Have you been involved in a car accident at an intersection in Shepherdsville, Mount Washington, Shelbyville, Taylorsville, Radcliff, Elizabethtown, Jeffersontown, or Louisville, Kentucky? Intersection injury accidents are increasing here in Kentucky and across the United States. According to recent statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), more than 35% of injury accidents involving a car, motorcycle, or truck accidents occur in an intersection. What is the reason for most intersection-related accidents? The simple answer is driver error and misjudging the intentions of other drivers.
The NHTSA report cited “Inadequate surveillance” as the biggest reason (highest percentage) of car accidents in our intersections. Inadequate surveillance involves a general lack of caution as one approaches an intersection. We all need to remember to be more cautious as we approach each intersection, especially if we intend to make a turn. NHTSA reports that 44% of intersection crashes are the result of a failure to exercise appropriate caution in a controlled intersection.
Have you ever expected a driver to do one thing, only to be surprised when they do something completely different? When there is a car accident at an intersection, 10% of the time, the reason is that the driver at fault made a false presumption about what the other driver intended to do. In reality, we do this as drivers all the time, and that’s the point. You don’t have to make a substantial change; you need an increase in awareness as you approach the intersections during your drive.
It may surprise you to learn that a car accident at an intersection due to illegal maneuvers such as racing to make a yellow light, speeding, or even running a red light only accounts for 7% of the accidents within the study. Distracted driving, such as eating, reading email, or texting causes more intersection accidents than reckless disregard for the law. Perhaps social media can wait until you are able to give it your undivided attention.
My name is John Schmidt, and as a personal injury attorney based in Shepherdsville with 25+ years of experience, I share these facts to increase your awareness and hopefully help to reduce accidents and injuries here in our community, and across Jefferson, Bullitt, Hardin, Spencer, Shelby, and Oldham counties.
If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in a motor vehicle accident due to someone else’s negligence we invite you to contact us via e-mail, schedule an appointment or call us today at (502) 509-1490 to get the important advice and counsel required to protect your personal injury claim and achieve full and fair compensation for having to endure and recover from your injuries.
