A Henderson car accident lawyer can help protect your rights and pursue compensation if you’ve been injured in an intersection crash.
When multiple roadways intersect, drivers approaching the intersection must know and adhere to traffic laws, make quick assessments, and use critical thinking skills to navigate the intersection correctly and safely.
Unfortunately, nearly half of all traffic accident injuries and a quarter of all fatalities occur in intersections. Drivers often make errors in judgment, take unnecessary risks, employ aggressive driving tactics, and fail to follow traffic signals, which can lead to accidents at intersections. Tragically, these actions frequently impact the lives of other motorists.
What Is the Leading Cause of Car Accidents In Intersections?
Most intersection accidents are caused by driver error. When a driver fails to follow the rules of right of way at an intersection or doesn’t take reasonable actions and causes an accident, they are liable for damages.
Careless, reckless, or wrongful actions are all examples of driver error and negligence. Common causes of intersection accidents include the following:
- Failure to yield the right of way
- Intentionally running red lights or stop signs
- Distracted driving
- Tailgating
- Left turn accidents
- Speeding
- Prohibited turns and U-turns
- Intoxicated driving
- Aggressive driving
Although driver error is the most common cause of intersection accidents, some accidents result from malfunctioning traffic lights, obstructed views, road hazards, or poor intersection planning.
What Types of Accidents Happen In Intersections?
An intersection requires all drivers to remain alert and understand what’s expected of them, whether it’s to follow signal lights or the rules of an unsignalized four-way stop. Accidents occur when a driver violates their duty to take reasonable care. Common types of intersection accidents include the following:
- T-bone collisions
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipes
- Left-turn accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Multi-car pileups
Determining liability in intersection accidents often requires a thorough investigation, including reviewing traffic camera footage, interviewing eyewitnesses, and consulting with accident reconstruction specialists.
Common Damages In Intersection Accident Claims
Intersection accidents often cause far more than just a dented vehicle. When an accident causes injuries, the expenses add up quickly, and at the same time, the injury victim may be unable to return to work.
These common consequences of car accidents are the “damages” in a car accident claim. Common damages recovered in successful claims include:
- Reimbursement for medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Future income loss
- Diminished future earning capacity
- Compensation for pain and suffering
In some cases, additional damages may be available for victims of catastrophic injuries such as loss of limb, disfigurement, loss of vision, hearing loss, or diminished quality of life.
How Can a Henderson Car Accident Attorney Help?
It isn’t always clear which driver was at fault in an intersection accident, especially when insurance companies attempt to shift liability to the injury victim to reduce the amount they have to pay on the claim or deny it completely.
Instead of taking on the anxiety of a car accident claim alone, contact the Henderson car accident lawyers at Bay Law Injury Attorneys for experienced representation in your intersection accident case.