Intersection accidents are particularly frequent and dangerous. They can be caused by a variety of factors bad weather, mechanical malfunctions, disobeying traffic laws, and unwary pedestrians. In the majority of cases, intersection accidents are caused by rear-end and right-angle (also called t-bone) collisions.
No matter the cause, such accidents can be dangerous because one or both cars involved are often moving at high speeds. In addition, many crashes at intersections are directly due to one driver trying to run a stop sign or stoplight.
Most Common Intersection Injuries
Due to the speed and force involved in intersection accidents, these incidents can lead to many serious injuries. The following are the most common injuries caused by intersection accidents, according to the New York Department of Health (NYDOH):
- Traumatic brain injuries or TBIs
- Spine and/or back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue injuries, such as cuts or tears
- And more
Additionally, intersection accidents can occur between an auto vehicle and one or more pedestrians or bicyclists. If a vehicle attempts to turn into a crosswalk too early, it may impact a pedestrian and cause serious injuries including those above.
Victims of intersection accidents often require extensive medical treatment to both recover from their physical injuries and to cover the cost of their ruined vehicles. Intersection accident victims may consider contacting legal experts to formulate the best case possible in court.
New York Intersection Accidents and Injury Statistics
According to the latest research by the National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the NYDOH:
- Approximately 2.2 million intersection-related traffic accidents occur every year. They occur most frequently in busy metropolitan areas including Manhattan and surrounding boroughs.
- Intersection accidents account for about 40% of all traffic accidents. Rear-end collisions is the only type of accident that occur more frequently in New York.
- Over 1,000 New York State residents are hospitalized due to intersection accidents each year.
- New York City has over 12,000 signalized intersections. Despite this, the Police Department of New York City reported that July 2021 alone saw 247 vehicles impacted in accidents because of improper turning, 633 vehicles impacted in accidents because of a failure to yield right-of-way, and 426 vehicles impacted because of unsafe speeds. Each of these factors is a common cause of intersection accidents as well
Main Causes of Intersection Accidents
The causes of intersection accidents and any resulting injuries can vary. For example, malfunctioning automobile parts, like brakes, can cause one vehicle to drift into an intersection and impact another car even if both drivers are paying attention.
Alternatively, a broken stoplight could cause two cars to move forward at the same time, leading to an impact with neither person responsible.
However, many intersection accidents in New York are caused by driver and/or pedestrian negligence. The most common act of negligence leading to an intersection accident is running a red light.
In the typical scenario, one driver will attempt to speed past a light that has just turned red in order to make an appointment or otherwise make up for lost time. But traffic perpendicular to the negligent driver begins to move as they pass into the intersection. This results in one or both drivers being unable to stop their vehicles in time to avoid a collision.
Intersection accidents can also occur due to negligence if:
- A driver is not paying attention to the status of the light or the presence of any stop signs in the area
- A driver attempts to predict a light turning green and goes too early
- A driver tries to turn on a red light and is impacted by traffic as a result
- A driver attempts to cross an intersection too early when a pedestrian is still using the crosswalk. They are unable to stop in time and hit the pedestrian, leading to serious injuries
In all of these cases and more, negligence can be proven in court with the assistance of an intersection accident attorney.
What Victims Should Do After an Intersection Accident
In the immediate aftermath of an intersection accident, anyone involved should check to make sure that everyone else requires immediate medical attention. If a victim is injured, they should get themselves to safety and call emergency services to ensure that medical assistance arrives as soon as possible.
Only after medical needs have been taken care of should victims consider legal courses of action.
With the right legal team, compensation may be possible by proving negligence on the part of another driver or party. New York is a no-fault state, but that does not mean that irresponsible drivers do not go unpunished for their behavior.
Compensation for Intersection Accident Victims
While insurance will be used to cover the cost of medical bills and physical damages if applicable, negligence can be proven in court by demonstrating that the at-fault party was clearly negligent through:
- Disregarding the stop lights or stop signs in the area
- Attempting to run a red light after it had already turned red
- Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Being exhausted or tired from driving for too long
- And any other act of negligence due to driver inattention, and disobeying traffic laws
Because the burden of proof is high, accident victims should contact intersection accident lawyers quickly to file their case before the statute of limitations expires and to gather adequate evidence before it is lost.
Contact New York Intersection Accident Lawyers Today
With decades of experience litigating auto accident and intersection accident cases for their clients, Sobo & Sobo is the right team to help any intersection accident victim receive the compensation they need to fully recover from an incident.
After fault has been proven, the court may award intersection accident victims damages to cover:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Loss of income as a result of injuries sustained
- Loss of ability or companionship
- Damages for physical or mental pain and suffering
- And more
Those involved in an intersection accident should not wait. Contact Sobo & Sobo online, or call 855-468-7626 for a free consultation.
