Dangerous Intersections … Beware!

Spend any time behind the wheel, and you’ll eventually see more than one accident at an intersection. Some are simple fender-benders. Others are more tragic – causing serious injury or even death to either a driver or a pedestrian. With millions of drivers and passengers traveling around the city every day, intersection accidents in Houston are very common — which is why you need a dedicated Houston intersection accident lawyer on your side.

If you have suffered an injury caused by an intersection accident, you may be facing mounting medical bills and extreme stress. Let us help shoulder those burdens. Reach out to an experienced Houston intersection accident attorney at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law by calling (713) 973-8888 or toll-free 1 (800) 444-5000 now.

How Houston Intersection Accident Lawyers at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law Can Help

Recovering money after a car accident is not as simple as it is supposed to be. The insurance claim process is often complex and full of obstacles, as insurance companies repeatedly try to avoid paying high compensation values. When you’ve been injured in a car accident, you can’t afford for an insurance company to delay your compensation or pay you less than you deserve.

Houston intersection accident attorneys are dedicated to getting you the maximum possible compensation from the insurance companies in the shortest time possible. We accomplish that goal by refusing to let insurers control the process. This means:

• Conducting an independent investigation of the crash
• Determining fault based on evidence
• Independently calculating the value of your claim
• Negotiating for a fair settlement outside the normal claim process
• Following up with a lawsuit when the insurance company refuses to negotiate in good faith.

Our attorneys are prepared to go to trial when necessary to ensure the insurance company respects the rights of the claimant.

Why Choose Us?

No Opponent Is Too Big for Our Attorneys

Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law has been an advocate for victims’ rights for over three decades. Our legal team believes that the needs of the client are the only priority. You didn’t choose to be injured in an accident. You are the victim, and you deserve to be given as much respect as possible.

In addition to caring for our clients, we also win cases at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law. And our results speak for themselves — when you hire us, you can feel confident knowing that we have recovered more than $1 billion dollars for our clients dating back to 1985. Our attorneys have earned a reputation for our in-depth knowledge of Texas injury law and Houston roadways and our commitment to fighting injustice no matter how big the opponent.

If you’ve been hurt in an intersection accident in Houston, you need an intersection accident lawyer with decades of experience with Houston car crashes and Texas personal injury law. Call Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law now at (713) 973-8888.

What Makes Houston Intersections Dangerous?

What makes some intersections virtual accident magnets? And what, if anything, can be done about it?

We’d like to think our roads are planned, built, and maintained to the highest of standards. While that may be so in many instances, in all too many it just isn’t so.

Poor planning can and does contribute to dangerous intersections.

• Less than adequate signage: If road signs are improperly placed, hidden, or even non-existent, a driver can make a mistake without even knowing it. A good example of this is those signs informing drivers when they can make a right turn on red. Usually erected around areas where school kids are prone to cross if the signage is high up on the traffic light pole – it can be missed. The proper way would be to have two signs – one at street level and one on the traffic pole. Another fault of these signs is they are confusing. If they have multiple time slots, a driver can simply become confused as to when they can turn or not.
• Lighting problems: Especially after daylight, inadequate street lighting is a problem just itching to cause collisions. Twilight and dawn break can be especially dangerous times, as autos may not have their lights on – and the poor visual conditions can lead to dangerous intersections and accidents.
• Crosswalk construction: If a crosswalk is improperly planned, pedestrians are put at a much greater risk at these dangerous intersections.
• Non-90-Degree Intersections:  We are used to seeing intersections that converge like a cross. However, when the roads are shifted away from this 90 degrees construct, accidents increase. For example, a curved approach to an intersection can hurt a driver’s reaction time to a sign or light – preventing them from stopping in time and causing a collision.
• Traffic light issues: This actually happened in Long Island, New York. In order to save energy, new streetlamps were constructed with power-saving sodium bulbs. These lamps gave out a yellow light. The problem? When driving along the street, due to the angle of the lamps and the traffic lights, at certain points the yellow traffic signals and the yellow-hued road lamps visually converged. A driver would see yellow and think he had time to make the crossing – but in actuality, the light was just changing to red. What made this situation so dangerous was that the yellow hue of the streetlamps and the yellow hue of the traffic signals were nearly identical. Just as often, however, it’s a driver’s mistake causing accidents at these dangerous intersections.

When another driver is negligent, you shouldn’t have to pay the price.

• Red lights: One of the most prevalent mistakes is trying to beat that red light. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), out of 1.9 million intersection crashes, 219,000 were caused because of someone who ran the red light. In fact, the NHTSA reports that approximately 8,700 people are killed in intersection or intersection-related traffic collisions in any given year. In 1999, USA Today reported intersection accidents were responsible for nearly one-quarter of all deadly crashes.
• Distraction: How many times have you seen a driver yakking away on their cell phone while trying to make a turn at an intersection? Recent research indicates talking on the phone while driving is about as dangerous as someone who’s had a couple of shots of booze before getting behind the wheel. Even worse? Texting while driving. Doing this can practically ensure an accident sooner or later, especially at a dangerous intersection.
• Misjudging other drivers or pedestrians: You may have thought the other driver at that intersection was waiting for you to turn first. Unfortunately, they were thinking the opposite. Result – a collision. Or worse yet, you were expecting that pedestrian or bike rider to stop and let you pass. Someone lying on the street a few seconds later made it obvious you were wrong.

With an estimated 40% of motor vehicle crashes occurring at intersections (49% in city situations), dangerous intersections take more than their fair share of accidents and injuries.

What Can Be Done?

If an intersection is inherently dangerous due to the poor road construction factors mentioned above, then the government agencies in charge should do some fixing. Unfortunately, that takes money – and many local and city municipalities are just too strapped for cash to invest in improvements.

To be blunt, the best precaution against dangerous intersections is you. Always think ahead – and be proactive. Never assume the other driver, pedestrian, or bike rider will do as you expect. And please, no phone call or text message is that important it can’t wait until your car is stopped. It only takes one lapse of attention for an accident to happen. At best, just some busted metal and aggravation will make your day lousy. At worst, it’s a trip to the ER – or even the morgue.

Drive safe…

Did You Know…

According to State Farm Insurance, there are three main types of intersection accidents:

• Rear-end collisions (most common)
• Side-impact (“T-bone”) or angled collisions
• Front-end collisions (least common).

This means you should be extra cautious about signaling and watching for other drivers when approaching an intersection.

FAQs

If you have been involved in a car accident, you probably have questions about the claims process. The following are some of the most common questions we receive at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law.

What are the most dangerous intersections in Houston?

According to KHOU 11, the most dangerous intersection in Houston is Pease Street at Fannin Street. Other dangerous intersections are the Mecom Fountain Roundabout and Bissonnet Street at Westchester Avenue.

When should you hire a Houston intersection accident attorney?

If possible, you should call a lawyer as soon as possible after the accident (but after 911) – and ideally within a few hours. The earlier you retain an attorney, the more able the attorney will be to protect your rights and secure maximum compensation.

Should I accept a settlement offer from the car insurance company?

Unless your attorney helped negotiate a settlement, you should be suspicious of any money offer the insurance company makes. It is probably less than you deserve by a fair margin. They often try to “swoop and settle” – meaning to get you to take as little as possible as quickly as possible, before you have time to even think about the potential long-term effects of your crash (or have any understanding of the nature and severity of your injuries).

Which insurance company pays for my medical bills in Texas?

Typically, you will get compensation from your car insurance company. There may be exceptions, though, and your car accident lawyer will let you know what is happening with your case.

How much will a lawyer from Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law cost me?

We take every case on contingency. This means that we only charge you a fee if you win your case – and as a percentage of the gross recovery.

The legal process of filing a claim for injury compensation can be confusing. If you have any unanswered questions, you are welcome to reach out to us for more information.

What to Do After Getting Injured in A Houston Intersection Accident

The insurance claims process is a labyrinth of red tape, unreasonable deadlines, and confusing requirements. Attempting to go through it alone can cause you to receive less than the money you need to cover car repairs, hospital bills, and other expenses arising from your injuries. The best way to protect your rights is to consult with a Houston car accident attorney as soon as possible after a crash.

Don’t wait to act when your financial future is on the line – or it’s too late. Contact a Houston intersection accident lawyer from Terry Bryan Accident & Injury Law immediately. Our law firm will guide you through the claims process and help you find the resources you need to recover quickly from your injuries.

The initial consultation and case evaluation is always free at Terry Bryant Accident & Injury Law. Call us now at (713) 973-8888 for your free case review.