Intersection Accidents

Many severe and fatal car accidents happen on highways in the San Diego area, including the North County cities of Escondido, Carlsbad, Oceanside, Fallbrook, and Vista. However, our North County car accident attorneys recognize that serious and sometimes deadly collisions frequently occur at intersections in town when a driver runs a red light or fails to obey a stop sign. Intersection accidents can create dangers not only to other drivers, but to pedestrian’s as well. A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) shows that “crashes often occur at intersections because these are the locations where two or more roads cross each other and activities such as turning left, crossing over, and turning right have the potential for conflicts resulting in crashes.”

In other words, there are a number of factors that can result in an intersection-related collision. If you were injured in one of these incidents, a car accident lawyer can assist you.

Are intersection accidents a major cause of traffic injuries and fatalities in the San Diego area? According to the NHTSA report, intersection-related crashes account for about 36% of all recorded motor vehicle collisions. In approximately 96% of these accidents, driver error or driver negligence resulted in the car crash. What are some of the most common driver-attributed critical reasons for intersection collisions? The NHTSA reports the following:

• Inadequate surveillance of other vehicles on the road (about 44%);
• False assumption about another driver’s behavior (just over 8%);
• Turning with an obstructed view (about 8%);
• Illegal maneuver at an intersection (around 7%);
• Internal driver distraction (5.7%); and
• Misjudgment of spatial gap in an intersection or of another driver’s approaching speed at an intersection (5.5%).

Research shows that some of San Diego County’s most dangerous intersections are located in North County. In statewide rankings, these North County intersections proved the be the most dangerous to both drivers and pedestrians:

• Palomar Airport Road and El Camino Real in Carlsbad
• Pomerado Road and Scripps Poway Parkway in Poway
• Wildcat Canyon Road and Old Barona in Lakeside

Most often, when a driver’s inattention caused an accident at an intersection, the driver failed to obey a traffic signal or a stop sign. Accidents resulting from a false assumption about the other driver’s actions or the other driver’s oncoming speed often occurred while turning at stop signs or traffic signals. Keep in mind that intersection collisions can be common at “left turn yield on green” intersections where a driver is turning left and has a green light but must yield to oncoming traffic.

The NHTSA provides information about some of the specific types of driver errors that lead to intersection accidents. The general driver behaviors that result in these specific errors are ones that are common in many different types of motor vehicle collisions, including but not limited to the following:

• Distracted driving;
• Impaired driving;
• Aggressive driving; and
• Drowsy driving.

When motorists travel at excessive speeds, fail to obey traffic signals, talk or text on smartphones, or drive under the influence of alcohol, they can cause serious crashes. In some instances, those collisions occur at intersections.

How long do you have to file an intersection car accident claim in San Diego? Under California law, the statute of limitations for a car accident claim is two years. As such, you must file your lawsuit within two years from the date of the accident in order to remain eligible for compensation.

If you or a loved one recently sustained serious injuries in an intersection accident in North County, an experienced car accident lawyer can help with your case. Contact the Walton Law Firm for a free and confidential consultation to get started on your case.