Intersections are among the most common areas for car accidents, as they pose a variety of challenges to drivers. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to maintain your safety at intersections.
Here are five things you should always do:
- Watch for pedestrians: For example, if someone is crossing the street in a crosswalk, stop until they reach the other side.
- Know who has the right of way: If you don’t know who has the right of way, you may be confused as to when you should stop and when you should continue driving.
- Obey the rules of the road: Don’t roll through a stop sign or blow through a yellow light that’s about to turn red. Doing these things may sound harmless, but they increase the risk of an accident.
- Watch the other driver: Don’t assume that other drivers are following the rules of the road and paying attention. For instance, you may have a green light, but someone traveling from a crossroad could miss the red signal and strike the side of your vehicle.
- Slow down: By slowing down, you give yourself more time to react, such as if a pedestrian darts out in front of your vehicle.
Even if you follow these tips, there’s no guarantee that you’ll never be involved in a motor vehicle accident at an intersection.
If this happens, move your vehicle to safety, asses your injuries and call for help. Your immediate attention should turn to your health and treatment, but from there you can learn more about the cause of the accident and how to seek compensation from the negligent driver.