When approaching an intersection from any direction, we often rely on the judgment and responsibility of others to obey the right of way, yield, and come to a complete stop to ensure that all others passing through the intersection are able to do so safely. While we often pass through an intersection without a problem, the fact that there were more than 10,000 fatalities caused by intersection crashes in 2019 clearly shows that these types of collisions are a constant threat to our safety.
If you or a loved one has been hurt in an intersection accident that someone else caused, you may be entitled to compensation. That compensation goes well beyond the most obvious damages of medical bills and lost wages. And in the event of wrongful death, lost financial support, and the cost of end-of-life care.
Working with a personal injury attorney is one of the best ways to navigate this complicated process while staying focused on your recovery and moving forward from this terrible experience. But finding a lawyer who is ready to take your case can prove to be a difficult and overwhelming task. Fortunately, there is help.
Contact 1-800-Injured To Find a Car Accident Lawyer Today
1-800-Injured is an attorney and medical referral service. After any type of car accident, trying to take on additional responsibilities such as reaching out to law firms to find an available attorney can seem like too much to bear. That is one reason why many people go through an insurance claims process without the support of an experienced legal professional.
1-800-Injured will connect you with an attorney in your area for a free consultation where you can discuss the specifics of your accident and get clear legal advice from the lawyer about how to move forward with your case. Insurance companies are focused on settling claims as quickly and cheaply as possible and can often achieve this using intimidating or even bullying tactics. But when a lawyer is handling your claim on your behalf, the adjuster knows that they will not be able to resort to these tricks.
Read more below to get a better idea of how intersection accidents can happen, and contact us as soon as possible to be connected with a lawyer who is ready to fight for the money you are owed.
Common Types of Intersection Accidents
The following sections explain common accidents based on whether or not an intersection has traffic lights and whether the accident involves other vehicles or pedestrians. Commonly, these accidents are either rear-end collisions or T-bone accidents depending on a range of factors, but regardless of the specific type of impact, the important part is that you get the care and protection you deserve.
Contact us now to work with a personal injury lawyer who is ready to fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
Intersections without Traffic Lights
According to research conducted by The University of Tokyo published in the Transportation Research Record, approximately 80% of all traffic accidents occur at intersections where no traffic lights are present. Of these crashes, about half happen when one driver fails to yield properly, and the other does not expect it. These crashes often result in serious injuries or fatalities because cars traveling in different directions cannot see each other before it is too late. According to the Transportation Research Board, this type of intersection accounts for about 29% of all fatal crashes.
Intersections with Traffic Lights
This is the most common type of intersection in the U.S., comprising about 60% to 70% of all intersections with an estimated 104,000 traffic lights. The Federal Highway Administration reports that 2/3 of car accidents at intersections are rear-end collisions caused by trailing vehicles not paying attention to proper driving distances behind other cars.
Other types of accidents include cars crashing into each other as they turn and head-on collisions where one driver fails to stop at a red light and crashes into an oncoming vehicle.
Car Accidents at Intersections Caused by Other Vehicles
As many as 70% of car accidents that occur at intersections are caused by cars colliding with other types of vehicles, including motorcycles, bicycles, or pedestrians. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), collisions between cars and other vehicles account for about 43% of all intersection-related fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
About 20% of these collisions involve a motorcyclist, 17% a bicyclist, and less than 1% a pedestrian. A recent article published in Injury Prevention reports that one potential reason for this may be that drivers do not expect these types of vehicles to appear at an intersection, and they do not slow down to look for them.
Where Are Intersections the Most Dangerous?
Some intersections are more dangerous than others because of their physical characteristics. Intersections with higher speeds, paired with pedestrians using crosswalks, were much more susceptible to car accidents caused by drivers who failed to yield. Vehicles traveling at 30 miles per hour have a stopping distance of about 50 feet. This leaves little time for those behind the wheel to react when they are approaching an unexpected intersection or see a pedestrian in a crosswalk.
The most dangerous locations for car accidents are intersections where speeds are fast and there is no traffic light or stop sign to control the flow. These types of intersections account for a significant number of intersection-related crashes. Intersections with four-way stop signs, T-type crossings (where roads intersect at an angle), and those located on heavily trafficked roads also tend to be more hazardous than others because drivers may not see other cars until it is too late, making these types of accidents more likely.