Intersection Accident Causes
Although car accidents can pretty much happen anywhere and at any time, some of the most serious crashes occur in intersections. Commonly referred to as T-bone accidents, these types of collisions can have devastating consequences for the parties involved, as injuries tend to be particularly severe. Demonstrating fault in these types of cases can also be difficult, making it especially important for injured parties to retain an experienced car accident attorney who can help you hold the responsible party accountable for his or her negligence.
Factors that Contribute to the Severity of Intersection Accident Injuries
There are a variety of factors that determine how severe the injuries in an intersection crash will be, including:
- The speed at which the drivers were traveling prior to the collision;
- The angle of impact during the collision itself;
- The occupants’ positions in the vehicles;
- Whether the drivers and passengers were wearing seat belts;
- The time of day and general traffic conditions; and
- The types of vehicles that each party was driving.
Generally, the faster the cars were driving before the collision, the more severe the impact will be. Similarly, large vehicles, like trucks are more likely to cause serious damage than are smaller passenger vehicles. Drivers and passengers who aren’t wearing seat belts at the time of the accident are at a higher risk of sustaining serious injuries, while high traffic density can easily cause a single collision between two vehicles to become a multi-car pile-up. Having evidence to demonstrate fault, such as footage from traffic cameras is critical to proving fault in these cases.
Common Causes
Most intersection accidents are there result of aggressive driving, such as trying to make a light before it turns red. In fact, the Insurance Information Institute estimates that as many as two-thirds of all traffic fatalities involve aggressive driving. The most common forms of aggressive driving that contribute to intersection accidents, include:
- Making a lane change in the intersection itself;
- Following too closely;
- Passing or merging dangerously;
- Making sudden and erratic speed changes;
- Making an improper turn;
- Failing to obey traffic signs; and
- Failing to yield the right of way.
In Florida, when a driver is involved in two or more of these activities at the same time, he or she can be charged with aggressive careless driving. This is especially important in intersection accident cases, where the injured party’s attorney could argue that the at-fault driver was negligent per se for violating the law. This in turn, could make it easier for the injured party to recover damages. Police reports, footage from traffic cameras and local businesses, as well as photos from the scene, witness statements, cell phone records, and blood alcohol and drug tests can all help demonstrate whether a driver was engaged in aggressive careless driving at the time of the intersection accident.
Contact an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer Today
Please call 954-566-9919 or send us an online message to set up a meeting with one of the experienced Fort Lauderdale car accident lawyers at Boone & Davis who can evaluate your case for free.
Resource:
iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-aggressive-driving
