What Are The Common Causes of Intersection Accidents?
The main reason for accidents in intersections is negligence. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are several causes for intersection accidents, and they include:
- Speeding. Often drivers will speed through the intersection on a yellow light. The yellow light indicates to drivers that they need to slow down and stop. Many Carlsbad drivers regard a yellow light as something to hurry up and beat. This is against the law, and those speeding through the intersection on a yellow can cause crashes. Thirty-three percent of all car accidents happen at the intersection.
- Turning left at an intersection. Left-hand turns are tricky, and drivers must watch for pedestrians and oncoming vehicles before making the turn. Given the frequency of left-hand turn accidents, arrow signals are being added at intersections to reduce the number of left-hand turn accidents.
- Not stopping for a red light. It is the law that all drivers must stop at a red light. Failure to do so can cause a crash. Drivers wishing to turn right have to stop completely before turning, and if they fail to do so, the outcome may be a fatal intersection or pedestrian accident.
- Running a red light. Running a red light is against the law, and those drivers speeding through the intersection can hit other vehicles.
- Rear-end collisions. These accidents are the most often reported intersection crashes. This is because drivers who allow down for a yellow light are rear-ended by an aggressive driver behind them who wanted to run the light. It is usually the driver who rear-ends another vehicle that is at fault for the collision.
All these accidents are preventable, and all of them are usually the result of driver negligence. Drivers have a duty to others they share the road with to drive safely. They must obey all traffic laws and know what to do and how to act at an intersection. Failing to obey the law means the negligent driver is liable for the crash. Contact our personal injury lawyers in Carlsbad for a Free Consultation.
In California, when a driver violates a traffic law, and it results in a traffic accident, they are considered negligent per se or automatically considered negligent because they broke the law. In breaking the law and causing harm to another driver, the survivor can easily seek compensation for their injuries. When another driver breaks the law, the survivor only has to prove that the other driver violated the law, that they sustained an injury because of that violation, and that the law that was broken was intended to avert this very kind of harm.
Other Carlsbad Car Accident FAQs:
- I Was Rear-Ended At A Parking Lot In Carlsbad; Who Is At Fault?
- If A Car Makes A Left Turn, Who Is Considered At-Fault If There Is An Accident?
- What Are The Common Causes of Intersection Accidents?
- Who Is Liable For A Pedestrian Accident In Carlsbad, California?
- Will I Get More Money If I Hire A Carlsbad Car Accident Attorney?