Texas Accident & Injury News
Drunk driving significantly increases the risk of wrong-way accidents.
Wrong-Way Driver Arrested on DWI Charges After Major Crash on U.S. 281
According to a News4SanAntonio report, one driver was hospitalized and another arrested after a suspected DWI crash last Friday.¹
Police reported the accident happened at around 5:53 a.m. Friday, October 9th, in the southbound lanes of U.S. 281 North in the 2100 block.
The two vehicles were near signs warning drivers not to enter in the wrong direction.
A 29-year-old man was taken to the hospital in unknown condition. The other driver, later identified as 32-year-old Jorge Lozano, was arrested on DWI charges.²
The investigation is ongoing.
Did You Know?
According to a 2021 AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety report, 60.1% of wrong-way drivers involved in fatal wrong-way crashes had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher.³
Why Drunk Drivers Cause So Many Wrong-Way Crashes
Imagine driving down the highway when you suddenly see headlights coming directly toward you.
You have only seconds to react, and the other driver probably does not even realize they’re traveling in the wrong direction.
Unfortunately, alcohol is involved in a large share of these crashes. AAA researchers found that 60.1% of wrong-way drivers involved in fatal wrong-way crashes had BAC levels of 0.08 or higher.³
That connection makes sense when you consider how much safe highway driving depends on judgment, awareness, and quick decision-making.
Alcohol Can Make a Simple Navigation Mistake Deadly
Entering a highway in the wrong direction often starts with a basic mistake: turning onto an exit ramp instead of an entrance ramp or misunderstanding the layout of an interchange.
A sober driver may quickly recognize that something is wrong and stop.
An impaired driver has much more difficulty recognizing and correcting the mistake.
Alcohol affects:
- Judgment
- Vision
- Attention
- Reaction time
- Ability to recognize signs and traffic patterns
As a result, an intoxicated driver may miss WRONG WAY or DO NOT ENTER signs, fail to recognize oncoming headlights, or continue driving even after entering opposing traffic.
Why Wrong-Way Crashes Are So Severe
Wrong-way crashes are especially dangerous because they frequently result in head-on collisions.
Instead of vehicles moving in the same direction, two vehicles are traveling directly toward each other at highway speeds.
That can result in devastating injuries, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Internal injuries
- Multiple fractures
- Fatal injuries
On roads like U.S. 281, drivers have very little time to recognize an approaching wrong-way vehicle and safely get out of its path.
What Should You Do If You See a Wrong-Way Driver?
If you see headlights approaching from the wrong direction:
- Slow down immediately. Reducing your speed gives you more time to react.
- Move away from the approaching vehicle if you can do so safely. In many situations, moving toward the right side of the roadway creates additional space.
- Check surrounding traffic before swerving or changing lanes. A sudden maneuver can create another collision.
- Do not try to stop or confront the driver.
- Call 911 when it is safe. Give dispatchers the highway, direction of travel, and the vehicle’s approximate location.
Wrong-way crashes are difficult to predict, but staying alert can give you valuable seconds if one develops ahead.
What Happens If a Drunk Wrong-Way Driver Injures You?
If an intoxicated driver causes a wrong-way crash, the injured person may have grounds for a personal injury claim.
The driver’s arrest can become part of the larger picture, but the criminal case and civil claim remain separate.
A prosecutor focuses on whether the driver committed a crime.
A personal injury attorney focuses on questions such as:
- What caused the crash?
- What evidence proves the driver’s negligence?
- What insurance coverage is available?
- What medical care will the injured person need?
- What losses should be included in the claim?
That distinction is important because the criminal justice system does not negotiate an insurance settlement or recover compensation for an injured person’s medical bills, lost income, or pain and suffering.
A Lawyer Can Use Evidence From the DWI Investigation
Suspected DWI crashes often generate evidence that can become important in a civil claim.
Depending on the case, that may include:
- Blood or breath test results
- Body-camera footage
- Officer observations
- Witness statements
- Dashcam or surveillance footage
- Vehicle event data
- Crash reconstruction findings
An attorney can work to obtain and preserve relevant evidence while also conducting an independent investigation into the crash.
That can be especially important if there is a dispute over how the wrong-way driver entered the highway, when they became impaired, or whether another party contributed.
A Bar or Alcohol Provider May Also Be Responsible in Some Cases
The drunk driver may not always be the only potentially responsible party.
Under Texas dram shop law, a licensed alcohol provider may be liable if it was apparent at the time of service that the customer was obviously intoxicated to the extent that they presented a clear danger to themselves and others, and that intoxication later caused the damages.⁴
That means an attorney may investigate where the driver was drinking before the crash and whether there is evidence that a bar or other provider continued serving them after obvious intoxication became apparent.
Useful evidence can include receipts, surveillance footage, witness statements, and records showing when and how much alcohol was served.
You can learn more in our article, Texas Dram Shop Laws: Can You Sue a Bar If You’re Hit by a Drunk Driver?.
Why It’s Worth Speaking With an Attorney Early
Wrong-way DWI cases can involve several moving parts at once: a criminal investigation, insurance claims, medical treatment, and potentially a dram shop investigation.
An attorney can help gather evidence before it disappears, communicate with insurers, investigate every potentially responsible party, and advocate for compensation that reflects the full impact of the crash.
That can be particularly valuable when the injured person is still receiving treatment and may not yet know the full extent of their recovery.
Injured in a Wrong-Way Accident? Call Shaw.
Wrong-way crashes can cause catastrophic injuries in seconds. When alcohol is suspected, an experienced attorney can investigate the driver’s conduct, preserve DWI evidence, deal with insurance companies, and determine whether another party, such as an alcohol provider, may also share responsibility.
If you or a loved one was injured because of another driver’s negligence, you could be entitled to compensation for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
- Future Medical Care
- Rehabilitation
- Other Accident-Related Losses
- And More
We’ll help you find out for free.
Call Shaw today at 800-862-1260 to learn more about your legal options. There are no fees, no obligations, and no pressure, just straightforward legal guidance when you need it most.
We look forward to serving you.
Sources
²News4SanAntonio Follow-Up Report
³AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety — Fatal Wrong-Way Crashes on Divided Highways