Auto accidents can happen between any vehicle, at any time of the day, and anywhere on South Carolina roads. But commonly, such accidents occur in the form of intersection collisions. Injuries from such collisions can be quite severe and can change the course of your life forever. Read on to learn what causes intersection collisions to occur and how a seasoned Chesterfield County auto accident lawyer of the Cockrell Law Firm, P.C., can work on your behalf to recover your damages via a personal injury claim.
What are the most common causes of intersection collisions in the state of South Carolina?
Similar to any other type of auto accident, intersection collision accidents are prompted by the negligence of another driver. Examples of such negligence include, but are not limited to, the following:
- The driver did not practice proper surveillance when crossing the intersection.
- The driver had false assumptions about the other driver’s actions when crossing the intersection (i.e., assumed that the driver was breaking, turning, etc).
- The driver had a misjudgment when crossing the intersection (i.e., miscalculated the other driver’s speed, a gap, etc).
- The driver was distracted when crossing the intersection (i.e., texting, navigating a GPS, etc).
- The driver is driving recklessly when crossing the intersection (i.e., speeding, ignoring traffic signals, etc).
- The driver turned at an intersection with an obstructed view.
- The driver made an illegal maneuver at an intersection.
Notably, there are times when intersection collisions are not due to the fault of any driver involved but by external factors such as a faulty traffic control device. However, this is a rare instance.
What do I do if I am involved in an intersection collision?
With intersection collisions being in the form of a head-on or side-impact collision, they typically result in serious injuries due to the force of the vehicles involved alone. Such injuries may include brain injury, spinal cord injury, or serious fractures. If any of this applies to you, then you are entitled to recover the financial compensation that you require to heal via a personal injury claim. You must take the following approach immediately after your accident to ensure that you build a strong case against the negligent driver:
- Call 911 so that a police report can be conducted and an ambulance can be dispatched.
- Take photos and videos of your injuries, damages, and hazards that had a hand in your accident.
- Swap contact information with the other driver and any present witnesses.
- Attend medical treatment at the scene and follow-up appointments so that medical documents can be recorded.
- Retain the services of a competent Chesterfield County personal injury lawyer before South Carolina’s statute of limitations, which is generally three years from the date of your accident.
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