Intersection Dangers To Be Aware Of
It is one of the worst intersections according to nearby residents, who mourned the deaths of four elderly individuals in a horrendous collision in May 2025. A driver who was speeding slammed into the quartet’s vehicle as it was making a left turn, sending the vehicle into a pole. The speeder’s car exploded into flames, leaving the driver and one passenger with serious injuries. This was one of many tragic crashes that occur across the country in intersections every single day.
Frequent Causes of Intersection Collisions
Roughly 2.5 million collisions occur in intersections every year resulting in 25 percent of traffic fatalities and half of injuries throughout the United States. A number of factors contribute to these statistics:
- Exceeding posted speed limits: Drivers who speed contribute to many crashes annually, and the severity of collisions increases with higher speeds.
- Distracted drivers: Distractions such as cell phones, socializing, eating, or looking for an address, for example, are one of the chief reasons drivers find themselves involved in intersection collisions.
- Drunk driving: Alcohol use can lead to impaired judgment, slower reactions, reduced focus, and deficient coordination, making it a major contributor to intersection crashes.
- Fatigue: Drowsy driving affects a driver in much the same ways that drunk driving does, leading to poor judgment, when approaching intersections.
- Reckless driving: Drivers who participate in tailgating, weaving between lanes, speeding, racing, and zipping through yellow lights make intersections unsafe for everyone.
- Failing to Yield: When drivers fail to wait their turn in an intersection, there is nearly always a collision. It’s often a matter of a turning vehicle failing to wait for a wide enough gap in oncoming traffic.
- Running Reds: Drivers who fail to acknowledge traffic signs and signals could lead to a high-impact collision. T-bone crashes and multi-vehicle collisions are common in intersections for this reason.
Pedestrian Safety
In addition to the dangers posed to motor vehicles, intersections are precarious places for bicyclists and pedestrians. Pedestrians and bicyclists are at risk for all the same reasons that motorists are in danger, along with a few more:
- Bicyclists and pedestrians are more difficult to spot, particularly at night;
- Bicyclists may not be wearing helmets and protective gear;
- Bicyclists may be riding in a lane where drivers don’t expect them;
- Many intersections lack adequate lighting;
- Numerous intersections do not have crosswalks;
- Pedestrians may be distracted, themselves, with phones, friends, headphones, and more;
- Children often do not exercise common sense around crosswalks;
- Some intersections have no sidewalks.
When Tragedy Hits
If you or a loved one has suffered serious injuries or death in an intersection collision due to the negligence or recklessness of another driver, you may wish to seek compensation to address your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more. The dedicated Kissimmee and Orlando personal injury attorneys at Salazar & Kelly Law Group can help. To discuss your situation, schedule a confidential consultation in our office today.
Source:
wptv.com/news/palm-beach-county/region-s-palm-beach-county/palm-beach-county-crash-at-one-of-the-worst-intersections-claims-4-beautiful-lives
