Where do most car accidents happen in Colorado? In reality, car accidents happen anywhere. Unfortunately, a significant number of these car crashes occur at intersections. These locations are hazardous because they involve crossing two or more traffic lanes. A moment of distraction or a small mistake can lead to disastrous crashes and cause extensive property damage and painful injuries. However, if you familiarize yourself with the risks associated with dangerous intersections in Colorado, you will increase your odds of staying safe and avoiding crashes.
If you or your loved one has experienced a car accident, contact our Colorado car accident attorneys.
What Are the Main Causes of Accidents in These Areas?
Car accidents happen close to or at intersections for a host of reasons. Some commonly cited causes of intersection accidents in Aurora and other communities in Colorado include the following:
- Distracted driving — Activities such as texting, checking emails, adjusting the radio or GPS, or talking with passengers can take a driver’s attention from the road and raise the risk of a car accident. Contact a distracted driving accident attorney in Denver.
- Improper turns — Intersection accidents often result from illegal U-turns, failure to signal before turning, or turning without checking for oncoming traffic. Left turns can be particularly hazardous. Serious and possibly fatal accidents occur when drivers fail to yield to approaching vehicles or pedestrians.
- Speeding — If drivers approach intersections too quickly, they may lack time enough to react to changes in traffic flow and, in turn, the ability to stop safely and avoid a crash. Misjudging the time required to cross or turn at high speeds can also result in severe crashes.
- Failure to yield the right of way — Accidents frequently happen when drivers run red lights, ignore stop signs, misinterpret flashing lights or pedestrian signals, and fail to follow yield signs. This careless and reckless driving can result in collisions with other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.
Find more common causes of car accidents from our blogs.
What Can I Do to Avoid Crashes at Intersections?
You can use these proactive driving techniques to enhance your safety when driving through intersections:
- Minimize distractions — Avoid using your phone, adjusting the radio or GPS systems, eating, drinking, and engaging in other distracting activities that take your focus from the road. Secure loose items that might move in transit and distract you.
- Maintain safe speed and distance — Leave a safe following distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you so you have enough time to brake. You should always avoid tailgating and excessive speeding, which can reduce your ability to stop quickly.
- Follow best driving practices — Be vigilant about checking your blind spots, using turn signals, obeying traffic signs and signals, and approaching intersections slowly while checking for oncoming traffic or pedestrians.
- Use defensive driving techniques — Position your vehicle so other drivers can see you clearly, watch for subtle signs of other drivers’ intentions, give extra space to larger vehicles like trucks and buses, and check your mirrors frequently to scan the road for potential hazards.
Where Are Other Common Locations for Collisions in Colorado?
While car accidents do occur frequently at intersections, the reality is that a crash can occur anywhere. In Colorado, common locations for crashes are:
- Rural roads — Narrow lanes, sharp curves, potential wildlife crossings, and limited visibility create hazards on rural roadways. Drivers unfamiliar with terrain may struggle to travel these roads safely, leading to accidents involving rollovers or single-vehicle crashes.
- Highways — Frequent lane changes, speeding, and heavy highway traffic can cause rear-end collisions and multi-car pileups. Sudden stops can further increase the risk of accidents.
- Residential areas — Speeding and failing to notice cyclists or pedestrians are common in neighborhoods. These areas have lower speed limits, which many drivers simply ignore.
Does the Time of Day Affect the Rate of Car Accidents?
Car accidents can indeed occur anytime, anywhere. However, car accident statistics show the time of day and time of year can be factors in collisions. For instance, fatal car accidents commonly occur on weekends, especially on Saturdays. The number of crashes peak in the evening, according to the National Safety Council (NSC). Other daily and seasonal trends in traffic accidents the NSC has identified are:
- Spring and Summer — Fatal collisions most frequently happen between 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. from April through October.
- Winter and Early Spring — Deadly crashes occur between 4 p.m. and 7:59 p.m. from November through March.
What Should I Do If I Am in a Car Accident in Colorado?
It can be terrifying to be in a car accident. Dealing with stress and getting control of your situation after a crash may seem impossible. However, if you can keep the following steps in mind, it will help to protect you:
- Seek immediate medical care — Examine yourself and any passengers for injuries and get medical care from emergency medical personnel, or seek medical care as soon as possible, even if you feel fine. Some injuries, like traumatic brain injury or internal organ damage, are not always apparent. If this is the case, a Denver traumatic brain injury lawyer can help. It is important to seek timely medical care.
- Report the accident — If law enforcement is not already on the way, call them. Provide the responding officer with accurate information about the incident. Avoid speculating about liability, and request a copy of the accident report for your records.
- Collect information — Exchange information with the other driver, such as name, email address, mailing address, phone number, driver’s license number, insurance company, policy number, vehicle make and model, and license plate number.
- Document the scene — Take photos or videos of the accident scene, including the license plates of the cars involved in the crash, signs of vehicle damage, traffic signals, skid marks, road conditions, and any visible injuries.
- Inform your insurer — Notify your insurance carrier about the crash as soon as possible and provide the requested information.
- Keep everything — Make sure to keep copies of medical bills, car repair bills, insurance company emails, letters, and all other documents related to your car accident and accident-related injuries.
- Call an attorney — Contact a car accident attorney, especially if the accident resulted in significant injuries or disputes over fault. A lawyer can preserve and gather critical evidence, negotiate with insurance companies, and take your case to court, if necessary, to pursue full and fair compensation for you. Hiring an attorney is beneficial for your case.
Contact a Colorado Car Accident Lawyer
Being in a car accident is stressful. Handling a claim adds to the worries and anxieties. You don’t need to take on your claim alone while managing your medical care. Our skilled attorneys at The Wilhite Law Firm have the experience to handle your case carefully and determinedly. We will fight for the compensation you need to cover your losses with no upfront fees. You won’t pay anything unless we win. Call our law firm at 303-466-3529 or through our online form for a free consultation today with one of our Colorado car accident attorneys.
