Last week, a Connecticut trooper was injured in a car accident caused by a wrong-way driver. The driver was going northbound in the southbound lane of I-95. He hit a police cruiser and another car, injuring himself as well as causing head injuries and arm injuries to the trooper. According to state police, the trooper had been asked to block the highway after someone reported the wrong-way driver.
Every day, troopers put their lives at risk to protect the rest of us from harm. This trooper was taking steps to ensure that the wrong-way driver did not injure anyone else by causing a Connecticut auto crash.
According to the Federal Highway Administration, wrong-way drivers kill approximately 350 people every year. A driver may accidentally go the wrong way down a highway due to inattentive driving, or may simply not read highway directions correctly. However, wrong-way driving can also be the result of drunk driving. Either way, it is considered negligent and reckless driving.
Wrong-way drivers can face criminal liability for their actions, whether that means a DUI or a reckless driving charge. They may also face personal injury lawsuits filed by the individuals they hurt.
Generally, those injured in a wrong-way car accident may be able to recover compensation for their economic damages (such as medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, potential funeral expenses) and their noneconomic damages (such as pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of consortium). They may also be able to hold the wrong-way driver accountable by requesting punitive damages. Punitive damages are frequently awarded in drunk driving accident cases and serve to punish the driver for his or her poor decision.
Source: Associated Press, “Connecticut trooper injured in wrong-way crash,” Apr. 13, 2012.