A car accident lawyer can fight for your rights and compensation
Florida is home to some of the busiest and most dangerous intersections. The high volume of traffic in many areas, combined with poorly designed roadways and frequent pedestrian crossings, makes intersection crashes a common occurrence. Intersections in Palm Beach County are no exception.
If you’ve been involved in an intersection crash in Palm Beach, don’t wait to seek legal representation immediately. A skilled car accident attorney can help you understand your rights and fight for fair compensation. Schedule a free consultation today to find out how they can help you.
What makes crashes at intersections in Palm Beach so severe?
Intersection accidents in Palm Beach are often severe due to several factors, such as:
- Speed: Many crashes occur at high speeds, which can lead to more severe damage and injuries. Drivers who speed (especially to beat red lights) often don’t have enough time and distance to avoid a crash.
- Time of day: Rush hour is one of the most dangerous times for accidents. The combination of traffic congestion and drivers in a hurry increases the risk of collisions.
- Vehicle types involved: Drivers of smaller vehicles often have to share intersections with large trucks and utility vehicles. Larger vehicles cause more damage due to their size and weight.
What types of collisions happen at intersections in Palm Beach?
Intersections in Palm Beach are hotspots for a variety of car accidents, including:
- T-bone collisions: These accidents occur when one vehicle strikes another at a right angle, typically when a driver fails to yield at a red light or stop sign.
- Rear-end crashes: These often happen when a driver fails to stop in time, especially during traffic jams or sudden stops at intersections.
- Head-on collisions: While head-on collisions are less common, they can occur when drivers fail to follow traffic signs or signals, especially in poorly lit areas.
- Left-turn accidents: These car accidents are common when a driver makes a left turn at an intersection without yielding to oncoming traffic.
- Pedestrian or bicyclist collisions: At busy intersections, pedestrians and bicyclists are at risk of being hit by vehicles, especially when crosswalks are poorly marked or when drivers fail to yield.
Which intersections in Palm Beach County are the most dangerous?
Several intersections in Palm Beach County require extra caution due to poor visibility, heavy traffic, and confusing layouts. These high-risk areas are known for frequent collisions:
- Military Trail and Forest Hill Boulevard, Palm Springs: This intersection consistently ranks among the most dangerous in the area due to its heavy traffic volume and challenging turn lanes.
- Military Trail and PGA Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens: This area sees frequent collisions, especially during rush hours when visibility is reduced.
- Military Trail and Okeechobee Boulevard, West Palm Beach: This intersection often becomes gridlocked. Rear-end collisions and T-bone accidents often happen here as drivers fail to notice stopping vehicles.
- Atlantic Avenue and Congress Avenue, Delray Beach: With constant traffic and a high number of pedestrians, this intersection is a hotspot for collisions. Many crashes here involve left turns.
- Atlantic Avenue and Interstate 95, Delray Beach: High-speed traffic merging from the freeway creates an environment where collisions are frequent at this intersection.
- Military Trail and Atlantic Avenue, Delray Beach: The mix of through traffic and turning lanes at this intersection increases the risk of rear-end crashes and side-impact collisions.
- Military Trail and Northlake Boulevard, Palm Beach Gardens: This is another busy intersection that is prone to collisions due to poor visibility and complicated lane changes.
- State Road 7 and Forest Hill Boulevard, Wellington: This area is known for heavy traffic and is often the site of dangerous crashes involving left-hand turns.
- Congress Avenue and 45th Street, West Palm Beach: Frequent traffic backups and poor signage make this intersection a major risk for accidents.
- Military Trail and Linton Boulevard, Delray Beach: With a high number of vehicles and pedestrians, this intersection has seen its share of crashes. They often occur due to drivers running red lights or turning without caution.
What injuries are common in intersection accidents?
Intersection accidents can result in a wide range of injuries, depending on the type of collision and the severity of the crash. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Whiplash: A sudden impact from a rear-end collision can cause the neck to snap back and lead to pain, stiffness, and loss of mobility.
- Broken bones: Fractures can occur when drivers or passengers are thrown forward during a collision.
- Spinal cord injuries: In severe accidents, the force of the crash can lead to spinal injuries, which may result in long-term disability.
- Head trauma: Traumatic brain injuries are common in head-on collisions, especially if a vehicle occupant’s head hits the steering wheel, window, or dashboard.
- Internal injuries: The impact of a crash can lead to internal bleeding or damage to vital organs.
How is fault determined in intersection accidents?
In Florida, determining fault in intersection accidents can be a complex process. Key factors that influence the determination of fault include:
- Traffic signals and signage violations: Failure to stop at a red light or stop sign often leads to liability for the driver who caused the collision.
- Witness statements and video evidence: Eyewitness accounts or surveillance footage from nearby cameras can provide important details about the intersection crash and the actions of the driver(s) involved.
- Police reports and crash reconstructions: Law enforcement officers often file reports that detail the cause of intersection collisions. Additionally, crash reconstruction experts can provide insights into how the crash occurred.
- Digital evidence: In some cases, digital records such as cellphone logs can show whether a driver was distracted or using their phone at the time of the crash.
In these cases, four key criteria are used to determine fault:
- Duty of care: The responsible party had an obligation to ensure safety for others on the road or premises.
- Breach of duty: The responsible party failed to meet their obligation, such as ignoring traffic signs or safety protocols.
- Causation: The breach of duty directly led to your intersection accident, meaning your injury wouldn’t have happened without the negligence.
- Damages: You accrued damages as a result of the crash, including medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
What challenges arise when pursuing an intersection accident claim?
Insurance companies often make it difficult to receive fair compensation after an intersection accident by disputing fault or downplaying the severity of your injuries. Adjusters may ask leading questions designed to weaken your claim and pressure you into admitting partial fault. Their goal is to limit their financial liability and leave you with fewer resources to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
In addition, insurance companies may offer quick settlements that initially seem like a good deal but fall short of covering your full recovery costs. These lowball offers are designed to settle quickly before the true impact of your injuries and losses is clear. If you accept a lowball settlement, you’ll likely be barred from seeking further compensation.
Plus, evidence can disappear, and witnesses can lose memory of what happened. This can make it more difficult to establish fault. While you have up to two years from the date of your intersection crash to file a claim, the sooner you act, the better of an outcome you’ll likely have. Having a skilled personal injury lawyer can help counter insurance tactics and gather the evidence you need to build a strong claim.
How can a Palm Beach County car accident lawyer help me?
A Palm Beach County car accident lawyer can help you level the playing field with the insurance companies after an intersection car accident. They can act as your legal advocate and ensure your rights are protected every step of the way.
They’ll negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to ensure that all medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages are accounted for. If the insurance companies refuse a fair settlement, your lawyer will be ready to take your case to trial and fight for a maximum verdict.
When you hire a Palm Beach County car accident lawyer, you can take advantage of a contingency fee agreement. This means you won’t pay anything upfront, and your lawyer only gets paid if they win your case. During your free consultation, your attorney will evaluate your claim, answer any questions you have, and explain the next steps in the process.
When you’re ready to take the next step, contact a Palm Beach County car accident lawyer to schedule your free, no-obligation case consultation. An attorney will get back to you shortly with the next steps.
