In most car accidents, the driver who caused the accident can be held accountable for any injuries they cause. This means looking to traffic laws to determine which driver is at fault in the accident. At an intersection, the rules are pretty concrete, and the blame can often be placed clearly on one driver or another. If you were involved in a car accident at an intersection in Dallas or the surrounding areas, consider taking your injury case to the Dallas car accident lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm, P.C. Our Arlington, TX personal injury attorneys offer free consultations for new cases, to help you determine what you could be entitled to from a personal injury lawsuit.
Intersection Car Accidents
The Texas Transportation Code was written to keep other drivers safe. Though police may not always enforce rules for turn signals or complete stops, tickets are common for running red lights or stop signs. However, when there is a car accident, these rules are strictly interpreted by courts and injury attorneys to determine fault. This means that traffic laws for intersections become especially important.
Most drivers are likely familiar with the following laws, even if they do not know the specifics of the law. Even drivers who may not follow these laws exactly can still take advantage of these rules to prove another driver was at fault in a car accident. Some of the most important traffic laws for an intersection accident in Texas are the following:
- Make a full stop at red lights – Even if you are making a right on red, you must make a full stop before entering the intersection so as to not cause a red light car accident.
- Make a full stop at stop signs – You cannot make a “rolling stop,” and must fully stop your vehicle at the stop line, at the crosswalk, or at the intersection (not at the stop sign itself).
- Right turns must be made from the right edge of the road – Do not try to stay in the middle of the road, or make intentionally wide turns that take you into the left lane.
- Left turns must be made from the left-most lane – Do not make left turns from the right lane unless specifically authorized.
- Always use a turn signal – It is legally required and much safer to give other drivers notice of where you are going.
Most car accidents at intersections are caused by people running red lights or stop signs, or people making left turns at a bad time. If the other driver failed to stop at a stop sign when you were already in the intersection, the accident is clearly their fault. Even if you made a bit of a rolling stop, another driver who completely disregards a stop sign is likely more at-fault for the accident. Similarly, drivers who make left turns into oncoming traffic are clearly responsible for the accident. Even if the oncoming cars were speeding a bit, the driver who made the illegal left turn is likely at fault.
Compensation for an Intersection or Left Turn Accident
If you were severely injured in a car accident, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. Even relatively common car accident injuries, such as whiplash, can mean serious pain, ongoing discomfort, and medical treatment costs. More severe injuries like spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries can mean continual medical care for the rest of your life.
Fortunately, you may be able to recover compensation for your injuries and expenses through a car accident lawsuit. First, you may be entitled to have the at-fault driver pay for your medical expenses. This should be able to compensate you for any medical costs related to the accident, including emergency transportation, surgeries, imaging, doctor’s visits, and hospital stays.
Second, you may be entitled to compensation for lost wages. If your injuries were so severe that you had to miss work, you may be entitled to have those missed paychecks reimbursed. If your injury is severe enough that you need to leave your job, or will otherwise be limited or unable to work going forward, you could be entitled to recover future missed wages.
Third, you could seek direct compensation for your pain and suffering. Everyone experiences pain after an injury in different ways. If your pain is particularly severe, your damages may be especially high. Otherwise, the pain and suffering damages usually scale with the severity of the injury, meaning more serious injuries are awarded more pain and suffering compensation.
Dallas Car Accident Lawyers
The Dallas personal injury lawyers at The Queenan Firm, P.C. may be able to help you file a lawsuit if you were injured in a car accident. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling car accident cases in the Dallas area, and may be able to take your case, too. Contact our law offices today for a free consultation with our Plano injury attorneys. Our number is (817) 476-1797.