Posted in Car Accidents,Personal Injury on November 12, 2018
Intersection accidents aren’t only common; they’re also extremely dangerous. Intersection collisions often happen when one driver runs a red light or ignores a stop sign. At intersections with traffic signals, drivers may speed up before entering the intersection to “beat the light.” This can result in high-speed head-on collisions or T-bone accidents. Intersection crashes also often involve drunk drivers. If you’ve been in a serious intersection wreck in Alabama, you owe it to yourself to seek help from a Huntsville car accident lawyer. That will give you the best chance of securing compensation.
Alabama Intersection Accidents Statistics
Drivers speeding, driving under the influence, texting, and driving, driving recklessly, and not paying attention to the road all cause serious intersection accidents. Unfortunately, these bad driving behaviors are relatively common. Alabama reported a total of 86,644 intersection crashes in 2016, according to Drive Safe Alabama. Driver-contributing circumstances for these wrecks included speeding, driving drunk, failing to yield the right-of-way, driving on the wrong side of the road, driving fatigued, and “driver not in control.”
Based on Alabama crash data, 13,421 auto accidents and 87 fatalities happened at stop signs in 2016, while 35,700 injuries and 55 deaths occurred at intersections with traffic signals. Madison County alone reported 8,238 intersection crashes in 2016. The highest number of intersection wrecks occurred in Jefferson County in 2016, with 13,253 such collisions. Alabama’s most dangerous intersection is in Birmingham, at the cross section of University Boulevard and 28th Street South.
Who Is Liable for an Intersection Accident?
Intersection accidents only happen when one or more parties break the rules and illegally enter the intersection when it’s not their turn to do so. Driver error is the number one cause of intersection collisions. The most common reasons these crashes occur include texting and driving, driver distraction, drunk driving, speeding, ignoring right-of-way, drowsy driving, and driver inexperience or incompetence. All drivers have a duty to understand and obey the rules of the road, drive at a reasonable speed, and prevent collisions whenever possible.
If a driver fails to fulfill these duties, causing an intersection accident and injuries, that driver will be liable (legally responsible) for others’ damages. Alabama is a fault-based insurance state, meaning all involved parties will file claims with the at-fault party’s insurance company for benefits. Victims must identify the at-fault party in an intersection collision before they can file their insurance claims. This may take help from police officers and insurance company analysts. A law firm can also help victims determine fault and prove liability for an intersection crash.
It is possible that more than one party shares fault for your intersection accident. If the stoplight was malfunctioning or an overgrown shrub hid a stop sign, for example, the party in charge of roadway maintenance could be at fault for your crash. It is generally the city of Huntsville’s legal responsibility to adequately maintain roads and roadway features. Your personal injury claim may, therefore, be against the government instead of the other driver.
Should You Hire an Intersection Accident Attorney?
The angles at which most vehicles collide in intersection accidents make them serious and often fatal collisions. If you or a loved one suffered multiple bone fractures, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, severe burns, lacerations, internal organ damage, or other serious injuries in an Alabama intersection accident, talk to an attorney about your case. You could be eligible for significant compensation through an insurance settlement or personal injury judgment award.
Hiring a lawyer can make efforts such as investigating the crash and proving fault much easier on victims and their families. You can focus on healing from your injuries while your lawyer returns to the scene of the collision, gathers evidence, and builds a strong case on your behalf. No matter who or what caused your injuries, a lawyer can determine the defendant and take the best route toward full recovery.