Causes of Intersection Accidents
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that around 40 percent of all car crashes happen at intersections. These accidents typically occur when one or more drivers disobey the law or make a mistake.
According to the NHTSA data on intersection crashes caused by driver behavior:
- Inadequate observation was the leading cause of intersection crashes. In 44.1 percent of car wrecks at intersections, the accident happened because one or more drivers simply didn’t look or didn’t see other cars, motorcycles, pedestrians or bicycle riders in the intersection.
- Faulty assumptions caused an estimated 8.4 percent of intersection crashes. When a driver makes the wrong guess about what another car will do, this can result in a crash. For example, a driver might wrongly assume that a vehicle approaching a yellow light is going to stop.
- Obstructed views were a factor in 7.8 percent of accidents. Drivers entered intersections despite not being able to see other vehicles coming, and a crash resulted.
- Driver distraction was a contributing factor in 6.7 percent of intersection accidents caused by driver behavior.
- Drivers misjudging other vehicles was the cause of 5.5 percent of intersection accidents. For example, drivers may have incorrectly judged the speed at which an oncoming car was traveling.
These are some of the top causes of intersection accidents identified by NHTSA, but they are not the only causes. Drivers make all kinds of careless decisions every day. When those bad choices are made at intersections, it is a recipe for disaster. Problems with the design or maintenance of an intersection and its traffic-control devices can also contribute to car crashes, as can vehicle defects.
While any type of accident can occur at an intersection, T-bone crashes are especially common due to cars converging from different directions. Also called side-impact collisions or broadside accidents, these crashes commonly happen when drivers fail to yield at intersections.
Side-impact accidents at intersections are also very likely to cause serious injuries. The sides of a car cannot crumple and absorb the energy of a crash like the front and rear structures.
For a free legal consultation with a intersection accidents lawyer serving McKinney, call (972) 535-6377
Severe injuries from an intersection accident can result in expensive hospital bills, missed time from work, a reduced quality of life and the need for ongoing medical or supportive care. The driver who was responsible for the intersection accident should compensate the accident victims for injuries caused by the crash – this is much easier to accomplish with a McKinney, Texas intersection accidents lawyer.
Who is To Blame for Intersection Accidents?
McKinney Intersection Accident Lawyer Near Me (972) 535-6377
It can be difficult to prove who was to blame for intersection crashes since there may be many vehicles at the intersection coming from different directions. Law enforcement will generally attempt to determine what caused the accident when writing an accident report, but statements from witnesses and from accident reconstruction experts may be required to get to the bottom of the actual cause of an intersection crash.
Click to contact our McKinney Car Accident Lawyers today
If you or a loved one was hurt in an intersection accident, you will need help gathering the evidence you need to prove fault. An experienced car accident attorney at the Underwood Law Offices can assist you every step of the way, from getting evidence from the police to interviewing witnesses and putting together a strong case.
Complete a Free Case Evaluation form now
At Underwood Law Offices, our dedicated McKinney, Texas intersection accident lawyers have extensive experience investigating intersection accidents and successfully pursuing compensation for victims. We can help you gather evidence to prove who was to blame for your accident. We can also help you demonstrate the extent of your injuries.
Schedule a free consultation with one of our personal injury attorneys so we can explain what you might expect in your situation and how we can put our skills and experience to work for you and your family. Call us now or fill out our online form. There is no charge for the call or the claim evaluation, and there are no strings attached. The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.
Call or text (972) 535-6377 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
