Although poor weather conditions and vehicle malfunctions can contribute to car accidents, many intersection accidents are caused by reckless or negligent driving. Before you’re involved in a serious crash, it’s important to understand how intersection accidents happen and how an attorney can help you recover fairly for your injuries. Intersection crashes

Intersections Create Opportunity for Many Types of Accidents and Injuries

Because intersections involve so much cross traffic and turning, the opportunity for serious accidents and resulting injuries is increased. Common types of accidents and injuries that happen at intersections include:

  • T-bone or side impact. When the front end of one vehicle collides with the side of another, it is a side-impact crash. Often, this type of accident occurs when a driver runs a red light or fails to yield when turning left. The resulting injuries can include whiplash and severe spinal damage, bone fractures, internal bleeding and bruising, severe lacerations, and even death.
  • Rear-end. A rear-end crash occurs when one driver slams into the back end of another car, often when the front car makes a sudden stop. Whiplash, bruising or collarbone fractures from seat belts and facial injuries are often caused by rear-ending accidents.
  • Head-on. If the front ends of two cars collide, traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord and spinal column injury, bone fractures, internal bleeding, and death can result. This type of accident may happen when one or both drivers drift or swerve out of their lanes.
  • Side-swipe. When one driver passes another vehicle too closely, he may graze or crash into the other car, resulting in a side-swipe accident. These accidents can be minor or serious, depending on speed, and can result in injuries including whiplash, bruising, and lacerations.
  • Motorcycle and bicycle. Because motorcycles and bicycles are smaller than passenger vehicles, it’s important that every driver stay vigilant in order to keep riders safe. Motorcycles and bicycles afford little protection to riders, even when riders wear safety helmets. In intersection accidents with vehicles, bikers and cyclists can suffer life-threatening injuries or death.
  • Pedestrian. Vehicle traffic at an intersection can create danger for pedestrians who need to cross the street. Pedestrians are at a higher risk for injury or even death at intersections.

Why Failure to Yield Accidents Occur

Many factors contribute to the danger of intersections. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported 170 intersection-related fatalities in 2015 in Virginia, and accidents like these occur for many reasons, including:

  • Negligent driving. Drivers who are distracted or drunk behind the wheel will likely be considered negligent if an accident occurs. A driver’s full attention should be completely on the road, and he should be capable of driving defensively.
  • Poor vehicle maintenance. Every driver has a duty to drive safely, but he must also make sure his vehicle is safe to operate. Failing to properly maintain a vehicle’s braking or steering system can lead to a serious crash and can also constitute negligence.
  • Reckless or aggressive driving. Drivers who choose to speed, beat a red light, tailgate, or otherwise drive unsafely in bad weather conditions can create terrible accidents.
  • Poor weather. Slippery conditions or low visibility may contribute to a serious accident at an intersection.

Proving Negligence

After a crash at an intersection occurs, it’s important you’re able to prove the other driver was at fault. Your attorney can use the photo and video evidence you collected at the scene of the crash, the other driver’s information, witness accounts, and the police report to show that:

  • The other driver was negligent or reckless
  • The other driver’s negligence directly caused the accident and your injuries

Because Virginia is a pure contributory negligence state, it’s important your attorney is also able to prove that you are not at all responsible for your own accident.

Hire a Dedicated Attorney to Assist With Your Case

If you’ve been injured in an intersection or failure-to-yield accident, you need the help of a competent attorney who cares about your injuries. At Kearney, Freeman, Fogarty & Joshi, we will work hard to determine the liability of the at-fault driver. We handle all aspects of insurance claims and lawsuits necessary to maximize the money our clients receive to deal with injuries, the tragic death of a loved one, vehicle damage, and pain and suffering. Call us today at 703-691-8333 to get started on your case.