Intersections are a common location where car accidents occur in New York. In many cases, victims will question who is at fault for a crash. Identifying the at-fault driver is required in order to pursue monetary damages.
The driver whose careless behavior caused the crash is the one at fault for an intersection accident in New York. Intersection accidents can be caused by numerous forms of negligent conduct. There are several forms of evidence that may help identify the actions that led to such accidents.
If you were injured because of an intersection accident in New York, get help recovering the compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced Westchester car accident lawyers by calling The Martello Law Firm at (914) 685-6950 for a free case review. We also handle cases for clients in Putnam County, Dutchess County, and all of the surrounding areas of New York State.
Identifying the At-Fault Driver in an Intersection Accident in New York
Motorists on public roadways are expected to exercise reasonable care and obey traffic laws. Drivers that act carelessly or recklessly can cause severe intersection accidents. The following are types of negligent behavior you can look for to identify which driver is at fault in an intersection accident in New York:
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving refers to any activity that takes a driver’s hands off the wheel, eyes off the road, or mind off the task of driving. Distracted drivers will be unable to properly react to traffic signals and other cars travelling through intersections. Accordingly, distracted drivers will typically be considered to be at-fault for intersection accidents in New York. The following are examples of activities that can distract motorists:
- Texting
- Talking on the phone
- Looking at social media
- Eating
- Talking to other passengers
- Using a GPS
- Changing the radio station
Our New Rochelle car accident lawyers can help prove that an intersection accident was caused by a distracted driver.
Speeding
Speeding is another type of behavior exhibited by at-fault drivers during intersection accidents. Like distracted drivers, drivers operating their vehicles at high speeds will have difficulty reacting to traffic signals and other vehicles when crossing an intersection. Furthermore, intersection accidents caused by speeding drivers are more likely to cause severe injuries.
Tailgating
Tailgating refers to the practice of driving too close behind the vehicle in front of you. Tailgating motorists will be unable to brake in time if the vehicle in front of them has to stop quickly for a yellow or red light. When drivers cannot brake on time, severe rear-end collisions can occur. Accordingly, tailgating is also a common type of behavior committed by at-fault drivers during intersection accidents in New York.
Drunk Driving
Drunk driving is an extremely dangerous activity. Drunk drivers will have impaired vision and poor decision-making abilities. Like distracted drivers, drunk drivers cause many intersection accidents by failing to react to traffic signals and failing to react to other vehicles on the road. For example, a drunk driver may cause an intersection by running a red light and colliding with oncoming traffic. Our Yonkers car accident lawyers can help prove that a drunk driver was at-fault for an intersection accident.
Improper Left Turns
Lastly, many at-fault drivers cause intersection accidents by committing improper left turns. Intersections are locations where cars travelling in opposite directions may converge. When a motorist fails to yield the right of way before making a left turn, catastrophic head-on collisions can occur.
Evidence Used to Identify Who is at Fault for Intersection Accidents in New York
There are various forms of evidence that can help victims identify who is at fault for an intersection accident in New York. This evidence can help show the negligent actions that caused a crash. Our Whiteplains car accident lawyers can offer assistance when using the following evidence to identify the at-fault driver in your case:
Traffic Camera Footage
Traffic camera footage can help identify who is at fault in an intersection accident. Many intersections are equipped with traffic cameras that surveil roadways at all times. Accordingly, footage from such traffic cameras can help identify at-fault drivers by showing the events leading up to an accident at any particular intersection.
Expert Witness Testimony
Expert witness testimony is a common type of evidence used to identify who is at fault for intersection accidents in New York. For example, an accident reconstruction expert can be called on to explain why a crash occurred.
Expert witnesses are considered experts in a particular field because of their education, training, and experienced. Our experienced Westchester personal injury lawyers can help call on the right experts to determine who is at fault in your case.
Eyewitness Testimony
Furthermore, eyewitness testimony is another common type of evidence used to identify at-fault drivers in intersection accidents. Like traffic camera footage, witness testimony can be used to explain the events that unfolded before, during, and after an intersection accident. Accordingly, victims of intersection accidents should attempt to collect contact information for any witnesses after a crash.
Accident Reports
After each intersection accident, a police officer should visit the scene to draft a formal accident report. Accident reports can include a police officer’s observations from the accident scene as well as statements from drivers regarding why an accident happened. Accordingly, accident reports are also a common type of evidence used by our Mount Vernon car accident lawyers to demonstrate who is at fault for crashes at intersections.
Physical Evidence from the Scene of the Crash
Additionally, physical evidence from the scene of the crash can be used to determine who was at fault for an intersection accident. For example, pieces of broken glass found at the scene can be matched with a negligent driver’s broken headlight to identify them as the at-fault driver.
Photographic Evidence from the Scene of a Crash
Lastly, photographic evidence from the scene can also be used to determine who was at fault for an intersection accident in New York. For instance, photos of a crushed car can be used to show that an accident occurred because a driver was travelling at excessive speeds and could not stop at a red light on time. Victims of intersection accidents should always take photos at the scene if possible.
If You Were Injured Because of an Intersection Accident in New York, Our Lawyers Can Help
If you were injured because of an intersection accident, seek assistance from our experienced Yonkers personal lawyers by calling The Martello Law Firm at (914) 685-6950 for a free case review.