If you see a news report about a wrong-way accident, you may find yourself wondering how it could ever happen. This is especially true when the accident takes place on the interstate. It is hard to imagine a driver making such a critical error as driving up an off-ramp, passing numerous wrong-way signs and starting down the interstate in the wrong direction.
But this is something that can and does happen. You may even have been involved in an accident with one of these wrong-way drivers yourself. What studies have found is that these drivers simply tend to be impaired at the time of the crash.
How alcohol causes serious accidents
Alcohol use could be the reason that the driver made such a crucial mistake in the first place. They were simply too impaired, they were not thinking clearly and they did not realize they had made a mistake at all. Many wrong-way drivers believe they are heading the correct direction until the crash occurs.
With reports demonstrating that alcohol impairment is the main cause of wrong-way accidents, it is also worth considering when and how these crashes take place.
For instance, many wrong-way accidents happen in the early morning hours, after bars and clubs close and people try to drive home. Alcohol use could make a wrong-way accident more likely at these times. Additionally, the interstate will have lower traffic levels when most people are asleep, meaning it may not be quite as obvious to the wrong-way driver that they have entered lanes going in the wrong direction.
No matter how it happens, a wrong-way accident can have devastating consequences. If you have suffered serious injuries, you need to know how to seek financial compensation for medical bills and other costs.
