According to the United States Federal Highway Administration, more than half of all fatal and injury auto accidents happen at or near intersections. Sadly, many of these accidents are preventable and only occur due to negligence by someone involved in the crash. People who have been injured in intersection accidents caused by driver negligence may have grounds for personal injury claims. At Hall and Lampros, LLP, our dedicated personal injury lawyers have secured over $400 million in settlements and verdicts for our clients. Contact us today at (404) 876-8100 to learn more about your legal options after an intersection accident.
What Makes an Intersection Dangerous?
Intersections are a necessity, as they connect various driving, cycling, and walking routes to each other. However, these roadway meeting-points can be dangerous even when well-designed, and poorly designed intersections often have even higher accident rates. In addition, negligence by drivers at intersections further increases the risk of an accident.
Some of the most common intersection hazards that lead to accidents include:
- Lack of sufficient road signs
- Malfunctioning traffic lights
- Poorly marked lanes
- Obstructed road signs
- Poorly maintained roads
- Narrow lanes
- Potholes
What Are the Most Common Types of Intersection Accidents?
There are a variety of ways an accident can occur at an intersection. Below are some of the most common types of intersection accident cases our Atlanta personal injury lawyers see.
Pedestrian and Bicyclist Crashes: Pedestrians and bicyclists are especially vulnerable in intersections, as a collision with a motor vehicle can leave them with severe or even fatal injuries. Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks, but sometimes negligent drivers run through red lights or stop signs and end up striking and injuring people who are traveling on foot. Cyclists can also often be missed by drivers of motor vehicles, and can suffer serious injuries if a driver enters an intersection when the cyclist is crossing.
Head-On Collisions: Head-on collisions are relatively rare, as they account for only about 3% of all car accidents in the United States. However, the consequences of this type of accident can be devastating. According to data from the Insurance Information Institute (III), over 10% of fatal car accidents in the US in 2020 were head-on collisions.
Some of the most common causes of head-on collisions in intersections include:
- Failure to obey a traffic control device, such as driving straight when vehicles from the opposite direction have a turn arrow
- A driver leaving their lane and drifting into oncoming traffic
- Distracted driving, such as texting or talking on the phone
Those who have been injured in head-on collisions or other types of intersection accidents in Georgia can learn more about their legal rights by contacting the Atlanta personal injury lawyers of Hall & Lampros, LLP.
Rear-End Collisions: Rear-end collisions are one of the most common types of car accidents in intersections. Some of the most common causes of accidents in this category include:
- Tailgating
- Speeding
- Distracted driving
- Aggressive driving
- Running a red light or stop sign
T-Bone Accidents: A t-bone collision happens when one vehicle crashes head-on into the side of another. This type of accident can happen at an intersection when a driver makes an illegal turn and crashes into a vehicle coming from the opposite direction. If the driver making the turn did not have the right of way or ran through a red light, other injured parties may have grounds for a personal injury lawsuit.
Wrong-Way Driving Accidents: Wrong-way driving accidents happen when a vehicle is traveling against the legal flow of traffic and collides with an oncoming vehicle traveling on the same road in the right direction. These accidents commonly occur on highway ramps connecting smaller roads to the highway. Wrong-way collisions are typically either head-on or sideswipe crashes, both of which often involve more severe injuries than other types of car accidents.
Why Are Intersections Dangerous?
Although some intersections have hazards that make them dangerous even to responsible drivers, the main danger at most intersections is human error. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), between 1997 and 2004, 96% of all intersection crashes were due to driver error. A little more than half of those crashes were due to recognition errors, such as those that commonly occur during distracted driving. 29% of crashes during that time frame were due to decision errors, including traffic violations like turning without signaling or erratically changing lanes.
Contact Our Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyers
People who have been injured in intersection accidents that were not their fault have legal rights. At Hall & Lampros, LLP, our Atlanta personal injury attorneys are prepared to help you fight for the financial compensation you deserve for your injuries. Contact us today at (404) 876-8100 to learn more in a free consultation.
ES