Each year more than a quarter of all traffic fatalities occur at intersections and over one half of car crash related injuries happen at intersections. As a intersection accidents lawyer in Roanoke, I have represented numerous clients with injury claims who were injured at an intersection. Collisions at intersections are common in the United States and usually result from defendants running red lights, not yielding the right of way, speeding or distracted driving.
Intersection Accidents | Know the Rules
1. Know the Rules. When approaching an intersection, it is important to know they type of intersection you will be passing through. Controlled intersections will have signage or traffic signals to direct drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians through the intersection. Uncontrolled intersections do not have signage and are usually lightly traveled crossroads in rural areas. Uncontrolled and Controlled intersections can be found in the 4 way, multi-route and T or 3 way intersections. Roundabouts or traffic circles are found in busier metropolitan areas and require drivers to enter the circle and drive counter clockwise until they exit. Drivers in all types of intersections should know the rules before “hitting the road”.
Intersection Accidents and Crashes | Take Your Time
2. Take Your Time. Most of us on any given day at any given moment need to be somewhere else. Unfortunately, our rushed lifestyles put us and others at risk. Driving through intersections can be particularly risky if we do not slow down and assess the intersection properly.
Rear-end Accidents at Intersections | Watch that Car
3. Watch the car in front of you. This may seem obvious, but unfortunately, many intersection accidents happen before the vehicles reach the actual junction. That is because often-times the vehicle entering the intersection stops suddenly and the car behind rear-ends it.
T-Bone Accidents at Intersections | Don’t Beat the Light
4.Don’t try to beat a light. The average red-light lasts for 60 to 90 seconds. That means stopping for a light might delay your trip by 60 to 90 seconds. If you don’t have 60 seconds to spare, then you were going to be late anyway.
Head-On Collisions at Intersections | Read the Signs
5. Read all Signs at Controlled Intersections. Multi-route intersections can be confusing and often include one-way streets. Be sure to know which streets allow for the direction you intend to go before turning onto them.
Fender-Bender Accidents at Intersections | Proceed With Caution
6. Once you have the right of way, proceed with caution. It is important to look both ways to be sure your route is clear, even if you have the right of way. As discussed elsewhere on this blog, other drivers may run the light or stop sign. Therefore, if you see them coming and can avoid being hit, then you’ve suffered nothing more than a close call and safely make it to your destination.
Fatal Accidents at Intersections | Minimize Distraction
7. Minimize cell phone use in any form when passing through intersections. Over half of all traffic injuries happen in intersection crashes. It is the responsibility of the vehicle operator to be aware of signage, weather conditions, other driver’s behavior, and rules of the road. There is no room for a driver to be distracted by cell or smart phone use when driving.
Find the Right Lawyer for Your Intersection Accident Case
If you have been injured in a car accident that was not your fault, you probably have lots of questions. Roanoke Accident Attorney Paul Thomson of The Thomson Law Firm offers free consultations to victims of personal injury. You can contact our firm anytime day or night by clicking here. One of our intake specialists will talk to you about what happened and answer questions about your next steps. Call or message an intersection accident lawyer today!
