Attorneys Matthew Golitko and John P. Daly know that deadly auto accidents can happen in city streets or rural areas. You might expect the majority of crashes to occur on highways, but in fact, one of the most common places auto accidents occur are intersections. Vehicles turning or merging into perpendicular traffic can pose a number of dangers, and could lead to catastrophic injuries and even fatal crashes if people are not careful.

The Indianapolis, IN auto accident lawyers of Golitko & Daly would like to look at some facts about intersection car crashes. You may find these numbers and supporting information surprising.

Statistics on Intersection Crashes

According to a 2010 study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were an estimated 2,307,000 crashes in intersections in 2008. That number accounted for 40 percent of all crashes that year. While these numbers may be more than a decade old, they do speak to how common these crashes are.

These NHTSA numbers found that left turns accounted for 22 percent of all interception collisions in 2008.

Why Accidents Occur at Intersections

Our Indianapolis accident attorneys found that these are the most likely reasons that intersection collisions occur:

• Failure to Notice a Vehicle or Sign – When turning or driving through an intersection, failure to notice an oncoming vehicle, sign, or signal can lead to a crash.
• Failure to Signal – Turn signals are crucial whenever you’re turning left or right. If you do not let other motorists know of your intention to turn, this can make a collision more likely.
• Making an Illegal Turn – Sometimes left or right turns are prohibited because of one-way streets or to ensure a safe and normal flow of traffic. An illegal turn increases the risk of collision.
• Running a Red Light – When drivers run a red light, the chance of a crash in an intersection is high. The same can be said of drivers who speed to beat a yellow light.
• Driver Distraction – Texting while driving, using a cellphone behind the wheel, rubbernecking, and other behaviors that involve inattention make collisions more likely. Keep your attention on the road.

The Dangers of T-bone Crashes

While all sorts of collisions can occur in an intersection, T-bone crashes are among the deadliest and most notable. Also known as broadside collisions, these types of crashes involve the front of one vehicle striking the side of another vehicle. These perpendicular impacts can result in serious injuries to occupants in the vehicle struck on its side. Even side airbags may not be enough to protect people from the force of impact in such collisions.

Additional Hazards for Pedestrians and Bicyclists

Intersection crashes are dangerous for passenger vehicles, but they are even more dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists. Even if a pedestrian is crossing at a crosswalk and abiding by walk signals, they could be struck by a motorist turning left or right. The same is true of bicyclists, who could be harmed by vehicles making turns or just passing through an intersection.

It’s important to keep these hazards in mind the night time you’re out for a walk, a run, or a ride. Be careful, and do your best to be seen by drivers.

Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers

For more information about your legal options after a vehicle collision, we encourage you to contact our team of injury and accident lawyers. The offices of Golitko & Daly can be reached by phone at (765) 865-9300.