If it seems like there is an inordinate number of intersection crashes, that’s because there are. Intersections represent the space where traffic moving in all directions comes together in one confined area, and when motorists aren’t exceedingly careful, dangerous accidents can ensue. If you’ve been injured in an intersection crash that was caused by someone else’s negligence, it’s time to retain the professional legal counsel of an experienced San Francisco car accident lawyer.
Intersection Accidents: The Statistics
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the leading causes of intersection accidents include all of the following (in descending order):
- Vehicles that are turning left across an intersection
- Vehicles that are crossing straight through an intersection
- Vehicles that are turning right to move out of an intersection
NHTSA also shares the critical driving actions that typically precipitate dangerous intersection accidents, and these include:
- A vehicle that leaves the road
- A vehicle that comes to an unexpected stop
- A vehicle that travels over the lane’s dividing line
- A driver who loses control of a vehicle as a result of excessive speed or any other form of aggression
- A driver who loses control of a vehicle as a result of not accommodating for the road’s condition (including the adverse effects of bad weather)
A variety of forms of driver error, in other words, can contribute to dangerous intersection crashes. Such errors can be predicated on distraction (smartphones are an especially dangerous distraction), impairment, exhaustion, and more.
Driver Distraction in Intersections Can Be Especially Dangerous
We generally have to slow down – or even stop – at intersections (for traffic lights, stop signs, crossing traffic, pedestrians, and more), and many drivers consider this their cue to take a peek at their phones. When you get behind the wheel, you take on an immense responsibility to help keep our roads safe, and drivers who engage with their smartphones endanger everyone with whom they share the road. Driver distraction, including smartphone usage, is closely associated with serious intersection crashes.
Intersections represent a unique driving situation in which drivers must pay attention to traffic that is coming and going from all directions. Drivers who are distracted make dangerous intersections that much more dangerous.
The Intersections Themselves
Intersections are built to help keep the flow of traffic moving smoothly and safely and to help alleviate traffic jams in the process. Intersections are specifically designed for this purpose. When an intersection is poorly designed, however, or has inadequate signage, or is inherently confusing for the drivers moving through it, the intersection itself can contribute to dangerous crashes.
You Need an Experienced San Francisco Car Accident Lawyer on Your Side
If you or someone you care about is injured in an intersection crash, the dedicated car accident lawyers at The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc., in San Francisco, are committed to aggressively advocating on behalf of your rights and your rightful compensation. Your claim is too important to leave to chance, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at (415) 851-6486 for more information today.
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