Car accidents that occur at intersections tend to be dangerous and deadly. A majority of intersection accidents are caused by a driver who runs a red light in violation of California Vehicle Code Section 21453(a) or by a driver who fails to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic while turning left in violation of California Vehicle Code Section 21801(a).
The problem is that it can be difficult to prove who’s at fault in either of these situations, especially when there aren’t any witnesses. Usually, both drivers claim the other is at fault, and this makes it difficult for victims to receive the compensation they deserve for their injuries. That’s why it’s important to have the help of an Orange County intersection accident attorney to make sure that you do.
If you have recently been involved in an intersection car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact an Orange County car accident attorney at the Crockett Law Group to learn about how we can help you maximize your settlement. Call (800) 900-9393 for a free consultation.
What Compensation Can You Get After an Intersection Car Accident?
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, if you drive into an intersection at any point after the light signal has turned red, you’ve committed a violation. In comparison, if you’re already in the middle of an intersection when the light inadvertently changes to red, like waiting to turn left, you have not committed a violation.
Not all intersection accidents are due to a driver running a red light, though. An intersection accident might also be due to a driver failing to yield to oncoming traffic before turning left, or due to a driver failing to stop at a posted stop sign in violation of California Vehicle Code Section 22350(a).
Whatever the case may be, you have two forms of compensation available to you if you’ve been injured in an intersection accident:
Economic Damages
The most basic type of compensation is reimbursement for your economic losses, such as medical expenses, lost earnings, and out-of-pocket expenses (e.g., home health care and transportation costs associated with doctor’s appointments).
Noneconomic Damages
Another type of compensation for a victim of an intersection accident is for your non-economic damages. This includes the pain, suffering, and mental anguish you’ve endured from your injuries. Pain and suffering awards can be substantial, especially if you sustained a catastrophic injury like a brain injury or spinal cord injury.
Your pain and suffering will be based, in part, on how sympathetic your story would be to a jury. That doesn’t mean your case has to go to trial, though. An experienced Orange County intersection accident attorney will know how to obtain a large settlement for you without having to go to trial, but will also advise you to do so when it’s in your best interests.
How Do You Prove Who’s At Fault for a Car Accident at an Intersection?
It’s typical for both drivers to tell the police that the other driver blew a red light. Because the police officer didn’t actually witness the accident himself, he’ll simply write down what he’s been told by both parties. I’ve seen how infuriating it can be for clients who read a traffic collision report that says the cause of the accident was inconclusive even though you know with certainty the other driver ran a red light. You saw him with your own two eyes!
These are some ways you can try to prove the other driver was at fault:
Look for Cameras
Call all the businesses in the area of the intersection to see whether they captured the accident on their surveillance cameras. A lot of times they’ll say no, but I’ve also had liability decisions overturned as a result of taking this extra step.
Look for Witnesses
Most intersection accidents are witnessed by somebody, it’s just a matter of having the forethought to look for them and obtain their contact information so their statement can be taken at some point.
Take Photos of the Accident
Take photos of your car, take photos of the other driver’s car, take photos of the road, take photos of skid marks, take photos of the accident scene, take close up photos, take wide shot photos, etc. You get the idea—the more photos the better. Then get another set of eyes on the photos and hopefully you can piece a narrative together that makes sense.
Consult With an Attorney
Granted, they can be pretty expensive. But a lot of times if you simply tell the expert some facts of what happened and send them photos, they can at least tell you their initial opinion and whether it would even be worth it for you to hire their services.
Investigate the Other Driver
People post admissions and incriminating information on social media all the time. Maybe the other driver posted on Facebook how they caused an accident the other day and how shook up they are about it. Or maybe the other driver posted a picture of themselves smoking marijuana just an hour before the accident happened. It doesn’t hurt to poke around a bit.
What Are Common Injuries From Intersection Accidents?
There is a wide range of injuries that victims sustain from intersection accidents due to the velocity and angle at which people are hit. Some of the most common types of injuries we see from intersection accidents in Orange County, California, are these:
- Back injury
- Neck injury
- Herniated disc injury
- Brain injury
- Knee injury
- Foot and ankle injury
- Lacerations and bruises
- Shoulder injury
- Wrist and hand injury
Most Dangerous Intersections In Orange County
According to the Transportation Injury Mapping System by SafeTREC and UC Berkeley, these were the most dangerous intersections in Orange County between 2006 and 2017:
- The most dangerous intersection in Santa Ana, California was at 1st St. and Elk Lane in Santa Ana
- The most dangerous intersection in Orange, California was at Anaheim Way and State College Blvd.
- The most dangerous intersection in Anaheim, California was at Brookhurst St. and La Palma Ave.
- The most dangerous intersection in Irvine, California was at Jamboree Road and Walnut Ave.
- The most dangerous intersection in Fullerton, California was at Chapman Ave. and Harbor Blvd.
- The most dangerous intersection in Newport Beach, California was at Balboa Blvd. and Coast Highway and Superior Ave.
- The most dangerous intersection in Huntington Beach, California was at Edinger Ave. and Beach Blvd.
- The most dangerous intersection in Mission Viejo, California was at Alicia Pkwy. and Jeronimo Road
Crockett Law Group – Intersection Car Accident Lawyers in Orange County
Intersection accidents make up a disproportionate share of the traffic safety issue in Orange County. According to the Federal Highway Administration, approximately 40 percent of all reported crashes and 21.5 percent of all traffic fatalities occur at an intersection. That’s why it’s important to hire an attorney with a great deal of experience in this area.
As intersection car accident injury lawyers, we regularly represent the interests of victims who have been treated unfairly by an insurance company. Crockett Law Group is committed to handling your injury claim from start to finish and will fight to make sure that you receive the money you deserve. If you’ve been injured as a result of an intersection car accident, contact the Crockett Law Group to speak with an Orange County personal injury attorney at (800) 900-9393.
