Wrong Way Accidents A Common Occurrence in Nashville
Wrong-Way, Head-On Collisions: A Few Recent Examples
Earlier this month, the driver of a Jeep drove the wrong way down Second Avenue in downtown Nashville and T-boned an SUV. Three individuals were hurt in the early A.M. crash and the wrong-way driver was charged with DUI. Fortunately the injuries were minor and no one had to be hospitalized. But we have seen far too many wrong-way accidents on Nashville roads this year, crashes which are typically caused by individuals driving under the influence.
For instance, on June 30, a 58-year old man was traveling the wrong way in the westbound lanes on Briley Parkway in his Chevy Impala when he collided head-on with a GMC Denali. The driver of the Denali was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, as was a passenger in the Impala, who later died from her injuries. Testing revealed that his blood alcohol level was 0.225 and he was charged with aggravated vehicular homicide and aggravated vehicular assault.
Earlier that same month a 25-year-old Ohio man was killed when his car was hit head-on by a 19-year-old driving the wrong way on I-440. The teenager fled the scene, but later called police and reportedly admitted to drinking before the accident.
And in April, a 26-year-old woman drove the wrong way on the eastbound lanes of I-840, colliding head-on with an automobile driven by a 28-year-old male. Both were injured in the crash and had to be transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The woman was subsequently charged with reckless endangerment and DUI.
Crashes like these might not attract the same level of media attention as the infamous wrong-way collision that occurred on New York’s Taconic State Parkway on a Sunday afternoon in July 2009. In that case, a suburban mom caused a head-on crash that killed eight people (including children). The circumstances were so bizarre and mysterious that the accident inspired a full-length documentary titled There’s Something Wrong With Aunt Diane. But the crashes we see here in Middle Tennessee are no less violent and dangerous.
Head-On Car Accidents Are Often Deadly
What is important to remember here is that wrong-way, head-on collisions are especially deadly. As we note on our head-on collisions page, more than 10% of all fatal accidents are head-on collisions despite accounting for just 2% of all traffic accidents.” In the head-on collision cases our attorneys have handled, injuries have included broken bones, brain and head injuries, spinal cord injuries, injuries caused by the deployment of airbags and death.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of a wrong-way or head-on collision it’s important that you consult with an attorney to discuss pursuing compensation for your losses. An experienced lawyer can help you understand your options for seeking compensation for medical bills, lost wages and pain & suffering.
And if you or a family member has been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver we encourage you to consult with a law firm that has extensive experience with both personal injury cases and criminal cases. At Raybin & Weissman, our knowledge of criminal law gives us the insight to understand how the drunk driver’s criminal charges impact a personal injury case.
If you have a legal question or believe you have a case, don’t hesitate to contact us or to call 615.256.6666 for a free, no obligation consultation.
In the meantime, we encourage you to review the advice in our blog post on what to do if you get into a car accident. We also encourage you to download our one-sheet on 5 Critical Things You Need to Know When You’ve Been in an Accident and keep it in the glove box of your car. You’ll no doubt find it invaluable if you have the misfortune of being inv