Almost all motor vehicle collisions are scary. But perhaps the most terrifying type is the wrong-way accident – especially if it occurs at night. Just imagine that you are driving along on a dark highway trying to stay on the road, when suddenly two headlights leap out in front of you from the darkness. Because these collisions are so unexpected, the consequences can be devastating.

That’s what happened to a 31-year old Henderson woman this past weekend on U.S. 95. Around 3am on Sunday morning, a Toyota Scion driven by a 25-year old Wisconsin native was traveling north in the southbound lanes of the highway near College Drive in Henderson when it struck the woman’s Toyota Sequoia. She was rushed to Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center with serious injuries. The male driver of the Scion, who was not wearing a seat belt, died at the scene.

The accident is still under investigation by the Nevada Highway Patrol, and news articles do not indicate how or why the Scion crossed into oncoming traffic. But it is not uncommon for people to become confused while driving alone at night. So it is important to watch for telltale signs that you are driving on the wrong side of the road. These include:

Headlights off to your right that are facing you
Street or road signs that are facing away from you
Red reflectors on the road’s lane markers

If you have been hurt in a wrong-way accident, be sure to contact a qualified auto accident attorney to fight for any compensation that you are entitled to.