Intersections are some of the most common places for automobile accidents due to how condensed the multiple lanes of traffic can become. Drivers must account for cars in other lanes, pedestrians, and traffic control signals in these high-leverage areas. A driver who behaves negligently behind the wheel by speeding, running a red light, or disobeying right-of-way laws can easily cause a catastrophic intersection crash.
An intersection crash can cause significant damages, such as medical bills, property damage, and mental anguish, for which you can pursue compensation through an intersection accident claim. A car accident lawyer can help you file the claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company to help you recover compensation for damages. The car accident lawyers at The Russo Firm have a proven track record of earning fair compensation for our clients and can do the same for you if you were involved in an intersection accident.
Intersections Accidents Caused by Speeding
One of the main causes of car accidents is speeding. Drivers can grow impatient with waiting in traffic and drive above the speed limit to reach their destination faster. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding was the cause of 11, 258 traffic-related deaths in 2020, which accounted for 29% of all traffic-related fatalities that year.
Speeding can be even more dangerous at an intersection because there are so many lanes of traffic being regulated by a traffic control signal. Drivers must be very cautious at intersections and ensure it is their turn to go. Speeding through an intersection can bring a vehicle into dangerous contact with other vehicles making turns, which can cause widespread impact affecting many other vehicles.
Intersection Accidents Caused by Failing to Yield Right-Of-Way
Each state has rules for right-of-way, which dictates when a car or pedestrian can advance through an intersection. The right-of-way should be obvious through traffic control signals, but others may require greater knowledge of right-of-way laws from motorists.
A driver failing to yield the right-of-way to another person or vehicle with the right to advance can cause an intersection accident. This can involve a motorist driving into a pedestrian crossing the street or another car executing a turn. Without yielding the right-of-way in the proper context, a driver can make reckless decisions behind the wheel that puts other people at the intersection at risk of severe injury.
Intersection Accidents Caused by Turning Right On Red
At some intersections, there will be signs that indicate a driver cannot turn right on red. This means they must wait until the light turns green despite the driver thinking they can turn right at a red light. These signs are placed at those intersections for a reason: to reduce the chances of an intersection accident.
A driver that does not pay attention to the sign and turns right on red anyway can come into dangerous contact with another driver. In all likelihood, drivers cannot turn right on red at that intersection due to another lane of traffic that needs to be stopped first. Without that lane stopping, the negligent driver turning right on red can strike another vehicle and cause damages they could be liable for in a car accident claim.
Intersection Automobile Accident Injuries
Intersection automobile accidents can expose victims to significant force during the impact that can result in severe injury. These crashes happen at high speeds and can involve multiple vehicles due to the several lanes of traffic that drive through intersections. Your automobile can receive impact coming from multiple directions that can expose your body parts to trauma. An intersection car accident can cause severe injury through whiplash, collision with a hard object, crushing impact between two hard objects, burns from cars set on fire, and blunt force or penetrating trauma.
The following are some of the severe injuries caused by an intersection automobile accident that you can pursue compensation for:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal injuries
- Facial injuries
- Soft tissue injuries
- Chest injuries
- Burn injuries
- Back and neck injuries
- Knee injuries
- Shoulder injuries
- Infections
What Damages Can You Pursue in an Intersection Automobile Accident Claim?
A negligent driver that causes an intersection automobile accident can be held liable for damages they caused. Damages are losses caused by the at-fault party’s negligent driving behavior that caused the intersection accident. A car accident lawyer can help you assess current and future damages associated with the intersection accident by consulting your doctor, medical records, and medical experts.
Your intersection accident attorney can recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages. Economic damages, such as medical bills, lost earning potential, and property damage, are those with a monetary value that your lawyer can point to. Non-economic damages, such as loss of consortium, pain and suffering, and mental anguish, are intangible losses that reflect how your standard of living was affected by the intersection accident.
The following are some of the car accident damages you can pursue compensation for in an intersection automobile accident claim:
- Medical bills
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Pain and suffering
- Disability costs
- Loss of society
- Loss of companionship
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental anguish
How Can a Car Accident Lawyer Help With Your Intersection Automobile Accident Claim?
Intersection accident victims can handle the claims process alone, but their lack of personal injury claim experience can lead to an error that will limit their potential compensation. Hiring a car accident lawyer to handle the claim is preferable due to their experience in the process. They will know the right time to handle each step of the process and can handle it with efficiency and effectiveness. Your best chance for recovering full compensation for your intersection accident damages is by hiring an experienced car accident lawyer.
The following are some of the ways a reckless driving accident attorney can help with your case:
- Assess your intersection automobile accident damages
- Determine which party drove recklessly and caused the intersection automobile accident
- Send a demand letter to the negligent driver’s insurer
- Collect evidence and essential records to prove your intersection accident case
- Interview witnesses and experts to strengthen your intersection accident case
- Negotiate a settlement with the at-fault driver’s insurer
- Represent you in an intersection accident lawsuit court case
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Intersection Automobile Accident Claim
At The Russo Firm, we have car accident lawyers with experience helping victims of intersection accidents. We have helped car accident victims across the United States in states like Florida, Arizona, Texas, and New York recover compensation for damages caused by at-fault drivers. If a driver behaved negligently behind the wheel at an intersection and crashed into you, we can put you in the best position to recover compensation with our vast resources, personalized legal counsel, and car accident claim experience.
If you were involved in a driving accident at an intersection, you could get a free consultation with the Russo Law Firm’s intersection accident lawyers to see how they can help you recover compensation for your damages. Contact us at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.