Wrong-way accidents can happen on many different roads. These are different than head-on collisions where a driver just drifts across the centerline, perhaps because they’re distracted by their phone. In a wrong-way crash, that driver drives the wrong direction down the road for some time.
As you can see from that description, this should never happen. It is very clear to most drivers which direction they are supposed to travel, and so this is a very serious mistake.
In some cases, it may happen because the driver gets confused, gets bad directions from a GPS device, lacks experience behind the wheel or is struggling with some sort of cognitive or mental issue that clouds their judgment. But there’s a very simple reason for the majority of these wrong accidents:
Drunk drivers
The main issue is just alcohol impairment, especially when these accidents happen at night and on the interstate. Because it’s dark, it’s harder for the driver to see which ramp they are supposed to use, and it can be more difficult for them to see wrong-way signs or other warnings. If they are impaired on top of that, a mistake becomes much more likely.
Impairment may also be why the driver doesn’t realize they’re heading the wrong way. These drivers will sometimes pass numerous other vehicles before causing a crash. But they may be too intoxicated to understand that they are on the wrong side of the road.
Seeking compensation
Unfortunately, as long as people continue to drink and drive, these accidents will keep happening. If you have lost a loved one or been seriously injured, make sure you know how to seek financial compensation.