The NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) claims that roughly one-third of all car accidents happen at intersections. They account for nearly half of all the motor vehicle accidents reported and 25 percent of fatalities in car crashes.
After being injured in an intersection car accident, it's best to call the best car accident attorney in Nashville. Victims will learn about their legal rights and the legal process for receiving compensation for their losses.
Determining who's at fault for intersection accidents is challenging, so it's crucial to work with a reputable law firm, such as Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys. The lawyers go to war for Nash! Let's learn about the complexities of intersection car accidents now! They can also explain who is at fault in a rear-end car accident TN.
Causes of Intersection Accidents
In most cases, negligent drivers cause most of the intersection accidents. They don't pay attention to the road, traffic rules, traffic lights, and other people, such as cyclists, bikers, and pedestrians. Many times, they cause a personal injury to another party because of their recklessness.
Types of Intersection Accidents (Left-turn Accident, Oncoming Traffic, Etc.)
Left-turn accidents are the most common type of intersection accidents. Overall, the driver must make a left turn into oncoming traffic. There are many intersections where these crashes occur, such as stop-sign intersections, uncontrolled intersections, traffic light intersections, and uncontrolled T-intersections.
Traffic Lights
Drivers should come to a full stop when they encounter red traffic signals. If they don't, they could instigate an intersection accident because the other drivers have the green light and will be moving through the crossing section.
Left-turn accidents occur primarily when one driver has a green light and turns left while a driver turns right into that same lane. In this situation, the driver turning left must yield unless they've got a green arrow. Typically, the driver turning left will have the right of way in this case.
If the driver turning right doesn't yield and causes an accident, they're held liable. However, if the right-turning driver is in the intersection already, the other driver must yield because it might be impossible for the right-turning driver to stop in time.
When the traffic lights flash yellow or red, the driver should yield and fully stop. Otherwise, they could be held liable in an intersection accident case.
Stop Signs
When the intersection has a stop sign, the drivers must determine who got there first and should always fully stop if they were not the first arrival.
However, complexity happens when both vehicles are at the intersection when a pedestrian crosses. Both cars are stopped, so the drivers might have trouble determining who had the right of way. This often leads to a car crash, which could result in a personal injury.
Overall, the driver turning left must yield to the drivers who are going straight or turning right.
Uncontrolled T-intersection Accidents
An uncontrolled T-intersection is one that doesn't have stop signs and traffic lights. However, one road ends, so the driver must turn right or left into traffic. This driver should always yield to others and be mindful of cyclists and pedestrians, as well. If they don't yield, they could be considered negligent and held liable for any car accident that happens.
Uncontrolled Intersection Accidents
If an intersection has no lights or stop signs, it's an uncontrolled intersection. Drivers aren't required to stop, though they should give the right of way to whoever arrives first.
Many people assume that the driver turning right will automatically get right of way, but that's not always the case and could lead to a car accident. The right-turning driver only has right of way if they got to the intersection when the driver turning left arrived simultaneously.
After a Car Accident - Determining Fault
Drivers often encounter various intersections in their travels, and the traffic laws pertaining to right of way help with determining fault in a car accident, which were discussed above. Because of those laws, drivers are the ones investigated to determine fault.
However, there could be other at-fault parties, including:
A driver's employer not maintaining the vehicle
The local government not designing a proper intersection
The mechanic who maintained the vehicle
The vehicle's manufacturer
The goal is to prove negligence, which is difficult to do. Therefore, it's wise to work with personal injury lawyers to gather evidence.
Proving Fault
A personal injury lawyer can help determine fault, but victims can also collect evidence after the accident. This includes witness testimony, photos, videos, and a personal account of what happened. Other evidence can be beneficial, such as electronic logbooks, security footage, GPS data, and dashcam footage. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can advise on who is at fault in a multi-car accident TN too.
Likewise, victims must always seek medical attention, even if they don't feel hurt. That will protect them later if symptoms arise a few weeks late.
Overall, a lawyer will help victims gather traffic camera footage and bring in reconstruction experts. Reconstructions are useful in cases with little evidence because the professional will determine if the drivers were following the posted speed limit, used their turn signals, or were distracted.
Victims will also have to document everything to be compensated for their injuries, vehicle damage, and pain and suffering.
Victims Get Blamed
Victims should understand that the other driver and their insurance company will blame them for the left-turn accident to avoid paying compensation or to reduce the amount offered.
The best thing for victims to do is to get medical attention and document the accident scene. Likewise, they should avoid talking to the insurance company or anyone else until they hire a car accident lawyer.
Overall, victims should only speak to their doctors, the police, and their own insurance company. Let the lawyer get the police reports and deal with everyone else.
Hire a Personal Injury Lawyer for an Intersection Car Accident Case
Evidence will help prove a personal injury claim after a left-turn accident, showing who was at fault. It's always best to contact a lawyer for a free consultation. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys goes to war for Nash. Call or fill out the short online form to begin.
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