Who Is at Fault in a Car Accident in an Intersection in Houston?

Intersection accidents contribute to nearly a quarter of all car accident fatalities in the United States. They can leave the victims in a devastating state, causing physical, mental, and financial stress. Determining fault after such incidents is essential, as it can help the affected parties to bring a civil action and pursue the compensation they deserve.

Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys have extensive experience helping car accident victims in Houston, Texas. Those who have suffered injuries due to intersection crashes should immediately reach out to them to discuss their case and learn more about their legal options.

Intersection Accident Statistics

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) reported that more than half (50%) of the total fatal and injury accidents in the United States happen at or near intersections. Roughly 25% of all traffic fatalities are attributed to intersections.

Most intersection accidents involve left turns, which suggests that many drivers or road users fail to yield the right of way. Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys can advise in situations like a minor car accident my fault.

Common Causes of Intersection Accidents in Houston, Texas

There are several causes of intersection accidents in the United States, including Houston, Texas, some of which include the following:

Failure to Stop at Traffic Lights

One of the major causes of intersection accidents in the United States is failing to stop at a red light.

When a driver fails to stop at a red light, they are either heading into oncoming traffic or an active pedestrian crossing. This can result in severe consequences for not just the violating driver but also the other road users.

The drivers who have the right of way at an intersection do not have enough time to react to the other road users who fail to stop at a stop sign or a red light. This can lead to serious car accidents, which is tragic because these types of incidents are preventable if everyone would just follow the traffic laws.

Failure to Yield the Right of Way

Since most intersection accidents involve left turns, failure to yield the right of way is another major cause of an intersection accident.

Under the motor vehicle rules, drivers must yield the right of way to oncoming traffic when making a left turn. Many road users are unaware of this or are negligent, resulting in catastrophic car accidents.

Distracted Driving

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), distracted driving is the major cause of motor vehicle accidents, including those at intersections. A driver who fails to pay attention to the road increases the risk of collisions.

Drunk Driving

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drunk driving is a key risk factor for 27% of traffic-related injuries, making it a health problem for drivers and other innocent road users.

Driving intoxicated can affect the driver's concentration, coordination, and ability to judge the traffic situation. This can lead to severe car accidents, especially at intersections where there are too many vehicles.

Misjudging the Traffic Situation

When driving a motor vehicle, it is essential for the driver to be alert and judge the situation before making any decisions. However, they may falter in their judgment because of the chaotic traffic at an intersection, which can cause panic to set in for some drivers.

Whether it is running a yellow light in the hopes of crossing the intersection quickly or turning right after misjudging the other vehicles' speed, error judgments can lead to an intersection car accident, causing injuries and, in some cases, death.

Faulty Traffic Lights

Although this is not so common, faulty or missing traffic lights could lead to intersection accidents. Traffic signals play a critical role in maintaining the flow of motor vehicles at intersections, which is why it is essential to inspect them regularly.

Sometimes, the relevant government agency may fail to carry out its duty in maintaining the traffic signals in the state, or natural causes, such as lighting or high winds, may result in a blackout. In such situations, it is crucial for all drivers to slow down and proceed with caution.

Is It Easy to Determine Fault in an Intersection Car Accident?

In simple motor vehicle collisions, it may be easy to determine the party at fault after a quick investigation. However, that is not the case with intersection car accidents.

When there are many drivers entering and exiting an intersection, miscalculations, violating traffic laws, and faulty equipment can result in tragic accidents.

Determining who is at fault for an intersection car accident can be challenging, especially if it is a multi-vehicle pileup where all the drivers claim they had the green light.

However, an experienced car accident attorney has the knowledge and resources to investigate the intersection accident and determine the negligent party who made an error or failed to follow the traffic laws. They can advise when there's a car accident and no one admits fault.

Who Is at Fault in a Car Accident in an Intersection?

When determining who is at fault in an intersection car accident, it is essential to establish the four elements of a negligence case, and these include the following:

Duty: The defendant owes the plaintiff the duty of care.
Breach: The defendant breached their duty towards the plaintiff.
Causation: The plaintiff suffered injuries due to the defendant's breach.
Damages: The injuries resulted in losses to the plaintiff.

There are several parties that could be liable for intersection car accidents in Houston, Texas, some of which include the following:

The other drivers: In most cases, it is the drivers that fail to yield the right of way or violate traffic laws at fault in an intersection car accident. Every motorist, motorcyclist, and other road users owe each other a duty of care, which means they must follow all the traffic rules and laws to prevent accidents. Failure to do so can lead to liability, for which the injured parties may be able to pursue compensation.
The local mechanic: A mechanic has the duty of care to carry out the repairs and replacement jobs according to high-quality standards. When a driver brings their vehicle to a local mechanic, they must identify and fix issues to reduce the risk of accidents. A shoddy repair or replacement job can increase the risk of intersection car accidents, for which the injured victim may be able to bring a civil action and hold the mechanic responsible for the losses.
The vehicle manufacturer: A vehicle manufacturer has the duty to ensure that they follow all industry-set standards. Any oversight or lack of quality control can result in a defective vehicle, which can lead to intersection car accidents. If that happens, the injured victims may be able to pursue a personal injury case against the manufacturer to recover the damages incurred.
The government agency: The government agency responsible for maintaining traffic signals at an intersection must ensure that the equipment is in working condition. Failure to carry out routine inspections and maintenance can result in defective traffic lights, which could increase the risk of intersection car accidents in Houston, Texas. The injured party may be able to bring a civil action to obtain compensatory damages when that happens.

There are many different causes of intersection accidents in Houston. Determining the party responsible for the incident and proving the elements of negligence is crucial in recovering compensation, which is why the injured victims need to reach out to an experienced car accident lawyer in Texas.

How Can an Experienced Car Accident Attorney Help the Injured Victims After an Intersection Accident?

In most cases, the other drivers and their insurance companies are quick to shift the blame to innocent drivers. When car accidents happen, especially at intersections, the injured victims need to reach out to experienced car accident lawyers for legal representation.

There are many ways a skilled car accident attorney can help an injured victim in Houston, Texas, some of which include the following:

In cases where a left turn by a company vehicle causes an accident or a vehicle defect results in a crash, a reputable intersection collision attorney can allocate resources to investigate the accident and determine the liable parties.
After an intersection accident, it is crucial to preserve cell phone records, GPS data, dash cam footage, and other electronic evidence that could help determine the cause of the incident. A reputable car accident attorney has the resources to gather such information to build a strong trial-ready personal injury case.
A skilled intersection accident attorney can reach out to witnesses to record a statement. This is an essential piece of evidence that can bolster the victim's personal injury case.
There are certain state and federal laws that may apply to a car accident case. A knowledgeable lawyer can help the victims navigate the legal landscape and increase their chances of recovering compensation.
A resourceful attorney will have access to experienced doctors, accident reconstruction experts, and other professionals. They can request their assistance in building a strong personal injury case and providing expert witness testimonies.
Whether the other driver ran a stop sign or the red traffic light, an experienced attorney can hold them liable for the intersection accident and negotiate with their insurance company to get the victim the compensation they deserve.

Injured Victims in Houston Should Schedule a Free Consultation with a Reputable Law Firm

Those who have suffered injuries in an intersection accident in Houston, Texas, due to another's negligence should call to schedule a free consultation with Schuerger Shunnarah Trial Attorneys, as they may be eligible for compensation.