Every year, intersections account for nearly 25% of all traffic fatalities in the United States.
As intersection accidents are likely to lead to serious injuries, property loss, and even death.
Understanding Intersection Accidents in Oregon
Intersection accidents occur when vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists meet at places where roads cross (i.e., road junctions). Nearly 50% of all traffic-related injuries in the United States occur at intersections, implying that such accidents are extremely widespread across the country. Beyond health and safety concerns, intersection accidents might also have important legal implications, understanding which might significantly help immediately after the car accident and in the longer term.
Common Causes of Intersection Accidents
An intersection crash can occur for various reasons, including inattentiveness, traffic law violations, and poor visibility.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving refers to using gadgets or engaging in other distracting activities while driving. As attention is consequently taken away from road signs, traffic lights, and road movements, the risk of falling in an accident increases.
Speeding
With reduced reaction time at higher speeds, speeding drivers may be unable to stop in time for red lights or unexpected hazards. This not only increases the likelihood of accidents at busy intersections but also raises the risk of severe injuries due to the higher speed involved.
Failure to Yield the Right of Way
Entering intersections without checking for oncoming traffic and not yielding to other vehicles and pedestrians at the intersection might put the other people around you at risk and lead to potentially fatal injuries.
Red-Light and Stop Sign Violations
Similar to failing to yield the right of way, not respecting traffic rules (e.g., not stopping at red lights or stop signs) might immediately put you and others in the path of cross traffic and result in detrimental accidents for both sides.
Poor Visibility and Blind Spots
Weather conditions, vegetation, buildings, or other factors can impact visibility when driving, leading to fatal accidents.
Legal Implications of Intersection Accidents in Oregon
Understanding personal injury laws and the legal implications of intersection accidents is crucial for drivers involved in such accidents, as it can help them better understand their scope of rights and responsibilities, the eligibility for compensation, etc.
Determining Fault in Intersection Accidents
Determining who is at fault for an intersection crash is crucial for potential legal actions and insurance purposes. However, determining who is responsible for the collision can be challenging. It depends on numerous factors, such as insurance policies, the extent of relative responsibility of each party, the availability of evidence, and so forth.
Some key factors to consider are i. who had the right of way and ii. who caused the intersection collision (e.g., by not breaking at the stop sign). In some cases, the lines of responsibility might seem rather blurred. In such complex cases, you might need to consult a car accident attorney to determine who is at fault.
For example, it is easy to determine who is at fault when the intersection collision occurred due to party A’s use of gadgets while driving (i.e. distracted driving), but if both party A and party B didn’t stop at the red lights and both had their contribution to the accident, it’s harder to decide who bears greater responsibility. In this instance, videos, photographs, and eyewitness testimonies might be of significant use when determining liability. State entities such as local police and highway patrol might also assist in navigating the issue.
Also, Portland personal injury lawyers and the insurance companies of the involved parties can help evaluate the applicable policies (e.g., bodily injury liability coverage, personal injury protection, etc.), thereby determining the potential amount or type of compensation.
Oregon’s Comparative Fault Rule
Oregon follows a modified comparative negligence system, wherein if the at-fault party is responsible for less than 50% of the fault, they can potentially be entitled to recover damages from all other parties involved in the intersection collision. So, if party A is responsible for the accident by 30%, then the total damages awarded to party A will be reduced by 30%.
Comparative negligence is a useful mechanism since it considers the fact that, very often, more than one party is responsible for accidents, especially intersection accidents. As a percentage of fault is given to each party who was part of the accident, the decision-making process considers the relative contributions of all the actors involved instead of putting the entire blame on one party alone.
Contact our skilled personal injury lawyers to learn more about Oregon’s comparative fault rule system and your rights and duties under this rule.
What Kinds of Injuries Happen in Intersection Accidents?
Intersection accidents can often result in death or less severe scenarios, including:
- Whiplash
- Fractures
- Broken bones
- Concussions
- Head injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Amputations
- Soft tissue injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Mental health problems
Insurance Considerations for Intersection Accidents in Oregon
In Oregon, the law requires all drivers to carry minimum auto insurance coverage. The mandatory minimum limits are as follows:
- Bodily injury and property damage liability: $25,000 per person, $50,000 per crash for bodily injury, and $20,000 for property damage.
- Personal injury protection (PIP): $15,000 per person.
- Uninsured motorist coverage: $25,000 per person or $50,000 per crash.
These minimum requirements aim to provide drivers in Oregon with basic financial protection in case of accidents. While these minimum limits are required, you may purchase higher coverage amounts.
Most Dangerous Intersections in Portland
While all intersections can be dangerous in case of distracted driving or not respecting the traffic rules, some intersections have the most serious crashes. These include:
- Northeast Glisan St. & 122nd Ave.
- West Burnside St. & 3rd Ave.
- Northwest Broadway & Everett St.
- Southeast Woodward St. & 82nd Ave.
- Southeast Powell Blvd.
- Southeast 148th Ave.
- Southeast Division St.
- North Denver Ave.
Tips for Avoiding Intersection Accidents
No matter how dangerous an intersection might be, you can increase your safety on the road by following certain key principles. To avoid intersection accidents, make sure to:
- Respect motor vehicle laws
- Yield the right of way
- Avoid drunk or distracted driving
- Always make use of turn signals
- Keep sufficient distance
- Observe your surroundings when entering or leaving an intersection
- Follow the speed limit
- Ensure your car functions properly
While these may seem self-evident, most intersection accidents occur because people do not follow these simple rules. Staying alert on the road will ensure enhanced safety for you and the people around you!
Prioritizing safe and responsible driving practices will help you protect yourself, your loved ones, and strangers on the road. Prevention is better than cure, and following the Oregon intersection laws and minimum insurance requirements of your state will be of significant help when navigating intersection accidents both before they take place and in their aftermath.
