Roughly 40 percent of all car accidents happen at or near an intersection. Those accidents account for half of all traffic accident fatalities and one-quarter of all crash-related injuries in the United States. It makes sense, since intersections are where snap decisions are made and vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians are most likely to converge.
If you’ve been involved in an intersection accident in Round Rock, Texas, it’s important to turn to an experienced and knowledgeable legal advocate at Dow Law Firm for help.
While you might be entitled to compensation, getting money for your intersection accident injuries can be an uphill battle. You’ll need to be able to prove why and how the intersection accident happened and who bears responsibility for the crash.
Our Round Rock accident attorneys bring decades of hands-on experience litigating complex traffic accident cases like yours and can help you build a strong and successful legal claim for damages. Contact our car accident lawyers today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your intersection accident, your rights, and your future.
What Types of Round Rock Car Accidents Happen at Intersections?
Several different types of collisions can occur at or near intersections in Round Rock. These are some of the most common:
Side Impact and T-Bone Collisions
Intersections introduce a change in traffic patterns. Typically, roads traveling in different directions converge, which means that motorists have to alternate moving through the intersection to avoid collisions. Side impact crashes, specifically T-Bone collisions, tend to happen when a driver does not yield the right of way at an intersection. When a driver ignores a red light or stop sign, there’s a good chance that they might drive right into the side of a vehicle that’s passing through the intersection legally.
Rear-End Collisions
Drivers in Round Rock have a duty to follow local traffic laws, which include stopping or yielding the right of way at an intersection of two or more roads. When drivers are drunk, distracted, or fatigued, they might not realize that they’re approaching a red light or a stop sign at an intersection. If there’s a vehicle in front of them that’s stopped, the careless driver will likely crash right into the rear of that vehicle, causing an accident.
Head-On Collisions
Intersections are where drivers tend to change directions and move from one road to another. When a driver makes an unsafe turn or turns illegally down a one-way road, they can collide head-on with oncoming traffic.
Pedestrian Accidents and Bicycle Accidents
Accidents involving pedestrians and bicyclists aren’t uncommon at Round Rock intersections. Most often, these types of accidents happen when one of the parties fails to yield the right of way and makes an illegal maneuver. This can happen if a pedestrian crosses against a red light or if a driver makes a right-hand turn without checking to see if there are any pedestrians or bicyclists in their path.
How is Liability Determined for Intersection Accidents in Texas?
Anyone whose negligence contributes to a car accident at a Round Rock intersection can be liable for the crash. Many times, the at-fault party is the one who entered the intersection without having the right of way or by failing to yield the right of way to another party.
Who has the right-of-way at an intersection in Texas? It depends on the intersection and the parties involved.
- Controlled intersection: When there’s a traffic signal, the party with the green light has the right of way to move through the intersection and/or turn.
- Four-way stop or two-way stop intersection: When an intersection is controlled by a stop sign, the party that arrives first has the right of way. Then, motorists must typically yield the right of way to the traffic to the right.
- Left-hand turn: Drivers may only make a left-hand turn when they have a green light or a flashing yellow arrow, and must yield the right of way to pedestrians in the crosswalk or oncoming traffic.
- Right-hand turn on red: When permitted, a driver can make a right-hand turn on red after coming to a complete stop, but must yield the right of way to pedestrians and through traffic.
When a driver moves through an intersection without yielding the right of way to another motorist, a pedestrian, or a bicyclist who does have the right of way, they’ll typically be considered negligent and may be liable for a resulting accident.
What Evidence Can Help Me Win My Round Rock Car Accident Lawsuit?
How can you prove that another driver failed to yield the right of way at an intersection in Round Rock, and that their behavior caused your car accident?
Several pieces of evidence can be helpful:
- Dash cam footage or other video recordings showing the driver’s illegal maneuver
- Eyewitness statements and testimony
- Accident reports and police reports
- Property damage
- Forensics reports
- Medical records
- Accident reconstruction reports
- Expert witness testimony
- Skid marks and other physical evidence at the scene
Don’t let valuable evidence get lost, hidden, or destroyed. Hiring an experienced personal injury attorney in Round Rock will put skilled and experienced advocates in your corner who will know what evidence to look for, how to procure it, and how to use it to help you win your personal injury case.
When Should I Call a Round Rock Car Accident Attorney for Help After an Intersection Crash?
As soon as you can. Texas imposes a two-year statute of limitations on most car accident cases. However, you’ll want to get a jump start on your legal case long before the two-year filing deadline approaches.
The sooner you call Dow Law Firm for help, the sooner our car accident lawyers can begin to investigate your intersection accident, gather critical evidence, and strategize your fight for compensation. Asking for our help right away can prevent the at-fault driver’s insurance company from controlling the claims process or manipulating you into accepting a lowball settlement offer that pales in comparison to the compensation you could potentially recover without award-winning litigators in your corner.
We’ve helped crash victims and families in Texas win millions in settlements and jury verdicts. Now, our top-rated legal advocates are prepared to fight for your rights after an intersection accident in Round Rock, too. Contact our Round Rock car accident lawyers at (512) 240-9951 to arrange your free consultation now.