrong-way crashes include the following:

As a consequence of these severe injuries, victims often face prolonged recovery periods, financial burdens from medical bills and lost wages, and emotional trauma that impacts their quality of life.

Proving Fault in Wrong-Way Car Accident Cases

Several different parties could potentially be to blame for a wrong-way accident. While the driver who drove against oncoming traffic is likely most directly to blame, fault could also lie with:

  • Other motorists who caused the wrong-way driver to take evasive action to avoid a collision and leave their lane
  • Vehicle manufacturers that produced defective components that failed in use and caused the wrong-way driver to lose control of their vehicle
  • Government entities that designed roadways confusingly or failed to put up wrong-way warning signs to direct drivers effectively
  • Construction companies that did not sufficiently warn motorists of changes to traffic patterns

Determining who is at fault for a wrong-way accident may require a careful review of evidence like the following:

  • Traffic, security, or dashcam videos of the accident unfolding
  • Testimony from eyewitnesses who observed the accident
  • Photos of the accident scene showing vehicle damage and relevant signage
  • Physical evidence, including debris patterns and skid marks
  • Cell phone records indicating whether the wrong-way motorist was distracted at the time of the collision
  • Onboard electronic data showing what inputs the car received prior to impact
  • Post-accident inspection reports of the involved vehicles

In some cases, a crash reconstruction expert may be called on to analyze this evidence and use it to create a model of likely events.

Your Legal Rights After a Wrong-Way Accident

If someone else caused the wrong-way car accident, you have the legal right to demand they compensate you accordingly. While you can do so through a lawsuit, your first step is likely to file a claim against their liability insurance policy. Indiana requires motorists to carry insurance covering at least:

  • $25,000 in bodily injury per person
  • $50,000 in bodily injury per accident
  • $25,000 in property damage per accident

Crucially, you also have the right to legal counsel. At-fault parties rarely admit their mistakes, and the person who hurt you may try to claim you were partially to blame for what happened. Moreover, their insurance provider wants to do anything it can to save money, from slow-walking your claim to lowballing its settlement offer to you to denying your claim entirely.

Our Indiana wrong-way accident lawyers can fight against these tactics and demand the full and fair compensation you’re entitled to.

Compensation Options for Wrong-Way Collision Victims

If someone else is responsible for causing the wrong-way accident that injured you, they could also owe you compensation for the harm they caused you. The compensation could include money for not just your resulting financial expenses but also for the personal and subjective harm you’ve suffered as well.

Our experienced Indianapolis wrong-way accident lawyers can help you seek compensation for your:

  • Medical expenses, including the cost of emergency transport, hospital treatment, surgeries, post-operative care, medications, and rehabilitation
  • Lost income, including wages and salary you lost while recovering, as well as any promotions, bonuses, tips, or benefits you lost as a result of the injury
  • Diminished future earning potential if your injuries prevent you from continuing in your current career path
  • Pain and suffering, which accounts for both the physical and emotional discomfort of your injuries
  • Diminished quality of life, if lingering impairments prevent you from taking part in favorite activities or living your life to its fullest
  • Visible scarring and disfigurement that affects your mental health
  • Damaged personal property, including repairing or replacing your vehicle

Furthermore, families who’ve lost a loved one to a wrong-direction driver can pursue a wrongful death claim against them, seeking compensation for:

  • Funeral and burial expenses
  • Medical bills
  • Loss of companionship and guidance

Common Causes of Wrong-Way Collisions

Alcohol consumption is one of the leading causes of wrong-way collisions, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The NCSL estimates that about 60 percent of wrong-way collisions involve an intoxicated driver. Moreover, as blood alcohol content increases, so does the likelihood that a driver will get in a wrong-way collision.

Other common causes of wrong-way collisions include:

  • Confusion
  • Carelessness
  • Aggressive driving
  • Unclear signage
  • Passing when unsafe to do so

How Our Indianapolis Wrong-Way Accident Lawyers Can Help

The Indianapolis wrong-way driving accident lawyers at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC want to help you get the money you need to move on with your life. While you rest and recover, we can:

  • Investigate the accident to prove who’s to blame
  • Calculate the fair value of your case
  • File your insurance claims on your behalf
  • Negotiate for a fair settlement that gets you paid without having to go to court
  • Take your case to trial if that’s the best way to get you the money you deserve

Don’t wait to put us to work on your case at no upfront cost. Contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC today for a free consultation with an experienced car accident attorney.