Wrong-way accidents keep happening, year after year, and they’re often on the interstate. To those who use the highway system, this can be a bit perplexing. There are many signs warning drivers not to go the wrong direction, and all of the on-ramps are set up so that it would be hard to make a mistake. And yet people do. Why is this?

The reason is that many wrong-way drivers are intoxicated. Drunk driving, along with drugged driving, leads to serious mistakes that people would never make otherwise. One mistake they often make is getting on the wrong side of the highway inadvertently.

You can find examples all over the country, not just in Louisiana. In nearby Texas, a judge was recently killed in a wrong-way crash by a driver who was then arrested after intoxication allegations. Another wrong-way driver was just arrested while driving through Phoenix. No matter how many times it happens, it just seems like it’s always bound to happen again.

Intoxication also makes it harder for the driver to realize their mistake. They may not see the road signs or they may not be able to read them. If they see headlights coming toward them, they may be confused about where the lights are or they may even think those drivers are in the wrong. When cognitive abilities are impaired, drivers often cannot sort things out fast enough to avoid a crash.

Have you been injured in an accident with a drunk driver? If you have, be sure you are well aware of all of the legal rights you have to obtain fair compensation for your losses.