--- description: What to do if you are involved in a wrong-way crash and why you should talk to the attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. title: Wrong-Way Accidents - Chaikin & Sherman --- Wrong-Way Accidents - Chaikin & Sherman # Wrong-Way Accidents Last Updated: September 4, 2024 Reading Time: 5 minutes Trusted Content Legally Reviewed by Allan Siegel Updated 2 years ago [Home](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/) » [Washington DC Car Accident Lawyer](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/) » Wrong-Way Accidents What's On This Page [Case Results](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/case-results/) $18.8 Million Car Crash $2 Million Car Crash $1.9 Million Car Crash $1.37 Million Car Crash $1.1 Million Car Crash $1 Million Car Crash [View All Practice Areas](https://chaikinandsherman.com/practice-areas/) [Testimonials](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/testimonials-hub/) They were adamant about getting me the best settlement. Torkwase Akinalana Car Accidents Proved to be the perfect advocate Michael Bizik Car Accidents I highly recommend the law firm of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata, and Siegel P.C. Anna Pastel-Powell Car Crash Mr. Siegel’s strong conviction, dedication, and determination prevailed in a legal victory. Gail Payne Car Accidents I knew I was in good hands once I stepped into their office. Gladys Ibeh Car Accidents They treated me like I was their only client, from beginning to end. Joy Lopez Car Accidents Contact Us Today! "*" indicates required fields Name* First Last Name* Last Email** Phone*Are you a new client?*Are you a new client? *Yes, I'm a potential new client.No, I'm a current existing client.I'm neitherCase TypeCase TypeMotor Vehicle AccidentSlip & FallAssaultMedical MalpracticeAbuseWork InjuryOtherWere You at Fault?Were You At Fault?NoYesUnknownWhere Did The Incident Occur?Where Did The Incident Occur?Washington, D.C.VirginiaMarylandOtherDid The Accident Occur In the Last Two Years?Did The Accident Occur In the Last Two Years?YesNoShare Brief Description of the Incident* Watch our attorneys explain how they fight for car accident victims across DC, Maryland, and Virginia. With over $1 billion recovered, our team knows how to build a winning case — from investigation through trial. Video Transcript **Speakers:** Ira Sherman, Joseph Cammarata, Stephen Ollar, Allan Siegel **Ira Sherman (00:02):** I would say that Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata and Siegel has a completely different outlook on cases that other people think are garden variety automobile accidents, because to the person who is involved in that accident, that’s not garden variety, that’s altering their life. **Joseph Cammarata (00:21):** First of all, we don’t advertise. People come to us by word of mouth, either from defense lawyers, from insurance companies, from colleagues at the bar. They know that we have decades of experience in the personal injury field. They know that what we bring to bear is a group of lawyers that work and non-lawyers that work as a team to make sure we understand what the nature and the extent of the injury is. We make sure we understand and can express to a third party just what those injuries are, and we work to obtain the most compensation that we can for an individual. **Stephen Ollar (01:04):** What we do a lot of is discovery, not just discovery of the facts of the case, but discovery about insurance. It may be that the individual was operating the vehicle for an employer, and if they were acting with what we call the course and scope of their employment, then there could be potentially additional coverage that would cover a person for those injuries. **Allan Siegel (01:27):** We’ve been handling car accident cases since Don Chaikin founded this firm over 50 years ago. Since we spend a lot of time and we have a lot of those cases, we have developed a level of experience and knowledge that I think is very unique in our field. There aren’t many law firms who can say that they’ve been doing this type of work for over 50 years. **Ira Sherman (01:52):** I care enough to look to determine who this person is and how it affected them, and that takes up a lot of my conversation with our clients. ## Wrong-Way Car Accidents You’re driving home from work one day, and as you approach an on-ramp to the highway, you see a vehicle heading toward you in the wrong lane. You quickly slam on your brakes, but it’s too late – the vehicle hits yours [head-on](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/head-on-collisions/). This is a nightmare scenario for many drivers, and unfortunately, it happens more often than you might think. In this blog post, we will discuss what to do if you are involved in a wrong-way crash and why you should consider talking to the [car accident attorneys](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/) at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. If you’ve been injured in this type of accident, or tragically had a loved one taken from you, we will do everything we can to help you get the money you deserve. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. has achieved more than $500 million in verdicts and settlements, and our attorneys have more than a century of combined legal experience. Two of our partners are certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. Our firm has also earned the highest AV® Rating from Martindale-Hubbell®, the most respected attorney-ranking service organization in the United States. Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. attorneys work passionately on behalf of our clients to help them secure fair [compensation](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/common-myths-about-compensation-and-car-accidents/) – there is no type of case that is too complex for us to litigate. ## **How Can Someone Go the Wrong Way on a Highway or Street?** According to data from the[ Foundation for Traffic Safety](https://aaafoundation.org/fatal-wrong-way-crashes-on-divided-highways/), an average of 360 motorists died in wrong-way crashes from 2004 to 2009. There are a few different ways that vehicles can end up going the wrong way on a highway or street. For example, sometimes people accidentally take an off-ramp in the wrong direction, or they may enter a highway through the wrong entrance. In other cases, drivers may intentionally try to go the wrong way on a highway to avoid traffic, or they may drive the wrong way due to a medical issue, or [driving under the influence of alcohol](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/drunk-driving-accidents/) or drugs. Because of these different scenarios, there are many potential causes for a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction on a highway or street. But regardless of how it happens, this is an extremely dangerous situation that can lead to [serious injuries and even death](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/fatal-car-crashes/). ## **What to Do if You are Involved in an Accident with Someone Driving in the Wrong Direction** If you are involved in a wrong-way accident, it is important to remain calm. There are several things you’ll need to do, including the following: ### **Check for Injuries** After any vehicle accident, the first thing that you should do is check yourself and your [passengers for injuries](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/injured-as-a-passenger-in-a-car-accident/). Call 911 if someone needs medical attention. If you do not have any injuries, check on the other driver and passengers to see if they need medical help. ### **Move Your Vehicle Out of Traffic** If possible, move your vehicle out of traffic so that it does not cause further accidents or slow down traffic even more than it already has been slowed by your accident. But be careful not to put yourself in danger by trying to move your vehicle if it is too damaged. ### **Call the Police** It is important to call the police after any type of vehicle accident, but this is especially true for a wrong-way accident. The police will investigate the accident and [create a report](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/washington-dc-car-accident-report/) that can be used as evidence later on. ### **Exchange Information** If you can, exchange information with the other driver and any witnesses present at the time of your accident. You should get their names, contact information, insurance provider, and policy number. If necessary, use your phone to take photos or videos of them so that you can identify them later on. ### **Contact an Attorney** If you are injured due to a wrong-way accident, or if the other driver was at fault, [you should contact an attorney](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/should-i-get-a-lawyer/) with experience in vehicle accident cases. The attorneys at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have more than 50 years of experience helping accident victims get the compensation they deserve. ## **How Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C Can Help if You’ve Been Hurt in a Wrong-Way Accident** For more than 50 years, the [Washington DC personal injury lawyers](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/) of Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. have successfully represented individuals and families who have been injured or lost loved ones as the result of someone else’s negligence. This is just a brief look at [some of the results](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/case-results/) we’ve been able to produce for our car accident clients: - $6 million for a client who suffered a brain injury after being involved in a rear-end collision. - $4.8 million for a severely injured client after another vehicle struck his motorcycle. - $1.9 million for a client who suffered a permanent back injury due to a car accident. - $1.5 million for a client who had to undergo multiple surgeries after a negligent motorist cut off his motorcycle. - $1 million settlement obtained on behalf of our 19 year old client who was a passenger in a vehicle in which the driver lost control causing a collision. As a result, our client suffered extensive brain damage with cognitive impairment. He was in a coma for an extended period of time. Although he has regained consciousness, he is unable to care for himself. The law firm asked the Court to appoint him a guardian to care for him. The law firm is helping to establish a special needs trust so that the proceeds from the settlement will be protected against any medical liens. - $1 million settlement on behalf of a client suffered a brain injury when the driver of the car in which he was a passenger lost control of his vehicle. ## **Get in Touch with Us as Soon as You Can** If you are looking for the highest level representation available for your personal injury case, turn to Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. Our firm has helped clients recover more than $500 million in compensation, and we have more than 100 years of combined experience. All of our partners are recognized by Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers®, and our firm includes three past presidents of the Trial Lawyers Association of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. We work to help our clients obtain fair settlement offers to compensate them for the injuries they’ve suffered, but our attorneys are extremely well-equipped to go to trial if needed. Call (202) 659-8600 or[ contact us online](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/contact-us/) to get the proven legal representation you deserve. [Watch Our Video Testimonials](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/blog/testimonials-hub/) Get free advice about the compensation you deserve. At Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., our car accident attorneys fight tirelessly to secure the compensation you deserve, handling every aspect of your case to protect your rights. Trust us to stand by you and advocate aggressively on your behalf. Speak to a Specialist Visit Us in Person 1232 17th St NW Washington, DC 20036 The car accident lawyers at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C. serve the entire Washington, D.C. metro area, including [Virginia](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/virginia/) ([Northern Virginia car accident cases](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/northern-virginia/), [Arlington](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/auto-accident-attorneys-in-arlington-va/), [Fairfax County auto accident claims](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/fairfax/), [Woodbridge](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/woodbridge-va/), [Manassas](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/manassas-va/), and [Alexandria](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/alexandria/)) and Maryland ([Bethesda](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/bethesda/), [Hyattsville](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/hyattsville/), [Rockville](https://www.chaikinandsherman.com/car-accidents/rockville/), Lau Top 10 Mistakes Made After an Accident Review these common auto accident mistakes to protect your rights. READ OUR E-BOOK Meet Our Team Learn More About Us Ira Sherman Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and New York With over four decades of courtroom experience, **Ira Sherman** is a powerhouse trial lawyer who has won justice for countless victims of serious injury, discrimination, and medical malpractice. Known for his relentless advocacy, compassion, and proven results, he’s the attorney clients trust when everything is on the line. Ira Sherman's Bio Joseph Cammarata Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia A dual board-certified civil trial attorney, **Joseph Cammarata** is nationally recognized for his fierce advocacy, landmark legal victories, and relentless pursuit of justice for victims of serious injury, wrongful death, sexual assault, and civil rights violations. With wins against powerful opponents—including a historic U.S. Supreme Court case securing equal access to justice—he’s the attorney clients trust when they need skill, strength, and results that matter. Joe Cammarata's Bio Allan M. Siegel​ Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia **Allan M. Siegel** is a board-certified trial attorney and partner at Chaikin, Sherman, Cammarata & Siegel, P.C., known for securing justice in serious personal injury, brain injury, and wrongful death cases. Recognized as one of Washington’s *Top 100 Super Lawyers®* and a *Best Lawyer®* in America, he combines strategic precision, courtroom skill, and relentless advocacy to win full and fair compensation for his clients. Allan Siegel's Bio Stephen Ollar Partner Licensed in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia **Stephen Ollar** is an award-winning trial attorney and U.S. Army veteran dedicated to holding negligent individuals and corporations accountable. Recognized as a *Super Lawyers Rising Star* from 2020–2025, he’s known for his tenacity, precision, and unwavering pursuit of justice in personal injury, auto accident, and medical malpractice cases. 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