Avoiding Intersection Crashes
Did you know that 40% of all accidents take place at an intersection? This means that intersections are one of the most dangerous places for drivers. It’s important to be aware of the specific risks that intersections pose so that you can mitigate the possibility of an accident as much as possible. While much is out of your hands, it is still a good idea to be as prepared and vigilant as possible.
Common Causes of Intersection Crashes
While there is essentially an unlimited number of possible causes of crashes and collisions at intersections, we have chosen to highlight some of the ones that we see most frequently. If you have been involved in an intersection collision that is not included on the list, feel free to contact our office to schedule a consultation and receive specific feedback on your case.
- Running Red Lights. Speeding through intersections and running red lights is the largest cause of intersection accidents. Intersections are carefully timed ecosystems, where a red light will be in time with the transition of crosswalk signals and other traffic lights and signals at the intersection. When one driver chooses to speed through a red light, it throws everything out of balance, and puts other drivers and pedestrians at risk of being hit. If you have been injured in an intersection accident caused by another driver’s speeding or red-light running, they will automatically be presumed negligent for causing the crash and you will only have to present evidence of physical and economic injury in order to recover damages. In terms of avoiding red-light accidents at intersections, it’s important to drive the speed limit and to stop when a light changes to yellow, rather than trying to beat it.
- Making Left-Hand Turns. Making left-hand turns is another leading cause of intersection accidents. This is because when a car turns left it is vulnerable to side-impact collision from oncoming cars who may be speeding or not paying attention. Additionally, drivers do not always check their bling spot and side-view mirrors before making a left-hand turn, which can put motorcycles and bicyclists at risk.
- Making Right-Hand Turns. Drivers are also vulnerable to side-impact collisions when making right hand turns, they may also collide with other vehicles instead of merging. Right-hand turn signals may also occur in conjunction with crosswalk signals, so it’s important to look out for pedestrians, even if you are able to legally make a right-hand turn. Drivers often also mistakenly think that they can turn right in any situation, when there are actually many times that it is not legal to make a right-hand turn when the light is red, which can create dangerous situations.
- Rear-end accidents. Unfortunately, there is not much that you can do to avoid a rear-end accident beyond making sure that both of your taillights are functional and to come to a stop slowly so that drivers behind you have a chance to slow down. Rear-end accidents are often caused by a distracted or speeding driver. These accidents can become especially dangerous at intersections because the rear-ended driver can be pushed out into traffic.
Contact the Leifer & Ramirez in Boca Raton, Florida
If you or a loved one have been injured in a crash caused by someone else’s negligence, the experienced Boca Raton auto accident attorneys at the Leifer & Ramirez are ready to help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Source:
safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/about/
