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You Know Intersections are Dangerous: But Do You Know Why?

Most people know that car accidents are common sites of car accidents but they do not necessarily know why. In fact, nearly half of all car accidents happen either at an intersection or near one – that is about 2 ½ million intersection accidents across the United States every year. Knowing that this is a problem is the first step toward solving it. Keep reading to find out why intersections are so dangerous and then contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 for a free legal consultation.

Drivers Do Not Enjoy Sitting at Red Lights

Part of the problem is that drivers are always in a hurry. They do not want to “waste time” sitting a red light. Instead of slowing down and / or stopping until it is safe to pass through an intersection, they may decide to simply sail right through a light. In fact, drivers often speed up as they get closer to a yellow traffic signal, instead of doing what they are legally obligated to do – stop. They will instead try to beat the light and can cause an accident.

There a Number of Points of Entry at Intersections

The Federal Highway Administration says that traffic accidents are more the likely the more driveways there are at any intersection. It is common for there to be many businesses on California roads. Many of those businesses have entry and exit points – otherwise known as driveways – and they can feed right into the intersection. The more traffic there is, the more likely it is that there will be some kind of collision, whether a car accident, pedestrian accident, or bike accident.

People Turn Illegally and Dangerously in Intersections

Many collisions in intersections are the result of drivers turning illegally and dangerously. It is up to you to obey state and local laws but doing so does not ensure that everyone else will. If a driver makes a turn that is illegal and / or unsafe, then they are increasing their chance of getting into an accident and decreasing the safety of everyone on the road. Before you turn, check on both sides of you, check nearby crosswalks, and make sure there are no drivers, bike riders, or pedestrians in your way.

Drivers Are Often Distracted at Intersections

There are plenty of studies showing that distracted drivers are simply incapable of driving safely. While many people associate distracted driving with drivers playing with technology, there are many reasons a person can be distracted – including eating, talking on the phone, or talking to children or passengers in the back seat. If a driver is distracted when they go through an intersection, they could be in a much higher danger of being in an accident.

If you have been involved in an accident and want to understand what your options are, contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 now for a free legal consultation.