Catastrophic injuries can happen in almost any car accident. But it is also clear that head-on collisions at high speeds are some of the most dangerous crashes that take place. They have incredibly high fatality risks and can lead to severe injuries for those who survive these crashes.
One way that these accidents happen is when someone starts driving in the wrong direction down the interstate. Other drivers don’t expect them to be there, so a crash can happen quickly, and vehicles may be traveling around 70 or 80 miles an hour at the time.
But anyone who has driven on the interstate knows that it is very clear which ramps drivers are supposed to use and in which direction traffic is supposed to be moving. So why do drivers end up going in the wrong direction in the first place? Shouldn’t this be a very avoidable accident?
Intoxication is the main cause
These accidents should be avoidable, and they don’t happen nearly as frequently as other types of crashes – like accidents at intersections, which are the most common.
But the reason these wrong-way crashes happen at all is typically because of alcohol. Drivers are simply intoxicated or impaired and don’t realize that they’ve made mistakes and they cause accidents quickly. That’s why many of these wrong-way accidents occur after dark, especially in the late night or early morning hours, when people who have been out drinking are trying to drive home.
Have you lost a loved one in one of these accidents or suffered serious injuries yourself? If so, be sure you know how to seek financial compensation.