Top 3 Causes of Intersection Accidents

 Posted on August 31, 2022 in Car Accidents

If you have the green light, you should be able to proceed safely through the intersection. When you have the red light, you and everyone else in your lane should stop - on time. Everyone who is old enough to sit in the front seat knows the rules. In a perfect world populated by cautious drivers, this is exactly how it would work. Unfortunately, in the real world, drivers are often not as careful as they should be when crossing an intersection, even if there is a red light camera. Statistically, you are more likely to get into an accident at or near an intersection than you would be anywhere else, even on the highway. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, roughly 40% of all motor vehicle accidents happen at intersections. If you were hurt in a car accident at an intersection, an attorney may be able to help you recover financial compensation.

Common Reasons for Accidents at Intersections

When drivers make the kind of careless mistake that typically leads to intersection accidents, there may be a number of reasons behind their behavior. They may have been distracted, in a state of road rage, or drunk. Or, they could just be on “autopilot.” Some of the most common ways that negligent drivers cause car crashes in and around intersections include:

• Running the light - There are very, very few good excuses for running a red light. Unless your mechanic installed your brakes backward or something of the like (in which case the mechanic could be liable), if you are capable of driving, you should be capable of stopping for red lights. Drunk or high drivers are far more likely to do this, often without noticing until after they have already crashed.
• Stopping too late - Aside from knowing that all drivers are required to stop for red lights, actually stopping on time to avoid hitting other drivers is an essential skill. Some inattentive drivers will see that a light has turned yellow, but fail to see that other cars between their current position and the light are also going to stop. This often leads to rear-end collisions. Pile-ups can occur if the car in front is pushed into the stopped car ahead of it, or worse, into the intersection.
• Unprotected left - When making a left turn without a green left arrow, a driver is responsible for making sure that it is safe to proceed. If your view is obstructed by other traffic or scenery, this may mean patiently waiting a moment until you can see that there is no one coming. Failing to do so can easily lead to a t-bone or multi-vehicle accident.

Determining who the liable party is may be tricky in some cases, especially if your crash involved multiple vehicles. If you are involved in an intersection accident, it is important to call a lawyer as soon as you can.

Speak With a Lake County Car Accident Attorney

[[title] is experienced in handling all types of car accident cases. Our practiced Waukegan car accident lawyers will begin investigating as soon as we hear from you. Contact us at 847-662-3303 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov/Api/Public/ViewPublication/811366