Caltrans Installs Reflectors to Address Wrong Way Drivers
Officials with Caltrans reported that reflectors made of red plastic and numbering in the millions will be added to highways to address the number of wrong-way drivers. This effort is in response to 10 auto accidents resulting in fatalities in 2015 where 24 people died around San Diego and Sacramento.
Death Toll Increases
According to a representative of the California Highway Patrol (CHP), a fiery crash near Woodland last week increased the number of deaths due to a wrong-way driver by six. The driver, a resident of Sacramento, was on Interstate 5 heading in the wrong direction after midnight when her vehicle struck another motor vehicle. The occupants of that vehicle, all friends in their 20s and younger, died as a result of the collision. The reason for the accident has not yet been determined.
Reflector Use
According to the division chief for operations at Caltrans, the low-cost reflectors will be placed every 48 feet on all lanes. In other words, 1,100 reflectors will be needed for every mile of a highway with 10 lanes. The project is expected to take several years to complete. Special crews will not be assigned to the project. Instead, crews that are out on the roadways laying pavement or performing maintenance will be placing the reflectors out. It is hoped that wrong-way drivers, seeing the reflectors, will pull over. Only wrong-way drivers will be able to see them.
Watch Youtube Video ~ Caltrans News Flash #117 – Wrong-Way Drivers Pilot Progam. Learn more from a CalTrans employee discussing the three main components of the program.
Wrong-Way Accidents
Caltrans reports that all of the wrong-way crashes occurred late at night and all but one, where the cause was not determined, involved the use of alcohol. Frequently, the drunk driver had a high level of alcohol in their bloodstream. A study performed by Caltrans several years ago reported that this type of accident, although rare, commonly happens when a driver performs a u-turn or enters an off-ramp instead of an on-ramp. This is despite large signs that are posted with warnings.
Liability in a Wrong-Way Accident
As reported by Caltrans, drunk driving factors into the cause for many wrong-way accidents. While the driver is likely to face criminal charges if injuries or the death of another person occurs, obtaining compensation is handled in civil court. This is where the services of an experienced personal injury lawyer come into play. An attorney seasoned in handling motor vehicle accident injuries, particularly wrong-way accidents, can help you get the compensation you deserve and need. Recoverable expenses include the following:
- Medical costs, including doctor visits, hospitalization, rehabilitation, testing, prescriptions and help at home, among others.
- Lost work includes wages, bonuses and other monies the injury victim would have received normally. Those who are self-employed may also recover expenses for lost work.
- Pain and suffering includes mental anguish such as sleeplessness, nightmares, or symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Physical pain caused by the accident is also recoverable.
- Disfigurement such as amputation or scarring is compensated.
- Punitive damages are awarded when the act that caused the accident and injuries or death was criminal negligence. A driver who is drunk and drives the wrong way on a highway would fall into this category.
Related Articles by Sacramento Auto Accident Attorney, Ed Smith:
Sacramento Auto Accident Attorneys
I’m Ed Smith, a Sacramento auto accident attorney. Auto accidents take a significant toll on people’s lives every year and cause serious injuries. When you have lost a family member or suffered an injury, call locally at (916) 921-6400. I am here to offer my friendly advice at no cost to you. Long-distance callers may phone (800) 404-5400 to reach me.
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