Car Accidents at Intersections
Every year, car accidents are a leading cause of injuries and death in America. There is great variety in the types of car accidents that occur. Accidents differ by location, the types of vehicles involved, and resulting damages. But one factor that is similar in a number of accidents is intersections.
Car accidents at intersections are common because vehicles are traveling in more than one direction. These types of accidents tend to be highly damaging. The car accident lawyers at Quick Law Group, PLLC are prepared to help injury victims in the Bellevue, WA, area seek financial compensation for losses stemming from accidents at intersections.
How Common Are Car Accidents at Intersections?
Intersections are one of the most common places for car accidents to occur. An intersection is a place where at least two roads cross each other. Most often, intersections involve multiple lanes of traffic traveling in up to four different directions. With all of this intersecting traffic, it is not surprising that accidents are so common, even when signs or lights are in place to control the flow of traffic.
According to a report published by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, or NHTSA, an estimated 5,811,000 accidents took place on roads across the United States in 2018. The report further estimates that, of these, 40 percent were intersection-related crashes; that is nearly half of the total car accidents for the year.
Types of Intersection Accidents
An intersection is a place where opposite lanes of traffic (or roads) cross one another. Because cars can be driving in all different directions at an intersection, several different types of crashes may occur at these locations.
Most commonly, an intersection accident involves a side impact collision. A side impact collision occurs when the front end of one vehicle makes impact with the side of another vehicle. This type of accident is especially common when one driver is making a left or right-hand turn, and is hit by another driver who is traveling straight in their lane of traffic.
Though they do not happen as regularly as side impact crashes, head-on collision and rear-end accidents can also take place in intersections. A rear end accident is most likely to take place if one driver stops for oncoming traffic and the driver behind him or her fails to notice, thus hitting the car’s rear end. A head-on collision can take place when two cars traveling in opposite lanes of traffic hit each other with the front end of each vehicle, or head on.
Accident Damages
Car accidents at intersections often result in serious or catastrophic injuries. Potential injuries include contusions, broken bones, head or neck injuries, and spinal cord injuries. The damages of these types of injuries are not just physical. Injuries frequently result in significant financial losses as well.
If an intersection accident is caused by a driver’s reckless or negligent actions, then accident victims have the right to seek compensation for resulting losses. Potential damages in a personal injury case involving a car accident include:
- Medical expenses
- Cost of anticipated future medical costs
- Lost wages or a loss of wage-earning potential
- Pain and suffering
Contact Our Practice
It is important to hold liable parties accountable for damages stemming from a car accident. If you have been injured in a collision, and would like to learn more about your legal options, let the attorneys at Quick Law Group, PLLC be of assistance. Send us a message at your earliest convenience, or get in touch by calling (425) 576-8150.