The risk of an auto accident is increased when multiple vehicles converge at a busy intersection. It only takes one mistake by one of the drivers and a serious accident is a very high possibility. With vehicles so close in proximity, it’s easy to see why so many accidents occur at intersections. The National Highway Traffic Safety Institute claims that nearly 39% of all crashes take place at intersections. Another test conducted by the University of Kentucky found that 35% of all car crashes take place at intersections.

Because of these dynamics, rear-end and intersection crashes in Michigan often involve overlapping fault issues, limited reaction time, and disputes over right-of-way. Regardless of the dangers of intersections, there is no excuse for driving negligently and causing serious injuries to innocent victims. Drivers that cause an accident because they simply didn’t follow the rules of the road need to be held accountable.

If your injuries occurred because the negligence of someone else, you can sue the responsible driver to pay for your medical bills, wage loss, attendant care, and other expenses related to the accident. You are most likely facing mounting expenses including medical costs and wage loss due to being unable to work. Intersection accidents are often caused by failure to yield, running red lights, or distracted driving. Get the compensation you deserve by working with an experienced attorney who can help you navigate the legal complexities of your case.

What Are The Most Common Ways Intersection Accidents Occur?

While just about any intersection can be dangerous, some intersections are much more “high-risk” than others. More accidents tend to occur on busy intersections near urban areas where people are driving in a hurry and are most likely driving more aggressively. It only makes sense that high traffic areas report more auto accidents.  Most intersection accidents are caused by poor driving. Here is a list of common causes to intersection accidents because of driver error:

  • Poor Observation – In nearly 45% of intersection accidents caused by driver negligence, the driver failed to look and observe current traffic in the intersection.
  • Turns w/o Clear View – These type of accidents simply because a driver turns into traffic without having a clear view. This is obviously very dangerous and is this form of crash is typical when in a hurry.
  • Traffic Violations – Many accidents happen at intersections simply because one driver has committed an illegal act which could include failing to stop at a sign, merging lanes illegally, or making an illegal turn.
  • Guessing Wrong – The amount of decisions a driver needs to make is increased at intersections. If you anticipate what the other driver is going to do and it turns out to be incorrect, an accident is a very likely scenario.
  • Distracted Driving – Distracted driving is becoming a much bigger problem with the increase of technology available to drivers. Global positioning systems, smartphones, DVD players, etc. are the root cause of thousands of auto accidents every year. A driver is responsible to stay focused, alert, and free of distractions while driving.

Getting Legal Help Following Your Michigan Intersection Accident

If your injuries from an intersection crash were caused by another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the harm you suffered. Intersection collisions often involve complex liability issues and can include not only vehicle crashes but also pedestrian accidents, where the risk of serious injury is especially high. Under Michigan law, your own auto insurance typically pays No-Fault benefits, including medical expenses and lost wages. However, to recover pain and suffering damages, also known as third party benefits, you may need to pursue a claim against the at-fault driver.

If you successfully establish liability and meet Michigan’s legal requirements, you may be eligible to recover compensation for the following:

  • Damages to property
  • No Fault Benefits
  • Third Party Benefits
  • Wrongful Death (Loss of Companionship)

How To Avoid Intersection Accidents

Given the fact that intersections are among the most common locations for a crash, you should be extra careful when approaching busy or dangerous locations.  Here are some of things that will help mitigate the likelihood of being involved in an accident.

  • Do not assume that other drivers are going to be safe.  This seems like common sense, but take the time to look both ways when entering intersections.  To be extra careful, take a look left and right for a 2nd time before making your move.
  • Even when the light turns greens, just wait a second or two to make sure nobody is going to run the red light.  A speeding driver trying to make it through the intersection before the light turns red is especially dangerous as they usually increase speed in their attempt.
  • With so many motorcycles and bicyclists on the road, make sure you check your blind spot.  This is not something that is common sense but many smaller vehicles don’t follow the same rules of the road even though they should.  This is essentially to make sure no motorcycles or bikes have pulled alongside your vehicle.
  • Never change lanes in the middle of an intersection.  Vehicles can be coming from all directions and if you just stay in your lane, you drastically reduce the chances of an accident.  Another vehicle might be approaching from a different direction and they will not be able to maneuver if you do something unpredictable like changing lines in the middle of the intersection.
  • You should always yield when making a left turn at an intersection.  Even if you have a green light or arrow, just make sure there are no vehicles approaching the intersection.  These types of collisions can result in head-on collisions and should be avoided at all costs

Contact Our Intersection Accident Attorneys Today

The rules of the road are put in place to make us safer and that includes intersections. If another driver fails to obey the law or otherwise negligently injures another innocent driver, they need to be held responsible for their actions and the injured party might be able to receive financial compensation to pay for the extreme amount of expenses that can be incurred as a result including medical expenses, wage loss, pain and suffering, rehabilitation costs, attendant care, and emotional distress. Our dependable attorneys at The Clark Law Office can help you following your unfortunate crash. We can help you receive fair compensation for you and your loved ones. Call our accident lawyers today at (517) 347-6900 for a free consultation regarding your case.  Visit our main car accident page for additional information.  No fee unless you win!

See how intersection-related crashes compare to other crash types in our common types of car accidents guide.

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