Intersection Accidents

Intersections – where multiple roads and opposing directions of traffic come together – can cause problems for North Carolina drivers. A study released in 2011 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said approximately 40 percent of the 5.8 million crashes that occurred in the U.S. in 2008 were intersection accidents.

The NHTSA said further that about 96 percent of intersection accidents are caused by drivers, as opposed to vehicle problems or the environment (weather, road conditions, etc.). Car crashes in intersections cause a variety of personal injury and deaths. Car drivers and passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists get hurt in intersection-based car accidents.

The N.C. Department of Transportation’s 2010 Crash Facts says that about as many car wrecks happen at intersections (96,802) as at non-intersection locations (92,940). The same figures show that 34,047 accidents at intersections in 2010 resulted in personal injury, and 36 resulted in a fatality.

If you have been seriously injured in a car or truck accident at an intersection in Elizabeth City, the Outer Banks or elsewhere in Northeastern North Carolina, the experienced car accident lawyers of Glover Law Firm can help you recover the money you need and deserve. To schedule a free consultation about your case, call us today at (252) 299-5300 use our online form.

The NHTSA explains that car accidents often occur at intersections because when drivers turn left, cross over or turn right where two or more roads cross each other, it creates a potential for conflicts that result in collisions. Among 2.3 million intersection accidents in 2008, 7,421 were fatal and 733,000 caused injuries to one or more vehicle occupants, the NHTSA says.

In a 2011 report, the NHTSA said 787,236 (36 percent) of the estimated 2.18 million motor vehicle crashes it studied for the report involved turning or crossing a road at an intersection.

The report said crashes that occur while crossing at intersections controlled by traffic signals or stop signs are caused by:

• Illegal maneuver
• Inattention
• Turning with an obstructed view.

Left-turn accidents at intersections controlled by traffic signals or stop signs are most often caused by misjudging the gap between vehicles or the other vehicle’s speed. “False assumption of other’s action” cause most intersection accidents that happen while turning right at stop signs, the NHTSA report said.

The NHTSA study also reported that intersection-accidents involving drivers 24 years old and younger may be attributed to “internal distraction” (i.e., distracted driving), “false assumption of other’s action,” “too fast for conditions (speeding) or aggressive driving,” or “external distraction.”

The North Carolina Crash Facts of 2010 lists “contributing circumstances” for accidents statewide. Among the circumstances related to intersections are:

• Failed to yield right of way (33,124 crashes)
• Disregarded stop sign (3,253 crashes)
• Disregarded traffic signals (6,184 crashes)
• Disregarded yield sign (355 crashes)
• Right turn on red (255 crashes)

A driver, passenger, pedestrian or bicyclist in an intersection accident may suffer any of several types of injury, including soft tissue injury (including cuts and bruises, sprains, etc.), broken bones, head or traumatic brain injury (TBI), neck injury, and spine and back injuries. Intersection accident victims may also be killed instantly or die from their injuries later.

If you have been seriously injured in a car or truck accident at an intersection in Currituck County, elsewhere on the Outer Banks or anywhere in Northeastern North Carolina, you need the guidance of an experienced North Carolina car accident attorney.

If you were injured through the fault of another driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries. At Glover Law Firm, we will evaluate your intersection accident free of charge and advise you about pursuing a personal injury claim.

After an intersection accident that has caused serious injuries, you can expect legal complications from the insurance companies involved. At Glover Law Firm, our intersection accident lawyers know how to negotiate with insurance firms to the best advantage of our clients.

Our personal injury law firm has obtained some of the largest verdicts and settlements in Northeastern North Carolina. We also work on a contingency basis, which means we do not get paid until we obtain money for you.

Contact an experienced Northeastern North Carolina intersection accident lawyer today at (252) 299-5300 or through our online form.