Being involved in a car accident can be a scary and overwhelming situation. Unfortunately, these events are more common than many people realize on Florida roadways.
A common location for car accidents are intersections.
Unfortunately, intersection car accident lawsuits are often complex, and determining who is at fault can be challenging. Because of this, it’s recommended that you hire a car accident lawyer to help with your situation.
At Fetterman & Associates, PA, we have represented clients in similar situations in the past and are ready to help you with your car accident claim. Learn more about intersection accidents, and how our accident attorney and legal team can help with your case.
Common Causes of Florida Intersection Accidents
There are a few reasons intersection accidents may occur. These include:
Ignoring a Red Light or Stop Sign
If drivers ignore a red light or stop sign, they may continue moving forward and strike a pedestrian or another vehicle. When a driver is headed in the other direction (with a green light), they may go too fast to respond or stop in time to avoid hitting the driver moving through the intersection illegally. The outcome of this is often a severe car accident.
Trying to “Beat” a Yellow Light
If a driver sees a yellow light ahead, they may try to speed up to “beat” it. However, the entire purpose of a yellow light is to warn drivers to slow down. If someone speeds through a yellow light, it will increase the possibility of an intersection accident.
Illegal or Prohibited Right-Hand Turns
Drivers should never turn right at intersections where this isn’t allowed. In these locations, a right-hand turn creates a serious risk of an accident. If right-hand turns are allowed at a red light at an intersection, drivers turning this way shouldn’t obstruct traffic. If a driver wants to turn right with no straightforward way to do so, they are putting multiple vehicles at risk.
Distracted Driving
If someone is driving while distracted, they may cause a car accident. If drivers are distracted while navigating an intersection, they may make errors that cause an accident.
Not Observing the Right of Way
Drivers need to follow the right-of-way rules when moving through an intersection. This is particularly important when moving through an intersection with no traffic signal.
What Are Intersection Right-of-Way Rules in Florida?
Drivers must follow traffic rules. This includes right-of-way rules. If you are moving through a busy intersection, there are rules about who is required to yield and who can go first. If a driver doesn’t follow the rules, fatal intersection car accidents can occur. At many Florida intersections, cameras can record what happened and what led to a car accident at an intersection involving the failure to yield.
Examples of right-of-way rules for drivers include:
- Controlled intersections: At these intersections, drivers have yield lights, traffic lights, and stop signs to help them move in a safe and orderly way. Motorists must yield to drivers who have the right of way.
- Intersections without traffic signals: The vehicle that arrives at the intersection first has the right of way. If four vehicles get to an intersection at the same time, the car on the right has the right of way.
- Intersections that involve multiple-lane roads: When driving on multi-lane roads, you have the right of way over a driver on a one-lane road.
The Importance of an Investigation to Determine Fault and Liability in an Intersection Accident
After being involved in a traffic accident involving significant property damage or injuries, several investigations will likely be conducted to determine what happened. The police who respond to the accident scene will collect evidence and talk to the drivers and witnesses to determine who was at fault. These conversations aim to determine which driver violated the laws and what laws they broke that led to the car accident.
The police will create an accident report that includes general information about the accident, which was issued a citation, insurance companies for involved drivers, and other important information. If you decide to file a lawsuit, this police report is an invaluable piece of evidence you need to give your auto accident attorney.
However, when you hire a car accident attorney to help with your situation, they will likely conduct their own investigation. This investigation is usually more in-depth, takes more time, requires more resources, and compiles even more evidence to prove the following:
- Fault (negligence)
- Liability (often this is found to be a shared liability)
- Value and types of damages experienced
Evidence Needed to Support Intersection Accident Claims
While every accident is unique and will have different evidence, some types are common in many collisions. When you work with a car wreck attorney on your claim, they can use their resources and experience to gather and identify evidence. Some of this evidence includes:
- The car accident police report
- Witness accounts of what occurred
- Photographs or videos of the accident
- Expert testimony
- Accident scene surveys
- Bills, receipts, and other types of documentation from the financial losses incurred
- Relevant medical records
- Accident reconstruction
It’s important to gather as much evidence as possible related to the car accident and give this to the injury attorney hired to help with the case.
Determining Fault in Florida Intersection Accidents
If you are involved in an accident at an intersection, you may wonder who is at fault. Hiring an accident injury lawyer from Fetterman & Associates, PA, is highly recommended in this situation. We can review your accident claim and help you recover the compensation you are entitled to. The first step in this process is to contact our office to schedule a free initial consultation.
With years of experience providing legal services for clients like you, we can help you get the best possible results for your accident claim.
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