Anywhere two roads meet or cross each other is an intersection. Approaching, driving through, and crossing intersections are a routine part of driving for most people. However, due to their nature, intersections can be difficult to navigate, and when different drivers in a variety of vehicles and with varying levels of driving expertise perform sometimes-conflicting actions such as turning, merging, or overtaking at an intersection, an accident can occur.
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study, intersection accidents account for about two out of every five roadway accidents in the United States. The annual physical, financial, and business losses associated with these accidents run in the hundreds of billions of dollars.
If you or someone you know was involved in an intersection accident, a Lafayette accidents in intersection lawyer with the Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers group may be able to help. Call (337) 777-7777 today to learn more.
Understanding Intersection Crashes
Intersections dot roads and highways all across the country. Common intersection types include two-way intersections, four-way intersections, roundabouts, on- and off-ramp intersections, and driveway intersections. Accidents at these locations can involve trucks, buses, passenger vehicles, motorcycles, and pedestrians. They can be lethal as well. According to the U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), roughly 9,000 people are killed in intersection accidents every year.
Many factors come into play when it comes to intersection accidents. Everything from atmospheric conditions and vehicle speed and condition to the age, sex, and mental condition of the driver can cause or contribute to an intersection accident. Poor road planning, visual obstruction, and driver errors can also lead to issues.
Some of the leading causes of intersection accidents are:
- Not properly surveilling the area surrounding the intersection
- Making incorrect assumptions about the actions or responses of other road users
- Obstructed views
- Illegal actions or movements by other road users
- Distracted driving
- Following another vehicle too closely
- Haphazard or erratic lane changes
- Dangerous merging or passing
- Failures to yield the right-of-way to another vehicle
- Failures to correctly follow signs and the instructions of traffic control devices
- Overspeeding
- Improper or sudden turns
How most of these factors cause accidents is clear to see. Driver inattention and speeding are examples of negligence, and they can result in an accident. Improper turns or haphazard driving are examples of driver inexperience or malicious and reckless driving. Obstructed views and assumptions about how other drivers will react on the road are also examples of driver inexperience and driver error.
Some of these factors may be beyond the control of the driver. For example, visual obstructions such as overgrown shrubbery or branches can block traffic signals or roadway signs, as can parked cars and glare that can blind a driver. Atmospheric and weather conditions can also come into play and create hazardous driving conditions, reduce visibility, and cause roads to be slippery.
If you also include the actions of roadside pedestrians, older drivers, and other unexpected events such as tire blowouts, damaged roads, defective equipment, or unclear signage, the incidence rate of intersection accidents rises even more.
If these or any other factors were involved in your intersection accident, we can help. A Lafayette accidents in intersection lawyer from our team can give you legal guidance, help with investigating the causes of your accident, and determine whether or not you may have grounds to file a claim for damages and injuries sustained in an intersection accident. Call (337) 777-7777 today for a free consultation.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
Categories of Intersection Accidents
There are many different ways two or more vehicles can strike each other, a pedestrian, or a roadside property in an intersection accident. Consider the following examples.
Rear-End Collisions
These can occur when one vehicle follows another one too closely. If a traffic control device suddenly changes or the driver in front brakes for any reason, the driver in the back can run into the front vehicle.
Side-Impact Accidents
These are common when one vehicle runs a red light, fails to yield at a yield sign, runs a stop sign, or moves out of turn at an intersection and sideswipes or T-bones another vehicle.
Head-On Collisions
Head-on accidents often occur on narrow lanes and on roadways that have no separating barrier or median between traffic lanes traveling in opposite directions. If a vehicle swerves at an intersection to avoid an accident or in response to sudden changes in road conditions, the driver can strike oncoming traffic head-on.
Blind Spot Accidents
These can occur when one vehicle does not properly check the surrounding lanes and intersecting roads before executing a lane change or a turn or while braking. This can result in a pileup or a sideswipe accident. Pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists are especially susceptible to blind spot accidents.
The common factor across all of these accidents is careless or negligent driving. If drivers would only obey traffic rules, follow posted signals, drive defensively, be wary of changing road conditions, and give themselves the time and space they need to steer clear of other drivers and vehicles whenever they approach and cross an intersection, many of these accidents could be avoided.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
We Are Here to Help
Beyond the factors outlined above, other contributing factors can cause intersection accidents. Drunk or aggressive driving, operating a poorly maintained vehicle, underage driving, and poor road maintenance can all contribute to intersection accidents. Specifically for Louisiana, according to the Louisiana Crash Data Reports, there were almost 300 alcohol-related deaths on our roadways in 2019.
Determining who, if anyone, is responsible for your intersection accident and quantifying any damages that you may be entitled to is what a Lafayette accidents in intersection lawyer from our team can do for you.
To learn more about our services and for help with filing a formal claim for damages and injuries sustained in an intersection accident or for guidance of any other sort regarding bodily injuries or property damage, call the Laborde Earles Injury Lawyers group today at (337) 777-7777.
Get The HelpYou Need(337) 777-7777To Schedule a FREE CONSULATION
24 hours a day • 7 days a week
