Driving
Too Fast Is Major Factor In Auto Accidents
Intersectional
collisions make up approximately 40% of all motor vehicle accidents.
Typically, one vehicle’s front bumper will strike the other
on the side in one of three locations:
(1) the front quarter-panel;
(2) the front or rear doors; or
(3) the rear quarter panel.
The side of a car may be the least protected area. There
are no bumpers to absorb the impact forces and generally there
is very little occupant protection in the side area of the
car. Unless your vehicle is equipped with side airbags, the
front airbags are essentially useless since they are not designed
to activate when the vehicle is not struck in the front bumper
area. Because the impact occurs in a vulnerable area of the
vehicles, these accidents can inflict serious and fatal injuries
on the motorist involved.
The law in most states requires that the motorist who is confronted
with a stop sign come to a complete stop. Once stopped, the
motorist must appraise traffic and ensure that it is safe
to proceed. Only when is safe to proceed can the motorist
enter the intersection. Stopping is only half of what the
law requires.
To stop and then pull into oncoming traffic constitutes negligence
and an offending motorists will generally be held at fault
for any resulting accident. The driver on the favored street
will generally have the right of way and motorist entering
that roadway must not enter the roadway until it is safe to
do so. The driver that fails to obey the stop sign (by coming
to a complete stop and only proceeding when it is safe to
do so) will be held at fault.
The problem arises in intersectional collisions when traffic
signals are involved and it is not clear who had the green
light. Typically each driver will claim to have had the green
light. Without independent eyewitness testimony, it may be
very difficult to prove who was at fault. Experienced attorneys
are needed when serious injuries result from these difficult
to prove accidents. Many cities have traffic signal departments
(or similar departments) that may maintain records of traffic
sequences for all traffic lights. By carefully questioning
the drivers, an attorney experienced in these types of accidents
can help determine the sequence of the traffic lights when
the accident occurred. Sometimes this information is enough
to tip the scales in your favor.
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