Approaching an intersection is routine for most drivers. However, when multiple roads and opposing traffic lanes come together, it can be a hazardous situation. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study released in 2013 said about 40 percent of the estimated 5.8 million crashes that occurred in the U.S. in 2012 were intersection-related crashes.
In Pennsylvania, “angle crashes” are also a serious problem. An angle crash occurs when two vehicles on opposite roadways collide at a point of junction, such as a road intersection, driveway or entrance ramp. According to PennDOT, 32,090 angle crashes occurred in Pennsylvania in 2013 and caused 263 deaths.
A crash at an intersection may involve more than motor vehicles. In fact, statistics show that most pedestrians and bicyclists hurt in car crashes are involved in intersection accidents.
If you or a family member have been seriously injured in a motor vehicle collision at an intersection, contact the attorneys at [firm-name] today by calling [phone-number][ or fill our our online form. We can schedule a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case and your legal rights and options.
Causes of Intersection Car Accidents
According to the NHTSA, about 96 percent of intersection accidents can be attributed to driver error. Some common mistakes that drivers make at intersections include:
- Illegal maneuvers
- Inattention while crossing over at intersections controlled by traffic signals or stop signs
- Turning with an obstructed view
- Misjudging a gap in traffic or another car’s speed while turning left
- Falsely assuming another’s action while turning right at a stop sign.
Sometimes, however, crashes at intersections are the result of more dangerous, negligent behavior. Dangerous driving behaviors may include:
- Drunk driving
- Drugged driving (including using illegal or prescription drugs)
- Distracted driving (including texting while driving or talking on a cell phone)
- Drowsy / fatigued driving
- Aggressive driving
- Speeding / driving too fast for conditions.
PennDOT’s 2013 statistics reveal other facts about intersection accidents:
- Mature drivers (age 65 and older) are more likely to be involved in intersection crashes. (Intersections can be confusing and problematic for mature drivers, PennDOT says).
- Most pedestrian crashes and deaths occur while pedestrians are crossing the street at an intersection, and the majority of bicyclists are injured at intersections.
- As for younger drivers, the NHTSA has found that crashes at intersections controlled by traffic signals involving drivers 24 years old and younger may be attributed to internal distractions (or distracted driving), false assumptions of another’s action, driving too fast for conditions (speeding), or aggressive driving external distractions.
A driver, passenger, pedestrian or bicyclist involved in an intersection accident might suffer any number of injuries, including broken bones, soft tissue injury (including cuts and bruising), head or traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck injury and injury from hyper-extension of the spine. Intersection accident victims can also be killed instantly or die of their injuries later. The personal injury attorneys at [firm-name] believe that drivers whose negligence or recklessness contributes to a crash at an intersection should be held accountable.
You Need Pennsylvania’s Top Intersection Accident Lawyers
The attorneys at [firm-name] have consistently been named as the Best Lawyers in America, and have recovered millions of dollars for our clients who suffer from car accident-related injuries especially those who have suffered from an accident in an intersection. If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a car accident that occurred in an intersection, you deserve experienced legal representation from a firm that understands the challenges you face because of your injuries – a firm that is committed to obtaining the compensation you deserve. When drivers engage in behavior that puts others at risk, they must be held accountable – and you shouldn’t have to pay the ultimate price for their negligent and reckless refusal to drive safely.
Contact the attorneys at [firm-name] today. To schedule a FREE consultation, contact us by calling [phone-number] or fill our our online form. We do not recover a fee unless we win your case for you.
