Attorneys for Intersection Car Accidents

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC recognizes the dangers of intersection collisions and is committed to helping people injured in Chicago intersection car accidents get the compensation they deserve from responsible drivers. Our Chicago car accident attorneys know the tactics used by auto insurance companies when it comes to handling personal injury claims related to these collisions. We are committed to getting you the most favorable recovery via a negotiated settlement or jury verdict in court.

As with all our motor vehicle injury cases, we handle Chicago intersection accident cases on a contingency fee basis where we only receive a legal fee when we are successful in obtaining financial compensation on your behalf. We invite you to contact our office today and discuss your legal rights with an experienced car accident lawyer without any cost or obligation.

Intersection Accident Data Confirms Dangers

Using the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that 40% of all auto accidents occur at intersections. On a national basis, more than 2.3 million auto accidents occur at intersections, causing more than 7,000 fatalities and 700,000 serious injuries each year.

In Illinois, 27.2% of motor vehicle fatalities in 2018 happened at intersections, and many of these accidents could have been avoided according to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).

What Makes Chicago Motor Vehicle Crashes at Intersections Difficult?

Many auto accidents taking place at Chicago area intersections involve conflicting accounts of how a collision occurred. While one driver may claim that there was a red light, the other driver may say otherwise.

Even in situations when a police report squarely puts the responsibility on one driver, the at-fault driver's insurance company may evaluate the case differently and attempt to share fault with another party.

Having successfully prosecuted many contested liability automobile accident cases, our attorneys quickly move to secure the evidence necessary to preemptively address allegations of comparative fault. We will secure a witness statement, red light camera images, cell phone records, and police reports to establish liability.

After we establish liability, we then move to address damages related to your injuries. This typically means getting all medical records, medical bills and other medical expenses incurred in the past or expected in the future to the insurance company for the responsible party so the case can be evaluated quickly.

Illinois Law Applicable to Control of Intersections

With so many accidents happening at these road junctions, many resulting in injury or death, it is important to understand the rules of the road before attempting to determine fault. Most intersection auto accidents happen because one or more drivers made poor decisions before proceeding, resulting in auto damage and personal injury. This poor judgment or recklessness can lead to motor vehicle drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists being injured when drivers do not obey the law applicable to right-of-way and traffic control devices.

According to Illinois state law, right-of-way at intersections requires people to yield to the person to your right or to whoever approached the intersection first.

(625 ILCS 5/11-901) (from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-901)Sec. 11-901. Vehicles approaching or entering intersection.(a) When 2 vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different roadways at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left must yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.(b) The right-of-way rule declared in paragraph (a) of this Section is modified at through highways and otherwise as stated in this Chapter.(Source: P.A. 76-1739.)

Types of Intersection Car Accidents

Whenever two roads intersect, there is a chance that the vehicles using them will collide. Four-way stops, whether controlled by traffic signs or traffic lights, can be dangerous due to the volume of cars passing through them and the actions they might take.

 
• U-turns: According to Illinois state law, drivers cannot conduct a U-turn within 100 feet of an intersection unless official signs are posted stating that the driver can do so.
 
• Running a stoplight or stop sign: Drivers who do not obey red light signals or stop signs are often at fault for intersection accidents. When vehicles collide in a perpendicular manner, these crashes are frequently referred to as “T-bone” accidents.
 
• Uncontrolled intersections: The rules of right-of-way are never as important as when multiple vehicles arrive an uncontrolled intersection with no signs or lights to direct traffic. In 2009, the percentage of intersection fatalities that happened at uncontrolled intersections accounted for 41% of traffic-related deaths, nearly doubling since 2006.
 
• Turning at an intersection: According to the National Motor Vehicle Crash Causation Survey, gathering information on crashes that happened between 2005-2007, turning at an intersection was responsible for more than 23% of intersection crashes during that time frame.

Chicago Intersection Auto Accident Injury Lawyers Committed to Your Case

Unfortunately, due to a large amount of intersection car accidents in congested cities like Chicago, there is also a large amount of property and personal injury claims to provide compensation to injured victims. Every victim of an auto intersection accident, whether they are a driver, a passenger in a car, a pedestrian, or a bicyclist, deserves to receive compensation for their losses and injuries.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC is experienced in all aspects of Chicago auto injury claims and can negotiate the best settlement for your accident. As with most of our personal injury cases, we only charge a fee after we secure damages on your behalf when resolving your intersection auto accident case. Please contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.