Financial Recovery After Wrong-Way Driving Accident Injuries

Driver Inattentiveness and Wrong-Way Driving

Driver inattentiveness often leads motorists to miss signs warning them of one-way roads. There can be a number of reasons why this can happen, including motorists who are:

• Talking on or using their phones
• Lost and attempting to follow navigation instructions
• Distracted by a conversation with a passenger
• Drunk or otherwise impaired
• Trying to calm a fussy child and not watching the road

Driving the wrong way down a road or in the wrong lane is only acceptable in limited circumstances, such as passing another vehicle in designated areas. However, understanding the circumstances of why a driver went the wrong way is essential to identifying all individuals who may be responsible for your injuries.

At the Law Offices of Michael J. Gropin, PLLC, we dedicate our resources and talents to pursuing the compensation our clients need and deserve. Contact us today if you have been hurt by a wrong-way driver.

When the Government Is to Blame

An investigation may reveal that the city or other government entity responsible for maintaining the road is to blame for the crash. For example, a municipality that fails to install appropriate signage fails to maintain road markings, or commits other negligent acts can be sued and held responsible for your crash.

Bringing a lawsuit against a city, county, or the State of Texas requires compliance with the Texas Tort Claims Act. Among other steps, you must file a claim with the appropriate government entity within a timeframe that can be six months or less.

This illustrates why speaking with the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, as soon as possible is crucial to your recovery. You can lose your opportunity to receive compensation if you wait too long to act. Do not lose your rights: contact the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC, today.

Do You Need to Try to Avoid a Head-On Collision to Get Compensation?

Being involved in a head-on collision caused by a wrong-way driver can leave you feeling confused about your rights. For instance, in an effort to avoid colliding with the wrong-way driver, you might make a sudden turn or movement and end up colliding with another motorist or object.

You should not be deterred by this possibility in seeking compensation. In Texas, injury victims can recover compensation even if they are partly to blame for the crash. Any damages you would receive would be adjusted in proportion to your fault.

For example, suppose that you sustained $50,000 in damages and expenses in your wrong-way crash. A court found you to be 10% responsible for the accident. In this case, you would still recover $45,000 in damages.

If you are concerned you may have contributed to your accident, work with the Law Offices of Michael J. Gopin, PLLC. We will thoroughly look into the facts of your situation and try to minimize the amount of fault that insurance companies and the court attribute to you.

Statute of Limitations for Wrong-Way Driving Accidents

No matter the cause of your wrong-way accident or the role your actions played in it, you must file your claim within two years of your crash. This is the Texas statute of limitations for car accidents, and this time begins to run on the day your crash happens. There is little you can do to pause or stop this clock from running.

Once the statute of limitations has expired, you lose your ability to file a claim. The best way to ensure this does not happen to you is to retain the Law Offices of Michael J. Gropin, PLLC, as soon as possible after your accident.