Posted on Thursday, February 28th, 2019 at 10:09 pm
Intersection accidents are some of the most common types of traffic accidents. Do you know why accidents at intersections are common? Who is at fault for intersection accidents? Our Sacramento car accident attorneys discuss these questions and other issues related to intersection accidents in the below article.
In this article we discuss:
- How do intersection accidents occur in California?
- Who is at fault for an intersection accident?
- What are common injuries and damages caused by an intersection accident?
- What steps should you take after an intersection accident?
How Do Intersection Accidents Occur In California?
Intersections, especially busy intersections, can be difficult to navigate. Many of the causes of intersection accidents are attributed to driver error. However, a few accidents may also involve other factors.
Some of the common causes of intersection accidents include:
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Turning on red
- Distracted driving or inattention
- Disregarding stop signs
- Running red lights and yellow lights
- Lack of adequate road signage
- Malfunctioning traffic signals
- Defectively designed intersections
- Overgrowth of foliage
- Turning with an obstructed view
- Misjudging the space between vehicles or a vehicle’s speed
- U-turns
- Illegal maneuvers and other traffic infractions
Determining the factors involved in causing the accident is crucial in proving who was at fault for causing an intersection accident.
Who Is At Fault For An Intersection Accident?
In most cases, the driver who failed to yield the right of way or violated a traffic law is found to be responsible for causing a crash at an intersection. However, it can be difficult to determine who caused the collision if multiple vehicles are involved, each driver has a different account of how the accident occurred, and the vehicles are moved before police officers arrive.
Law enforcement officers will attempt to determine the cause of the crash during their investigation. However, the officers may not be correct when they determine the driver or drivers who contributed to the cause of the crash. Therefore, you may need a Sacramento car accident attorney to investigate the crash and retain experts, such as accident reconstructionists, to recreate the crash to determine fault.
Because proving fault for the crash is crucial for recovering money for your claim, our Sacramento car accident attorneys aggressively investigate intersection accidents by:
- Conduct a physical examination of the accident scene to gather evidence
- Inspect the damage to each vehicle
- Search for and interview eyewitnesses
- Search for videos of the accident created by bystanders or taken from local security cameras
- Retain experts to assist in recreating the collision to determine cause and fault
- Subpoena the records from a vehicle’s onboard systems, including a commercial truck’s black box
We may take additional steps in addition to the above steps, depending on the circumstances and facts.
What Are Common Injuries And Damages Caused By An Intersection Accident?
It is also important to obtain evidence that substantiates your injuries, damages, and losses. The injuries from intersection accidents can cause traumatic and permanent disabilities and impairments. Your financial damages could be significant. Because the compensation you receive for an accident claim can help you pay for ongoing medical care and living expenses, we work closely with you and your doctors to document all your damages and losses.
Common injuries sustained in intersection crashes include:
- Spinal cord injuries and back injuries, including paralysis
- Neck and shoulder injuries, including whiplash
- Brain and head injuries, including concussions and TBIs (traumatic brain injuries)
- Broken bones and complex fractures
- Seat Belt Syndrome
- Second Impact Syndrome
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Permanent impairments and disfigurements
Most accident victims are entitled to receive compensation for financial and non-economic damages. Financial damages are your “out-of-pocket” costs related to the accident. Examples of financial damages include medical expenses, loss of income, travel expenses, physical therapy, medical equipment, and medications.
Non-economic damages are your “pain & suffering” damages. In addition to financial damages, you might be entitled to recover money for your mental, physical, and emotional suffering and pain. Also included in non-economic damages are scarring, disabilities, impairments, and disfigurement.
Pain & suffering damages can be more difficult to prove. However, an experienced Sacramento car accident attorney understands how to use the evidence in your case to maximize the demand for compensation for non-economic damages.
What Steps Should You Take After An Intersection Accident?
The steps you take immediately after an intersection accident can help your claim or hurt your claim. You may not be able to take each of the following steps after an accident, but you should try to take as many of these steps as possible.
After an accident you should:
- Always report the car crash to the police. You want an official report documenting the crash from a law enforcement agency.
- Go to the emergency room from the crash scene. It is important for your health and your claim to be examined by a medical professional. If you do not go to the ER immediately after the accident, you should see your doctor as soon as possible.
- Try to take pictures of the accident scene. Videos are great too! Take pictures of the position of the vehicles, damage to the vehicles, skid marks, road debris, road signs, traffic signals, and the surrounding area. Do not place yourself or others in harms’ way to take pictures.
- Avoid speaking with insurance adjusters for the other party, providing statements, or signing releases until after you meet with a Sacramento personal injury attorney. The information the adjuster obtains could be used to lower the amount of money you might receive for your insurance claim.
- Document your expenses and losses carefully. You may increase your compensation for financial losses if you have documentation of all losses. Keep receipts and invoices for any expense related to the accident, including receipts for over-the-counter medications or medical supplies; bills paid for someone to cut your grass; and, receipts for travel to and from doctor appointments.
- Contact a Sacramento car accident attorney. As soon as possible, call our office to speak with a legal professional about your case. Our legal team guides you through the process of filing an accident claim and protects you from unfair and aggressive insurance company tactics.
Contact A Sacramento Car Accident Attorney for a Free Case Review
For a free consultation with a California car accident attorney, call The Tiemann Law Firm at (916) 999-9000 or visit our website.
