Collisions at Junctions

Junctions are omnipresent in both rural and urban areas, and they are some of the most common locations of car accidents. The majority of collisions at junctions are results of the careless or reckless behavior of one of the drivers. When a driver negligently fails to appropriately assess an intersection before proceeding and causes an accident, the driver should be held liable for any injuries and damages caused by the accident. If you were injured in a collision at a junction, it is in your best interest to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer to evaluate the facts of your case and whether you may be able to recover compensation. Collectively, the New Hampshire car accident attorneys at Peter Thompson and Associates have over 60 years of experience helping people injured in intersection collisions seek damages from the parties responsible for their harm.

Intersection collisions commonly occur when one driver misjudges whether he or she has the right of way and either travels through the intersection or turns left and is subsequently struck by another vehicle. A driver may not know the proper order in which cars approaching the intersection are supposed to proceed, or they may fail to obey a stop sign or traffic light. Intersection accidents are also often caused when a driver fails to obey a “no turn on red” sign and drives into oncoming traffic. Regardless of the specific action that a driver takes at an intersection, the root cause of most car accidents is typically negligent driving by one or more of the drivers involved.

Often, in intersection accidents, more than one driver will be responsible for causing the accident and will be found to be negligent. A driver is negligent when it is shown that he or she owed a duty of reasonable care, he or she breached the duty, the breach was a substantial factor in causing the accident, and the accident caused actual damages.

Even if a party injured in an intersection collision is found negligent, he or she may be able to obtain damages from any other negligent parties. New Hampshire is a modified comparative fault state, which means that if an injured party’s fault does not surpass the combined fault of all of the defendants, the injured party may still be able to recover damages. For example, if the injured party is found to be 35% at fault, but the defendant driver is found to be 65% at fault, the injured party may still be awarded damages. Any damages awarded will be reduced in proportion to the percentage of liability attributed to the injured party, however. In other words, if a jury assesses $100,000 in damages for an injured party who is 35% liable, the injured party will only recover $65,000. If you were injured in an intersection collision, a skilled car accident attorney can analyze the facts surrounding your accident to anticipate any potential obstacles to your recovery.

In most intersection accident cases, the injured party will seek compensation for any medical bills incurred in treating injuries sustained in the accident, as well as the cost of any future medical treatment. If the injured party sustained any property damage in an accident, he or she will typically try to recoup the cost of repairing the property as well. If an accident causes a temporary or permanent impairment in an individual’s ability to earn an income, he or she may also be entitled to damages for lost wages or loss of future earnings. If you were injured in a collision at a junction, it is important not to delay in seeking any compensation that you may be owed, since a personal injury lawsuit to recover damages must be filed within three years of the date when the accident occurred.

Collisions at junctions frequently cause significant property damage and can result in severe injuries. If you were involved in an intersection collision, you should meet with a knowledgeable car accident attorney to evaluate the facts of your case and assess whether you may be entitled to compensation. At Peter Thompson and Associates, we are dedicated to helping injured New Hampshire residents in their pursuit of damages following car accidents. We have offices in Bedford, Nashua, Portsmouth, and Manchester, New Hampshire, and we represent clients throughout the state. Contact us at 800.804.2004 or via our online form to set up a consultation.