Intersections can be busy locations where negligent driving behavior like running red lights, distracted driving, and speeding can cause catastrophic crashes. All drivers must be aware of other lanes of traffic and traffic control signals to ensure they do not come into contact with another car, bicycle, motorcycle, or pedestrian.
If you were involved in an intersection accident caused by another driver’s negligence, you could file a car accident claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company to hold them accountable for damages. Negligent driving behavior at an intersection breaches the duty of care drivers owe to others on the road and can leave a driver liable for damages. A car accident lawyer can help you pursue compensatory damages for your intersection accident by determining the liable party, collecting evidence, and negotiating with the responsible party’s insurance company.
Intersection Crashes Caused by Distracted Driving
One of the most common ways an intersection accident can occur is through distracted driving. In general, distracted driving is a common cause of car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving accidents led to the deaths of 3,142 people in 2020. It can lead to a person not paying attention to what is happening with their car, other drivers, and traffic control signals.
Manual, visual, or cognitive distractions may cause drivers to miss that they must stop for a red light. They could drive right through the red light and crash into the side of a car passing through the intersection, leading to a T-bone car accident. Drivers must be alert at intersections to ensure they obey right-of-way laws and keep drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists safe.
The following are some of the distractions that can lead to intersection accidents:
- Texting or talking on the phone
- Eating or drinking
- Using a GPS app
- Adjusting their radio
- Intense conversation with someone else in the car
- Worrying about something other than driving
- Applying makeup
Speeding Can Lead to an Intersection Accident
Another common cause of intersection accidents is speeding. This is a particularly dangerous type of negligent driving behavior because drivers can easily lose control of their vehicle while exceeding the speed limit. Without control, they may be unable to stop their vehicle before reaching a red light at an intersection, which can lead to a rear-end collision when striking a car stopped at a red light.
Speeding car accidents at intersections also commonly occurs when a driver tries to speed up to avoid a red light. When a traffic light turns yellow, drivers know that a red light is coming. Instead of slowing down and stopping for the red light, they speed up to avoid wasting time at a red light. They may not make it in time and cause a high-speed car accident with the drivers who get a green light.
Intersection Accidents Caused by Running a Red Light
Some drivers skip the step mentioned above by trying to get ahead of a red light and just run through it anyway. In most cases, drivers run red lights because they are running late for work, school, or a meeting. They think avoiding a few minutes stuck at an intersection could get them where they need to go on time.
However, this is an extremely risky proposition. For one, it’s illegal to run a red light, and it can lead to an expensive fine. It can also breach the duty of care owed to other drivers, which is the acceptable standard of behavior to operate their vehicle safely for the benefit of others they share the road with. A high-speed collision between cars caused by a driver running a red light can lead to a catastrophic crash that results in severe car accident injuries, such as broken bones, back and neck injuries, or ligament tears.
Failing to Yield Right of Way Can Cause an Intersection Crash
Right-of-way laws determine when a car, pedestrian, or bicyclist can pass through an intersection. When a driver has a green light, they have the right of way and can pass through an intersection. Other signs, such as yield signs and walking signals, indicate when someone should stop their commute or continue through the intersection.
If a driver does not yield the right of way, they could cause a pedestrian or bicycle accident by driving into someone who is allowed to cross the street. A bicyclist or pedestrian does not have protection from the impact of a car collision, which means they could suffer disabling injuries that could cause an intensely diminished quality of life.
Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer to Help With Recovering Compensation for an Intersection Accident
An intersection accident can result in economic and non-economic damages, such as medical bills, property damage, and loss of enjoyment of life. With the help of a car accident lawyer, you can put yourself in the best position to recover fair compensatory damages. Hiring a car accident lawyer early in the process can allow them to look at the details of your intersection accident and determine the best path for handling the intersection accident claims process.
Some ways a car accident attorney can help include calculating your current and future damages, assigning liability, explaining your rights, and negotiating a settlement with the at-fault party’s insurance company. With their experience and expertise, a car accident lawyer gives an intersection crash victim the best chance for recovering fair compensatory damages.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Car Accident Claim
The Russo Firm’s personal injury lawyers can help you pursue compensation for damages caused by an intersection accident resulting from a driver’s negligent behavior. Our car accident lawyers have over 100 years of combined experience, with a proven track record of earning fair compensation for our clients. Allow our car accident attorneys to use their vast experience to help you calculate the value of your car accident damages, collect evidence to prove your case, and negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company. Contact us today for a free consultation at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
