Houston Car Accident Attorneys | Wrong-Way Driver Crashes

January 27, 2026

Houston Car Accident Attorneys: Wrong-Way Driver Accident Claims

Headlights appeared in your lane, coming directly toward you at highway speed. A wrong-way driver had entered the highway going the wrong direction, and you had seconds—or less—to react. Wrong-way crashes are among the most terrifying and deadly accidents on Texas roads, producing violent head-on collisions where closing speeds double the impact forces victims’ bodies must absorb. Our Houston car accident attorneys have represented victims of wrong-way crashes throughout the greater Houston area, understanding that these accidents cause catastrophic injuries and deaths with disturbing regularity. The car accident lawyers Houston at Carabin Shaw fight aggressively for wrong-way crash victims and their families, pursuing every dollar of compensation against drivers who had no business being on the road in the first place.

The Catastrophic Nature of Wrong-Way Crashes

Wrong-way crashes occur primarily on highways where speeds are highest, and consequences are most severe. The resulting head-on collisions generate forces that overwhelm vehicle safety systems and human bodies alike. Our auto accident attorneys in Houston see the devastating outcomes when wrong-way drivers cause crashes on Houston’s highways—I-10, I-45, US 290, the 610 Loop, and the Beltway. The Houston car accident lawyers at our firm understand the physics that make wrong-way crashes so deadly. When two vehicles traveling 60 mph collide head-on, the combined closing speed is 120 mph—creating catastrophic forces even modern vehicles cannot adequately manage.

Combined Impact Forces

Wrong-way crashes combine both vehicles’ energy into single impact events. Crash forces that might cause moderate injuries in single-vehicle crashes become fatal when two vehicles collide head-on at highway speeds.

No Escape Options

When wrong-way drivers appear in traffic lanes, victims have virtually no time to react and nowhere to go. Swerving may place them in the wrong-way vehicle’s path if it also swerves. Braking reduces but cannot eliminate impact forces at highway speeds.

Nighttime Predominance

Most wrong-way crashes occur at night when visibility is limited and impaired driving peaks. Victims may not see wrong-way vehicles until headlights appear directly ahead, leaving almost no reaction time.

What Causes Wrong-Way Driving

Understanding why drivers end up going the wrong way helps establish liability and identify all responsible parties.

Impairment

Alcohol and drugs cause the vast majority of wrong-way crashes. Impaired drivers enter exit ramps as entrances, proceed through “Wrong Way” and “Do Not Enter” signs without comprehending them, and drive for miles before crashes occur—or before they realize their error.

Confusion

Elderly drivers and those unfamiliar with roadways sometimes become confused at interchanges, entering ramps from the wrong direction. While not excusing negligence, confusion-based wrong-way driving differs from impairment-based incidents.

Intentional Acts

Some wrong-way drivers enter highways intentionally—for suicide attempts, fleeing police, or other deliberate acts. These intentional entries may support enhanced damage claims.

Ramp Design Issues

Some interchanges have confusing layouts that contribute to wrong-way entries. While driver error remains primary, design factors may create additional liability against government entities responsible for roadway design.

Common Wrong-Way Entry Points

Wrong-way drivers typically enter highways at specific locations.

Exit Ramps

Entering exit ramps as entrances is the most common wrong-way error. Impaired or confused drivers mistake clearly marked exit ramps for entrances and proceed onto highways facing oncoming traffic.

One-Way Streets

Wrong-way driving on one-way streets creates similar head-on collision risks at lower speeds. Urban wrong-way crashes typically involve one-way street violations.

Divided Highway Crossovers

Drivers crossing divided highway medians through authorized crossovers may turn the wrong direction, ending up facing oncoming traffic.

Injuries from Wrong-Way Crashes

The extreme forces in wrong-way crashes produce predictably catastrophic injuries.

Fatal Injuries

Wrong-way crashes kill at extraordinarily high rates. The combined speeds and head-on collision dynamics produce forces that frequently prove unsurvivable.

Traumatic Brain Injuries

Violent deceleration causes severe brain trauma even with airbag deployment. Survivors often face permanent cognitive impairment.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The compression and flexion forces of head-on collisions fracture vertebrae and damage spinal cords, causing paralysis.

Multiple System Trauma

Wrong-way crash survivors typically suffer injuries to multiple body systems—head, spine, chest, abdomen, extremities—requiring extensive trauma care.

Permanent Disabilities

Those who survive wrong-way crashes often face permanent disabilities requiring lifetime care and assistance.

Liability in Wrong-Way Cases

Wrong-way drivers bear clear liability for crashes they cause, but other parties may share responsibility.

Wrong-Way Driver Liability

Drivers going the wrong way on highways are negligent per se—violating traffic laws as a matter of law. Their liability for resulting crashes is essentially automatic.

Dram Shop Liability

When impaired wrong-way drivers were served alcohol at bars or restaurants while obviously intoxicated, those establishments may share liability under Texas dram shop laws.

Government Liability

If inadequate signage, confusing interchange design, or missing wrong-way detection systems contributed to incidents, government entities responsible for roadways may bear partial liability.

Employer Liability

If wrong-way drivers were working at crash times, employer liability may apply even though driving the wrong way certainly exceeded any job duties.

Punitive Damages

Wrong-way driving—particularly when caused by impairment—demonstrates gross negligence supporting punitive damage claims.

Gross Negligence Standard

Driving impaired to the point of entering highways in the wrong direction and proceeding toward oncoming traffic demonstrates extreme conscious disregard for others’ safety—the definition of gross negligence.

Punitive Award Purposes

Punitive damages punish egregious conduct and deter similar behavior. Wrong-way impaired driving represents exactly the conduct punitive damages are designed to address.

Compensation for Wrong-Way Crash Victims

Wrong-way crash victims and families deserve substantial compensation reflecting these crashes’ catastrophic nature.

Medical Damages

Emergency trauma care, surgery, intensive care, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment costs often reach hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars.

Lost Earning Capacity

Permanent disabilities prevent many survivors from returning to work. Lifetime lost earning capacity represents a major damage component.

Pain and Suffering

The physical pain and emotional trauma of surviving catastrophic crashes and living with permanent injuries support substantial non-economic damages.

Wrongful Death

When wrong-way crashes prove fatal, we pursue wrongful death claims, providing compensation for families’ devastating losses.

Punitive Damages

Additional compensation for punishing gross negligence and deterring similar conduct.

Fighting for Wrong-Way Crash Victims

Wrong-way crashes represent catastrophic events caused by drivers who never should have been on the road. Our Houston car accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw pursue maximum compensation from wrong-way drivers and all other responsible parties.

If you or a family member was injured in a wrong-way crash in Houston, contact us immediately. We’ll investigate all liability sources and fight for compensation reflecting the catastrophic nature of these crashes.

PTSD in Personal Injury Claims | Carabin Shaw Midland-Odessa

April 13, 2025

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| personal injury attorneys, personal injury law

Carabin Shaw’s personal injury lawyers are proud to serve Texas communities with compassion, strength, and results-driven legal support.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Personal Injury Claims

Carabin Shaw | Midland-Odessa Personal Injury Attorneys

When most people think of personal injury claims, they immediately focus on physical injuries—broken bones, burns, or spinal damage. However, not all injuries are visible. Many accident victims in Midland and Odessa suffer from something just as debilitating: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This psychological condition can affect a person’s quality of life long after their physical injuries have healed.

More information here

At Carabin Shaw, we believe that emotional and psychological suffering should be treated with the same seriousness as physical pain. For more than 33 years, we’ve helped personal injury victims across Texas recover full compensation—including damages for PTSD and related mental trauma. If you or a loved one is struggling after a traumatic accident, understanding your legal rights is the first step toward justice and recovery.

Find more information about Personal Injury Claims here

This guide will explain what PTSD is, how it relates to personal injury law, and what you can expect if you’re considering filing a claim in the Midland-Odessa area.

What Is PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. While it is commonly associated with military combat, PTSD frequently affects victims of:

Car and truck accidents
Oilfield explosions
Workplace injuries
Fires and burn incidents
Physical assaults or violent crimes
Severe falls or crushing injuries
Catastrophic accidents involving loss of life

PTSD symptoms vary but often include:

Flashbacks or intrusive memories of the event
Nightmares or insomnia
Anxiety and panic attacks
Avoidance of reminders of the trauma (e.g., driving, certain locations)
Emotional numbness or detachment
Irritability or angry outbursts
Depression or suicidal thoughts

Left untreated, PTSD can interfere with a victim’s ability to work, maintain relationships, or enjoy life. At Carabin Shaw, we recognize the lasting impact of this condition and work with mental health professionals to document its effects as part of your injury claim.

Can PTSD Be Part of a Personal Injury Claim?

Yes, it absolutely can. In Texas, personal injury law allows victims to pursue non-economic damages for emotional distress and psychological injuries—including PTSD—when they are the result of another party’s negligence or misconduct.

To be successful, you must prove:

The PTSD developed as a direct result of the accident
The at-fault party’s actions caused the traumatic event
You have been formally diagnosed with PTSD by a licensed professional
The condition has negatively affected your life

This is where experienced legal counsel becomes essential. PTSD can be difficult to prove without strong documentation and expert testimony. At Carabin Shaw, we gather psychiatric evaluations, therapy records, and testimony from doctors and mental health professionals to validate your claim and fight for the full compensation you deserve.

Common Accidents That Lead to PTSD

In Midland and Odessa, many PTSD claims stem from traumatic events such as:

High-speed vehicle collisions or multi-car pileups
Explosions or fires on oilfields or industrial job sites
Truck accidents involving fatalities or disfigurement
Workplace accidents that leave victims injured or trapped
Violent incidents, such as assaults or criminal negligence
Catastrophic injuries resulting in permanent disability

Even witnessing such events, without being physically injured, can lead to PTSD. For example, if you watched a coworker die in an oilfield explosion, or were a passenger in a horrific crash, the psychological trauma could support a valid personal injury claim.

What Compensation Is Available for PTSD?

Just like physical injuries, emotional trauma carries both financial and personal costs. Victims suffering from PTSD may be entitled to several forms of compensation, including:

Medical expenses (therapy, counseling, psychiatric medications)
Lost wages (if PTSD prevents you from working)
Loss of future earning capacity
Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Loss of companionship or relationship strain

Carabin Shaw’s legal team builds comprehensive and individualized claims that account for both economic and non-economic damages. We fight to ensure that your emotional suffering is fully recognized and fairly compensated.

How PTSD Affects a Personal Injury Case

Claims involving PTSD often face more scrutiny than those involving visible injuries. Insurance companies may argue that:

PTSD is exaggerated or fabricated
The condition existed before the accident
The symptoms are too vague to prove
The trauma wasn’t severe enough to cause PTSD

That’s why having an experienced attorney is crucial. At Carabin Shaw, we:

Connect you with trusted mental health professionals
Secure diagnoses and treatment documentation
Collaborate with experts who can testify on your behalf
Present compelling evidence that your condition is real and directly linked to the accident

We take these cases seriously because we understand how life-changing PTSD can be. Our attorneys work tirelessly to ensure that insurers, judges, and juries take your emotional injuries just as seriously.

Do I Need a Lawyer for a PTSD Claim?

Yes. Psychological injury claims are among the most complex in personal injury law. Unlike broken bones or burns, PTSD cannot be seen on an X-ray or scan. It requires specialized legal and medical knowledge to prove.

Carabin Shaw has over three decades of experience handling both physical and emotional injury cases. We know how to build persuasive cases, negotiate with insurance companies, and—when necessary—take your case to trial. Our goal is simple: to ensure you are treated with the dignity and respect you deserve, and that you receive compensation that reflects the full impact of your suffering.

Why Choose Carabin Shaw in Midland-Odessa?

If you’re struggling with PTSD after a traumatic accident, you need more than legal representation—you need a team that truly understands what you’re going through. Here’s why victims in Midland and Odessa trust Carabin Shaw:

Over 33 years of experience in personal injury law
Millions recovered for clients across Texas
24/7 availability and free case evaluations
Bilingual staff (Se habla español)
No fees unless we win your case
Deep knowledge of local industries, courts, and accident types

From oilfield explosions to serious car accidents, we’ve represented victims through some of the most traumatic situations imaginable—and we know how to help you move forward.

Take the First Step Toward Healing

PTSD is real, and it deserves real justice. If you’ve been emotionally and psychologically impacted by a traumatic accident, you don’t have to suffer in silence—and you don’t have to fight alone.

Call Carabin Shaw today at 1-800-862-1260 or visit www.carabinshaw.com to schedule your free consultation. We’re ready to listen, support, and advocate for you every step of the way.

Your emotional recovery matters. Let us help you secure the peace of mind, compensation, and closure you deserve.