Intersection Car Accidents in Scranton
Intersections are inherently one of the most dangerous points on the road. In fact, the US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration reports that more than half of the nation's combined total of fatal and injury car accidents occurs at or near intersections. 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 a driver either disobeying a traffic light, such as running a red or 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 Personal Injury Attorneys. 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 risk of a car accident, some are undoubtedly more dangerous than others. For instance, the higher traffic in the area that the intersection is, 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 Scranton in particular, residents have expressed concern over the intersection of Pittston Avenue and Orchard Street. In mid-2019, WNEP News reported that this intersection alone had seen more than 40 car crashes in just the last handful of years.
In 2018, a three-car accident occurred here, in which one vehicle was sent into the side of a building. There are no stop signs or traffic lights at the intersection, which many residents have pointed out is something that urgently needs to change.
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 Should I Do Immediately After the Intersection Car Accident?
The first and most important thing you need to do after an accident is to seek medical attention. Once that has been accomplished, you must call the police immediately.
When law enforcement arrives at the scene, they will use all available information to put together a report. This will include talking to you, any other drivers involved, as well as witnesses. They will examine the scene and later may pull security camera footage and phone records to determine whether someone was exhibiting distracted driving by texting or making calls.
All of this goes into the police report, which becomes the fairly official record of what happens, though it can be contested. The information in the report may be used by your insurance company or a court, should you choose to sue after the accident.
Should I Get a Lawyer After an Intersection Accident?
Whether or not you decide to file a car accident lawsuit or take legal action, a lawyer can be of great help to you after the incident. They can help you file an insurance claim, for instance, and fight back if you're not receiving fair compensation from your insurance company.
Even if an accident was not your fault, you may be required to prove that, which your experienced auto accident attorney can help with as well. And of course, you will want an attorney if you do decide to take legal action against the other driver or drivers via a personal injury or property damage suit.
Lawyers can also help for an accident that is your fault. With comparative fault, it's possible for more than one driver or party to bear responsibility for an accident. A lawyer can help ensure you are not assigned a higher percentage of fault than you deserve.
If you're unsure of the best course of action after your auto accident, or whether legal action is an option for you, consult a Scranton car accident lawyer at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys. You can contact us any time for a free case evaluation.
What Kind of Car Accidents Typically Occur in Intersections?
The majority of 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 flow of traffic 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 rear-ended in 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.
If you have experienced any type of injury as the result of an accident, contact a Scranton car accident lawyer today.
Who is At Fault in an Intersection Auto Accident?
As discussed earlier, intersections are inherently dangerous sections of the road. However, the majority of the time, 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. Most likely, the driver doing any of the above would be at fault.
Whether it was a drunk driving accident or something as seemingly small as sending a text while driving, there is a negligent driver in play. They failed to meet their duties as a driver of maintaining total alertness and obeying all traffic laws.
There are some cases where more than one party is at fault. This falls into the category of comparative fault. If the plaintiff is also found to bear some liability, their damages are reduced by whatever percentage of fault they bear.
For instance, if you sue for $100,000, but the court determines you are 15% responsible for the auto accident, your claim would be reduced by 15%. You would therefore be capable of recovering $85,000.
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 Car Accidents?
A statute of limitations essentially says that you have a set amount of time after an incident or accident in which you can file a suit or pursue legal action. These rules vary from state to state, so it's important to check your state and local laws. In general, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 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 time of the accident to decide 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 Personal Injury Attorneys.
How Much Does an Accident Lawyer Take From a Settlement?
At Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, your Scranton car accident lawyer does not get paid unless you win. This is known as a contingency fee basis. Unlike some other lawyers and law firms, the attorneys at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys guarantee that the fee will never be greater than the sum that's paid to you.
What Role Does Insurance play?
Pennsylvania is a no-fault state, which means that coverage through your insurance company is designed to cover you, rather than paying out to cover the other person in an auto accident. There are exceptions, however, if you have experienced severe injuries.
If your serious injuries meet a certain standard of severity, you may also be entitled to coverage from the other party's insurance company. If this is the case and the other party is uninsured or underinsured, you may choose to seek legal action.
You may also choose legal action if the insurance companies in play deny the severity of your accident claim or your serious injury. Insurance companies will most always attempt to pay out as little as possible and may offer compensation that does not match the extent of your car accident case.
If you think you may want to pursue legal action via a personal injury suit, contact a Scranton car accident lawyer today at Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys for a free case evaluation.
What Kind of Damages Can I Expect, and What Evidence Do I Need to Provide?
When you seek to recover financial compensation, whether through your insurance company or a car accident lawsuit, you will need to provide evidence. Evidence generally includes proof that the accident caused significant and measurable damage to your life.
You may provide medical bills showing that you have been financially burdened by the injuries sustained during the accident, or evidence of lost wages. Generally, you can expect to receive compensation that covers the following areas:
- The cost of medical bills
- The cost of lost wages. This can also include compensation for the accident either temporarily or permanently lowering your earning capacity
- The cost of mental health services, including therapy, PTSD treatment, and more
- The cost of overall suffering
- The cost of property damaged or destroyed during the accident
Why Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys?
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 Personal Injury Attorneys, 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 make sure you receive the maximum amount of financial compensation.
Our team of ten 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 Personal Injury Attorneys, you will be paired with a Scranton car accident lawyer with over a decade of experience, as well as hands-on trial and courtroom experience. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys to discuss your truck accident and how we can be of service. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and learn how we can help protect your interests.
