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Were You Hurt in a Wreck at an Intersection?

Our car accident attorneys will take on the insurance company

There are about 2,500 intersections in the city of Houston alone, with thousands more in surrounding communities in Harris County. Some are more dangerous than others, but serious and even fatal car accidents can occur at any intersection. That’s why drivers and others on the road need to pay attention when they arrive at an intersection – and that’s why it’s so important to hold them accountable when they don’t meet that responsibility.

Intersections can be confusing places, but the legal situation after an intersection wreck can be more confusing still. The insurance company will take advantage of that confusion to try to reduce or deny your claim. We fight back. Smith & Hassler, Attorneys at Law knows how to sort out the situation and build a compelling case that the insurance company can’t ignore. Schedule your free consultation with a Houston car accident lawyer today.

Most intersection accidents are the results of negligence

There are many things that can go wrong at an intersection, but two of the most common are disobeying traffic signals and failing to yield the right of way. People who run red lights, accelerate to push through yellow lights, or misidentify the traffic signals are a risk to both themselves and everyone else on the road. Likewise, failing to yield the right of way, especially when making a left turn or going right on red, can cause devastating crashes.

Distracted driving is a serious problem at intersections because the situation can change so rapidly and even a brief break in attention can be disastrous. Too many motorists think it’s fine to take out their phones for a few moments while stopped at a red light as long as they put them away when the light turns green, but that’s not the case. Phone use causes cognitive distraction, which means the driver’s mind is still distracted even if their hands are on the wheel and their eyes are on the road – and that mental distraction can linger for a minute or two, well after the car starts moving again.

Alcohol and drug use can also contribute to intersection crashes. Many substances can impair judgment, and that’s a problem when the driver has to make split-second decisions or recognize that another driver has the right of way. Fatigue and falling asleep at the wheel can be incredibly dangerous at intersections for the same reason. Finally, some drivers cause wrecks through sheer recklessness and aggressive driving – especially if they fail to yield to an oncoming motorcycle or bicycle, or turn right on red and hit a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

Intersection wrecks demand a full investigation

The first problem with intersection accidents is that it’s often unclear who was at fault. Witnesses may disagree on what color the light was or who had the right of way. Insurance companies take advantage of this confusion to sow doubt in the injured person’s mind. They may even try to convince you that the crash was your fault.

The second problem is that the injuries sustained are often severe, especially when someone is T-boned (as the side of a car provides much less protection than the front or back) or the crash involves a biker, cyclist, or pedestrian. Naturally, the more serious the injuries, the more costly the potential claim, which means the insurance company has an added financial incentive to reduce or deny the claim. To them, it’s not personal, just business, but that’s not much comfort to an injured person who needs to rebuild their life.

We know how to overcome those challenges through thorough investigation. Our attorneys interview witnesses and cross-reference their stories to get to the bottom of what happened and why. We have relationships with experts, such as accident reconstructionists, who can help us tell that story. Ultimately, we need to build a case that the insurance company can’t ignore. We know Texas law, we know the courts in Harris County, and we put in the work to pursue full and fair compensation for our clients.

Count on Smith & Hassler to see you through the process

Getting compensation for an intersection accident takes time. You need to get medical treatment and find out the full extent of your injuries, and we need to build a case for the full compensation you deserve. Depending on how difficult the insurance company decides to be, this may take a few months or drag on for much longer. We can’t promise a fast resolution, but we can promise to be on your side and keep you informed every step of the way.

We represent intersection accident victims on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay us nothing up front and nothing out of pocket. Our firm pays the costs to move your case forward. If we win, our fee is a percentage of the money we recover for you; if we don’t win, we don’t get paid. No matter what your situation, you can afford a lawyer. What you can’t afford is to go it alone.

Get the representation you need to fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to discuss your legal options with an experienced intersection accident lawyer. There’s no cost and no obligation, just answers about your legal rights.

Smith & Hassler

1225 N Loop W #525
Houston, TX 77008
Toll Free: (877) 777-1529
Local: (713) 739-1250
Map and Directions

 

10039 Bissonnet St Suite #214
Houston, TX 77036
(713) 804-6863
By appointment only

 

14200 Gulf Fwy Suite #103
Houston, TX 77034
(713) 929-2230
By appointment only

 

15201 E Freeway Service Rd
Suite 203
Channelview, TX 77530
(281) 559-6566
By appointment only

We're located in the Heart of Houston
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