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Negligence in Intersection Car Accidents

Posted on September 5, 2022 in

Intersections are precarious places to operate a vehicle. Not only are these areas where many individuals come together all at once in vehicles, but there are also often pedestrians and bicyclists around. In the aftermath of an accident that occurs at an intersection, it is important to determine what happened. The party who caused the incident should be held liable and have to pay compensation to others involved.

Why are Intersections More Dangerous?

Intersections are dangerous for the obvious reason that they are more crowded than most other areas on the roadway. Instead of drivers simply going one direction or the other, intersections are where up to four lanes or more meet in one location. Vehicles are making turns, pedestrians are trying to cross the roadway, bicyclists are pedaling through, and more.

Some of the most dangerous scenarios at intersections are drivers that need to make left-hand turns, typically crossing oncoming traffic. If a driver misjudges the distance they have between themselves and oncoming traffic, or if other drivers are operating recklessly, serious accidents can occur at intersections.

Negligent Intersection Driving Behavior

There are various types of negligent driving behavior that can occur at intersections. However, the types of negligence that we discuss here are not unique to intersections. The same type of negligent driving behavior that occurs elsewhere on the roadway also occurs at intersections, but again, these are areas that are much more congested. Some of the main types of negligence that cause serious injuries and property damage at intersections include:

  • Operating while impaired by alcohol or drugs
  • Operating while distracted by a phone or another device
  • Speeding or operating too fast for conditions
  • Failing to use turn signals
  • Turning across multiple lanes at once
  • Turning into oncoming traffic
  • Failing to yield the right of way to other vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists
  • Following other motorists too closely

Working With an Attorney to Determine Fault

Anytime an accident occurs at an intersection, it is imperative to work with a skilled attorney who can get involved quickly. If a car accident victim wants to recover compensation after these incidents, liability for the crash must be determined. This can be challenging, even if fault for the incident seems straightforward.

Right after an intersection crash occurs, individuals involved can gather various types of evidence. This could include using a cell phone or another type of recording device to take pictures of damage, injuries, debris, skid marks, conditions at the intersection, and more. In many cases, there are eyewitnesses who saw what happened, in these individuals could be contacted later on to give statements. You need to get that witness information written down as soon as possible before these individuals leave the scene.

A skilled Denver car accident attorney can step in and help gather all the evidence needed to prove liability. Additionally, they will handle negotiations with the insurance carriers to help ensure that crash victims recover the compensation they are entitled to.

If another driver was negligent and an intersection crash, victims should be able to recover compensation for their medical expenses, pain and suffering damages, property damage expenses, lost income, and more.