Wrong Way Accidents

Wrong way accidents are a particular problem in Westchester County, New York, where we at The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel have our main offices in White Plains, New York. The most tragic and severe example occurred in July of 2009, when Diane Schuler, who was driving while intoxicated (more than twice the legal limit) with a blood alcohol level of 0.19, drove southbound in the northbound lanes of the Taconic near Hawthorne, NY, with her three nieces and young son and daughter in the vehicle. The tremendous collision killed Schuler, her three young nieces, and her daughter, (only her then-five-year-old son survived the crash) and three men in the northbound left lane. The Schuler tragedy was followed in short order by several other wrong way drivers on the Taconic. Fortunately, however, these other drivers did not cause any harm to others but certainly struck fear in many drivers on the correct side of the highway!

If you have been injured in a wrong way crash, it’s vital to consult with an experienced car accident lawyer. In many cases, negligence plays a role in these collisions, whether it’s through drunk driving or poor signage. If you are injured, contact our compassionate team at The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel for a free consultation.

Common Injuries in Wrong Way Accidents

Wrong way accidents generally result in some of the most serious injuries and fatalities, as the combined speed of the vehicles (In the Schuler case, it is estimated that the vehicles collided at well over 100 mph) leaves virtually no time for the drivers to brake or for take other evasive maneuvers. The forces of the impact and the substantial intrusion into the occupant compartments of both vehicles, regardless of the use of seatbelts and airbag deployment frequently result in catastrophic injuries, including:

• Whiplash and soft tissue injuries.
• Facial injuries, including broken bones, scarring, injuries to the eyes, and dental injuries.
• Head injuries, ranging from concussions to traumatic head injuries (TBIs) and skull fractures.
• Broken bones, including compound fractures.
• Spinal cord injuries, including serious injuries that can lead to permanent paralysis.
• Internal injuries, such as damage to vital organs.
• Strains and sprains.
• Crushing injuries, especially affecting the legs and feet.
• Fatalities.

The frequency of serious injuries means that if you are in a wrong way collision, it’s vital to seek medical attention right away. In the aftermath of a crash, the trauma may prevent you from thinking clearly, making it difficult to evaluate whether you’re injured. It becomes easy to overlook symptoms that could indicate a serious injury, which is why it’s important to let a medical professional evaluate you.

Causes of Wrong Way Accidents

In addition to drivers who are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, there are numerous other contributing factors which can result in wrong way accidents. For example, the Taconic Parkway in particular has many entrances and exits with signage that is somewhat confusing, especially at night, with inexperienced or elderly drivers who have difficulty with their sight, or is harder to visualize because of inadequate lighting. Nighttime and early morning can also increase the risk of fatigued driving, which is a risk factor for wrong way collisions. In some instances, drivers can fall asleep at the wheel and enter the wrong lane.

In some cases, drivers have a medical emergency or their car has a mechanical malfunction, which can cause the driver to lose control and end up in an oncoming lane. Drivers may also swerve because they fail to adjust for poor weather or because they are trying to avoid wildlife.

Other reasons for wrong way accidents are vegetation or overgrown trees which obscure signs, (especially in the spring and summer months), distracted drivers who are on their cell phones, texting, sending emails, paying attention to children, or operating GPS devices or the car stereo. In cases where roadwork is happening on highways and streets, signs can become confusing, which can lead to wrong way collisions.

Municipalities have tried different options to prevent drivers from entering roadways in the wrong direction, including posting “Wrong Way—Go Back” signs along exit ramps, which are also sometimes illuminated, and lighted arrows pointed in the opposite direction to warn drivers of their mistake.

What To Do If You’re in a Wrong Way Accident

If you’re involved in a wrong way car accident in Westchester County or anywhere in New York state, your first priority should be to get emergency medical attention for yourself or anyone else at the scene who may need it.

Your next priority is to protect your rights to fair compensation. If you can do so, get photos of the scene, contact information of witnesses, and the insurance information of the other driver. Obviously, if you are taken away by ambulance, you may not be able to do this. In that case, wait until you can write down as much as you can remember.

Should you be seriously injured, contact a car accident attorney as quickly as possible, and certainly before you make any statements or sign anything. In these situations, it is unfortunately all too common for insurance companies to step in to try to minimize the amount they need to pay you. When they ask for a statement or signature, you may not have a diagnosis yet and may still be confused about what you are signing. Contact an attorney who can prevent you from signing anything that could harm your chance at fair compensation.

Why Work With The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel?

When our office is retained by clients who have been injured due to the negligence of a wrong way driver, we act immediately to secure critical evidence wherever possible, such as roadway debris, photographs of skid marks and other tire markings, and identifying any and all witnesses to the accident, documented on the police report or not. We will obtain traffic studies through Freedom of Information requests, particularly in cases such as on the Taconic, knowing that there have been prior accidents and near misses.

We often retain the services of engineers or other experts who can establish the reasons for the accident, examine whether the design of the roadway or the signage was defective, measure the forces exerted on the occupants of the vehicle, and in some cases, identify additional defendants that bear potential responsibility for the accident, such as contractors hired by the State to assist in roadway design and construction.

We seek fair compensation for you, and we treat you with dignity. We offer a free consultation, and we reply to your emails and phone calls within 24 business hours, so you never have to wait for answers. Our team works closely with you, to meet your specific needs in every case. In addition, our founder, Mark A. Siesel, who has more than 38 years of experience, will be involved in your case from start to finish.

The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel has offices in White Plains and Peekskill, New York, so we can serve clients in Westchester County, New York, the lower Hudson Valley, and beyond. We have successfully represented numerous clients throughout the State of New York who suffered injuries in wrong way accidents, due to the negligence of other drivers, municipalities, and sometimes those who are responsible to keep signs unobstructed from vegetation and trees.

We quickly and aggressively attempt to determine all possible parties that are responsible for our clients’ damages, including past and future pain and suffering, past and future medical and hospital expenses, past and future lost earnings, loss of earnings potential, and loss of the ability to perform activities of daily living. 

Contact the knowledgeable and experienced lawyers at The Law Office of Mark A. Siesel for a free consultation to discuss your potential case in detail. Contact us at (914) 428-7386 or online.