Over half a million car crashes occur in Texas every year. The high activity levels make intersections potential hot spots for accidents. Unfortunately, the sheer chaos and the multitude of people and cars using intersections in the Brazos Valley all at once can lead to serious injuries, significant property damage, or even fatalities. This underscores the critical importance of understanding and following right-of-way laws.
Texas has right-of-way laws outlined in the transportation code. Despite these guidelines, many drivers remain unaware of or choose to disregard the rules, leading to preventable accidents. When these accidents happen, it can be complex to prove liability, as it may be shared among several parties.
At The Payne Law Group, we understand the intricacies of intersection accidents and the importance of protecting your rights. In this blog post, we’ll break down the details of right-of-way laws in Texas, explore common causes of intersection accidents, discuss legal implications, and provide guidance on the steps to take if you’ve been involved in such an incident.
Right-of-Way Laws in Texas
Texas has established a comprehensive set of right-of-way laws to govern traffic flow at intersections and ensure the safety of all road users. Here is a broad overview of these laws.
General Rules
The primary right-of-way rules in Texas include:
- Yielding to traffic signals: Drivers must obey traffic signals such as red, green, and stop signs.
- Yielding to emergency vehicles: When an emergency vehicle (police car, ambulance, fire truck) is approaching with its lights and sirens activated, all other vehicles must yield the right-of-way by pulling over to the nearest edge of the roadway and coming to a complete stop.
- Yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks: Drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians crossing the roadway within marked crosswalks or at intersections without crosswalks. Pedestrians have the legal right-of-way in these situations.
Specific Scenarios
Texas law also provides clear guidance for navigating specific intersection scenarios:
- Four-way stop Intersections: At an intersection with stop signs on all approaching roads, the vehicle that reaches the intersection first has the right-of-way. If two or more vehicles arrive simultaneously, the vehicle on the right has the right-of-way.
- Uncontrolled intersections: At intersections without any traffic control devices (stop signs or traffic lights), drivers must yield the right-of-way to any vehicles approaching from the right.
- Left turns: Vehicles turning left must yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic that is traveling straight or turning right.
- Right turns: While turning right on a red light is generally permitted (unless explicitly prohibited), drivers must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians and other vehicles lawfully using the intersection.
It’s important to note that these rules are not exhaustive, and specific local ordinances or circumstances may dictate additional right-of-way guidelines. Drivers are expected to exercise due care and caution at all times, even when they have the legal right-of-way.
Common Causes of Intersection Accidents
While a failure to yield the right-of-way is a primary factor in many intersection collisions, several other common causes contribute to these dangerous accidents:
- Distracted driving: Distracted driving is a major safety hazard, and intersections are particularly vulnerable. Drivers texting, adjusting the radio, eating, or engaging in other distracting activities may fail to recognize traffic signals, stop signs, or the presence of other vehicles or pedestrians.
- Speeding: Excess speed is another significant contributor to intersection accidents. When drivers approach intersections too quickly, they have less time to react to changing traffic conditions, increasing the likelihood of collisions.
- Impaired driving: Drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs pose a severe threat at intersections, as their judgment and reaction times are impaired. Intoxicated drivers may run red lights, stop signs, or fail to yield the right-of-way, leading to devastating accidents.
- Obstructed views: Intersections can present various obstructions to a driver’s line of sight, such as buildings, trees, or large vehicles. When visibility is limited, drivers may misjudge the presence of other vehicles or pedestrians, resulting in collisions.
- Poor weather: Bad weather conditions, such as rain, snow, or fog, can significantly reduce visibility and traction, making it more challenging for drivers to navigate intersections safely. Slick roads also increase stopping distances, further compounding the risk of accidents.
By understanding and addressing these common causes, drivers can take proactive steps to reduce the risk of intersection accidents and promote safer roads for everyone.
Determining Fault in Intersection Accidents
Determining who was at fault and establishing liability will help with the pursuit of legal claims when an intersection accident occurs. This process often involves analyzing various factors and evidence to piece together the events leading up to the collision. Some of the factors considered include:
- Traffic signals and signs: This is generally the first thing evaluated when determining fault. Whether any were present and whether they were obeyed.
- Eyewitness accounts: Witness statements can help corroborate or contradict the narrative by the parties involved.
- Accident reconstruction: If the case is more complex or has contradicting accounts, experts may be hired to reconstruct the accident by analyzing the accident scene.
- Contributory negligence: Sometimes, both parties share fault in an accident. Texas follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means if a party’s negligence exceeds 50%, they will be unable to recover damages. Also, whatever percentage of fault, below 50%, is attributed to the parties, their compensation will be reduced to be proportional to their degree of fault.
By gathering and preserving evidence, seeking eyewitness accounts, and consulting with experienced legal professionals, those involved in intersection accidents can better protect their rights and pursue fair compensation for any damages or injuries sustained.
Contact Our Intersection Accident Attorneys in Bryan, Texas Today
Intersection accidents can have devastating consequences, often resulting in severe injuries, property damage, and, in some cases, even death. By understanding and adhering to Texas’ right-of-way laws, drivers can significantly reduce the risk of these preventable collisions and contribute to safer roads for everyone.
If you’ve been involved in an intersection accident, seek legal assistance from experienced professionals who can help you navigate the complex process of determining fault, dealing with insurance companies, and pursuing fair compensation for your losses. The Payne Law Group represents people in Bryan, College Station, and the surrounding Brazos Valley area. We understand the intricacies of right-of-way laws and the challenges involved in proving liability. We aim to protect your rights and ensure you receive the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact us today.