Where Do Broadside Collisions Most Commonly Take Place?

Where Do Broadside Collisions Most Commonly Take Place?

Does your heartbeat a little faster whenever you drive through an intersection? That’s a natural reaction after being in a broadside collision (also known as a T-bone collision) with another driver. T-bone accidents often leave victims with serious injuries and property damage. By understanding where they take place, you can minimize your risk of being involved in one.

Most Broadside Collisions Occur at Intersections

It makes sense that intersections are where most broadside collisions happen. After all, intersections are where vehicles moving in different directions cross paths at a single point. Intersections are the most dangerous places on the road throughout the country. They are so dangerous, in fact, that many local governments are replacing traditional intersections with roundabouts. The goal is to keep traffic flowing while also reducing the number of accidents. Furthermore, roundabouts prevent vehicles from crossing each other’s paths perpendicularly, reducing the risk of broadside accidents. If you suffered injuries in a broadside accident, you should discuss your rights with a car accident lawyer as soon as possible. You might have the right to file insurance claims and seek compensation for your losses, including your medical bills, lost income, and pain and suffering.

Why so Many Broadside Collisions Take Place in Intersections

What follows are a few critical factors that make intersections the site of so many accidents.

#1. Planned Points of Conflict

The Federal Highway Safety Administration (FHSA) refers to intersections as planned points of conflict in any roadway system where vehicle drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians interact. When everyone obeys the laws of the road, things go smoothly, and collisions do not occur. All it takes, however, is one misjudgment or malfunction to cause a major accident. According to the FHSA, 25 percent of all traffic fatalities and nearly 50 percent of all traffic injuries occur at intersections. What’s more, roughly half of all traffic accidents occurring at intersections are broadside collisions. Intersections need to be a focus of safety improvement, not just from local planning officials but drivers.

#2. Broadside Accidents Due to Traffic Lights and Signals

Many serious accidents take place at intersections that lack traffic lights and signals. Because of this, most cities around the country have installed more traffic lights and signals to improve safety for motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians. Even with traffic control measures in place, accidents still harm people. Municipalities should always be looking at new ways to improve the safety of the intersections in their area. Local officials can consider dozens of factors when deciding how best to manage traffic at intersections, including:

• The number of lanes at an intersection
• The effect of traffic control measures on the flow of traffic
• The average number of pedestrians that walk across an intersection each day
• The best placement of traffic control measures to ensure they are visible to motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians
• The cost of traffic control measures, including installation and maintenance

Even with the best of intentions, engineers sometimes get it wrong. In some cases, the existing traffic measures don’t keep up with the ever-changing needs of a community as it develops. As a result, the likelihood of broadside collisions and other traffic accidents increases. One common engineering oversight is setting the time interval for yellow lights too short, making it more likely a driver will inadvertently run a red light. Similarly, many drivers will inadvertently run a red light if the traffic signals are not easily visible. Broadside collisions are often the result of drivers running red lights or trying to “beat” them.

#3. Negligent Drivers Making Left-Hand Turns

Left-hand turns are another occurrence leading to broadside collisions at intersections. Whenever a driver turns left in front of other traffic, the likelihood of a broadside collision rises. The National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA) refers to crashes caused by left-hand turns as “crossing path” accidents. Their data states that left-hand turns account for 53 percent of all crossing path accidents, also known as broadside collisions.

#4. Human Error and Poor Decisions

No matter how carefully engineers design intersections for public safety, there is no way to anticipate or control human error and poor judgment. There is lots of information at an intersection for a driver to process at any given moment. For example, drivers must notice the lights and signs while reacting to what others in the intersection are doing. At any second, a driver may need to make several decisions, and just one wrong decision can result in a serious accident. With such little room for error, it’s easy to see why the rate of accidents at intersections is so high. Other examples of mistakes and poor decision-making that lead to accidents include:

• Speeding - When a driver is speeding through an intersection, other drivers who are turning might misjudge their speed and think they have plenty of time to turn. Further, higher speeds make it more difficult to stop in time to avoid a broadside collision.
• Distracted driving - Distraction is a common cause of all types of car accidents, including broadsides. Drivers who are not paying attention might miss a light turning red or might not see another vehicle in the intersection.
• Aggressive driving - Some impatient drivers engage in aggressive behaviors, including running red lights, that often lead to devastating broadside crashes.
• Drinking and driving - Impaired drivers might fail to stop at a red light or they might turn when they are supposed to yield to oncoming traffic.
• Driving while drowsy - Fatigue can cause a driver to lose focus on the road and their surroundings, which can be particularly dangerous at intersections. A drowsy driver might even fall asleep and barrel through an intersection, crashing into other vehicles.
• Not accounting for poor weather or road conditions - If a driver moves too fast for slippery roads, they might slide through an intersection and crash into another car.

As an accident victim, it can be difficult to know the type of conduct and human error that caused the driver to hit the side of your car. However, a car accident attorney can gather evidence to prove negligence and liability for your losses whenever possible.

Other Considerations of Broadside Collisions

You know that a broadside collision takes place when one vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle. Here is some additional information to further your knowledge of broadside collisions:

• T-bone collisions don’t always take place at a right-angle, as the name might suggest. A side impact can occur at any angle.
• Broadside collisions also occur in parking lots and on neighborhood streets, such as when a driver backs a car out of a parking spot or driveway and collides with the side of another car at its rear.
• Occupants of smaller vehicles often suffer severe injuries and fatalities at a higher rate than occupants of larger vehicles.
• When a larger vehicle collides with a smaller vehicle, the impact usually occurs at the side glass, upper door, and roof.

What Should You Do After a Broadside Collision?

If the collision has left you injured in any way, visit your doctor immediately and pursue any necessary treatment. Be sure to attend all follow-up appointments and follow your doctor’s advice. As soon as your condition is stable, consult with a reputable car accident attorney and have them review your case. Keep in mind that the overwhelming majority of reputable car accident attorneys offer free consultations. An experienced car accident lawyer will understand you may need financial assistance to deal with your accident and can connect you with the resources you need or help you secure medical treatment on a lien basis. Finally, by retaining a lawyer, you can focus on your physical and emotional recovery while your attorney pursues the maximum compensation for your losses.