Who Is at Fault in an Intersection Accident?

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Finding blame for an intersection accident starts by investigating the details of the crash. Fault may lie with one driver, multiple drivers, or a third party.

This means your best course of action is to contact our Los Angeles car accident attorneys today to discuss your case. You may be eligible for compensation, even if you were partly at fault.

Sometimes there are no easy answers

Some people think that assigning blame for auto accidents is a quick and easy task.

In reality, every accident is unique. Only a careful consideration of all the facts can lead to a fair outcome.

In this post, we’ll outline some of the key legal concepts that go into making these decisions. Use this information as your guide while you look for the right car accident lawyers to handle your case.

Intersection accidents involving a left turn

In most cases, a driver making a left-hand turn is considered at fault for the crash. However, there are sometimes exceptions to this rule, such as:

When the other driver runs a stop sign or traffic light.
When the other driver is speeding or engaged in other unsafe activities.
When the accident was caused by changing or unexpected conditions: For example, the driver making the left-hand turn may have begun the action when it was safe to do, only to be stopped mid-turn by a roadway obstruction.

Other factors which can affect the case’s outcome

In a perfect world, traffic lights would always function, stop signs would be properly placed, and highway engineers would never make mistakes.

The world. however, is far from perfect, and sometimes even the most cautious drivers can find themselves at the mercy of extraordinary circumstances. Consider these real-life examples:

Blame placed on faulty intersection design: In 2018, the family of a San Fernando teen killed in a crash brought an action against the City of Los Angeles and the State of California. The suit blamed poor intersection design and maintenance for the tragedy.
Faulty stop sign placement alleged to cause an accident: A 2019 lawsuit in Richmond, IN, blamed private and public agencies forplacing a stop sign in such a way as to create confusion and contribute to intersection accidents.
Automaker partly to blame for tragic crash: In 2015, a Minnesota jury declared that Toyota was partly to blame for an intersection collision that killed two people. The crash involved a 1996 Camry that showed evidence of faulty brakes and a defective accelerator.
Nation’s traffic signals get a “D minus:” A nationwide study of local traffic lights found that the existing network creates traffic snarls and may even cause accidents. The study’s authors gave the system an overall grade of D-.

As you can see, the fault for an intersection accident is sometimes more nuanced than it first appears.

What “pure comparative fault” means for you

California, like many other states, follows the pure comparative fault rule when it comes to auto accidents. Roughly speaking, this means that liability for a crash may lie with multiple parties.

This is yet another reason to consult a qualified car accident attorney before admitting blame or agreeing to a settlement. You may have more options than you think.

Why go with Ellis Injury Law?

The choice of a personal injury law firm is a serious decision. Here’s why Ellis Injury Law is worthy of your consideration:

Our 25 years of experience: Our firm has served the people of Southern California for more than two decades.We’re known and respected across the legal community.
Our history of getting results: Our skilled attorneys have recovered more than $350 million for their clients over the years. Imagine what they can do for you.
Our free consultations and contingency terms: It will cost you nothing to talk to us. We only collect our fees if you win your case, so there’s no need to worry about out-of-pocket costs.