Intersections are inherently one of the most dangerous points on the road. While there is a national effort to reduce this number through projects such as increasing the number of roundabouts or continuous-flow intersections, there’s no denying that an intersection is prime territory for a traffic accident.
Many intersection accidents are caused by drivers disobeying traffic lights, such as running a red, trying to make it through the end of a yellow, or failing to yield the right of way. In some cases, these behaviors can even be accidental, but that does not limit their danger.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an intersection car accident, you should seek out an experienced car accident attorney at Munley Law. Experiencing a car accident is a painful and traumatic event, and on top of it all, trying to navigate the legal system alone can simply be too much.
That’s why we’re here. We stand with all accident victims, and our car accident attorneys will work tirelessly to ensure you receive the justice and financial compensation you are owed.
What Makes Some Scranton Intersections More Dangerous than Others?
While all intersections pose a high car accident risk, some are undoubtedly more dangerous than others. For instance, the higher traffic in the intersection area, the higher the risk of a car crash. All drivers should pay extra attention when passing through a particularly busy intersection. Intersections that involve more than two streets intersecting can also be especially dangerous.
In particular, residents have expressed concern over the Pittston Avenue and Orchard Street intersection in Scranton. In 2019, WNEP News reported that this intersection alone had seen more than 40 car crashes in the last few years.
In 2018, a three-car accident occurred at the same intersection, in which one vehicle was sent into the side of a building. Many residents have pointed out that no stop signs or traffic lights are at the intersection, which urgently needs to be changed.
Additional factors that can make an intersection particularly dangerous and at high risk for motor vehicle accidents are:
- Unclear or confusing signage
- Malfunctioning traffic lights
- Poorly maintained roads
- Unclear or poorly maintained sidewalks and bicycle lanes
- Poor visibility or oncoming traffic that’s obscured by weather or other items
What Kind of Car Accidents Typically Occur in Intersections?
Most intersection auto accidents are side-impact, or T-Bone crashes, in which the front of one vehicle strikes the side of another. Often, these are caused by driver error or inattention. Maybe a driver misjudges the speed or distance of a car approaching from the opposite direction and goes for a left turn.
The same can occur with a right turn if a driver attempts to enter the traffic flow on a red and underestimates how close the next approaching driver is. Of course, other types of accidents are possible as well. For instance, being involved in a rear-end car accident at an intersection is not uncommon.
The injuries sustained during these auto accidents can range in severity. More serious injuries may include head injury, spinal injury, or brain damage. Even those that are less directly life-threatening, such as whiplash or PTSD, can still be traumatic and cause extensive suffering.
Contact a Scranton car accident lawyer today if you have experienced any injury due to an intersection accident.
Who is At Fault in an Intersection Auto Accident?
As discussed earlier, intersections are inherently dangerous sections of the road. However, when an accident occurs, it is because at least one party exhibited some degree of negligence.
Perhaps a driver blew through a stop sign or the tail end of a yellow light, or perhaps they glanced down at their phone as they passed into the intersection. Or perhaps it was something even more egregious, such as drunk driving. The driver doing any of the above would most likely be at fault.
In some cases, the government entity responsible for engineering and maintaining the road may bear responsibility in a crash at a dangerous intersection, particularly if the intersection has poor visibility, lack of signage, or other hazardous condition.
Talk to a car accident lawyer today to ensure you are not being wrongfully assigned a percentage of the blame. Your car accident lawyer can examine your case and help you fight for maximum compensation.
Is There a Statute of Limitations on Intersection Car Accidents?
A statute of limitations essentially says you have a set amount of time after an incident or accident to file a suit or pursue legal action. These rules vary from state to state, so checking your state and local laws is essential. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania generally holds a two-year statute of limitations on all personal injury suits and claims.
The two-year countdown begins at the time of the accident that resulted in injury. In other words, you have two years from the accident to pursue legal action. If you’re debating this path to compensation, you should seek advice from a car accident lawyer like those at Munley Law.
Who Pays For My Car Accident Injuries?
After you’ve been injured in a car accident at a Scranton intersection, you may experience significant expenses like medical bills and time away from work. It is likely you may also experience considerable pain and suffering both physically and emotionally.
Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, meaning your auto insurance is designed to cover your medical expenses in the event of a car crash. This way, you are covered regardless of who was at fault for the crash. However, in a serious accident, it is likely that your damages exceed the amount covered by your personal policy. As the injured party, you have the right to seek additional compensation from the at-fault driver in the form of damages. These may include compensation for medical expenses, future treatment, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. The role of an experienced Scranton car accident lawyer is to calculate the full value of your damages, negotiate with the insurance companies involved, and secure the maximum award for you.
Contact a car accident lawyer today at Munley Law for a free case evaluation.
Why Munley Law?
Being a victim of any type of motor vehicle accident is undoubtedly a terrible experience, and you deserve the best when it comes to those helping you recover financial compensation. Here at Munley Law we are dedicated to bringing you top-of-the-line legal services and ensuring that you receive the justice you are owed.
Having a Pennsylvania auto accident attorney on your side will help ensure you are not assigned a higher percentage of fault than you deserve and will ensure you receive the maximum amount of financial compensation.
Our excellent, highly experienced lawyers and dozens of excellent legal support staff will work tirelessly for you. We treat the attorney-client relationship with the utmost respect. We do not get paid unless you win, and we believe that all accident victims deserve justice.
At Munley Law, you will be paired with a Scranton car accident lawyer with over a decade of experience and hands-on trial and courtroom experience. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to Munley Law to learn how we can be of service. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help protect your interests.
Reviewed by Bernadine Munley, Esq., Personal Injury Attorney at Munley Law, on August 8, 2025.
Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys
227 Penn Ave.
Scranton, PA 18503
(570) 865-4699
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