Intersections are among the most common locations for Tennessee car accidents, particularly when drivers make unsafe turns. According to the Federal Highway Administration, roughly one-quarter of all traffic fatalities in the United States are attributed to intersections each year. Intersection accidents frequently lead to severe injuries, intense emotional distress, and expensive medical bills.
Without legal representation, you might not recover the money you need to heal and rebuild your life after an intersection accident in Tennessee.
The Tennessee improper turn accident attorneys at The Terry Law Firm understand the toll of severe crashes and your need for fair compensation. We have recovered millions of dollars for our clients and know how to hold careless drivers accountable for intersection accidents.
Let us handle the legal work and protect your interests while you focus on healing. You do not pay any fees unless you recover compensation. Call now or complete our contact form for a free case review.
Why Intersection and Turning Crashes Are So Dangerous in Tennessee
Some reasons why intersection and turning accidents in Tennessee are especially dangerous include:
- Higher vehicle speeds at major intersections – Local and state government agencies in Tennessee often place intersections on multi-lane highways or busy arterial roads where drivers travel at or above posted speeds. When a crash happens in these locations, the intense impact force can lead to traumatic injuries and significant property damage.
- Left-turn exposure to oncoming traffic – Drivers making unprotected left turns (meaning they do not have a green turn arrow) often cross directly into traffic in oncoming lanes. Accordingly, drivers making unprotected left turns have little room for error. If they misjudge the speed or distance of oncoming cars, they could sustain severe injuries from side-impact collisions or other accidents.
- Obstructed visibility – Large trucks, roadside buildings, parked vehicles, or roadway design can block drivers’ sightlines at intersections or during turns. Limited visibility can prevent drivers from seeing oncoming traffic until they have already committed to a turn.
- Conflicting right-of-way expectations – Drivers often rely on others to obey traffic signals or yield the right-of-way. When one driver fails to stop or yield unexpectedly, crashes tend to occur at close range with severe consequences.
- Presence of vulnerable road users – Intersections frequently involve pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, who are harder to see than cars and trucks. If drivers are not careful, they can easily collide with a cyclist, motorcycle rider, or person on foot.
Common Causes of Tennessee Intersection Accidents and Crashes Involving Turns
Some common reasons for accidents at intersections or while cars are turning include:
- Failure to yield the right-of-way – Drivers may turn left or enter an intersection without yielding to oncoming traffic, pedestrians, or cyclists. Such mistakes often lead to direct collisions with little time for either party to react.
- Running red lights or stop signs – Some drivers attempt to beat a red light or fail to come to a complete stop at controlled intersections. When cross traffic has the right of way, these negligent actions can cause high-impact car crashes.
- Distracted driving – A driver who is looking at a phone, adjusting the navigation system, interacting with passengers, or otherwise distracted can miss potential hazards at critical moments, leading to a collision.
- Misjudging speed or distance – Drivers may underestimate how fast another vehicle is approaching or overestimate the space available to turn safely. A national study by NHTSA found that inadequate surveillance and misjudgment of gaps in traffic are among the top driver-related factors in intersection crashes.
- Improper or illegal turns – Turning from the wrong lane, making wide turns, or ignoring turn-only signals can place a vehicle directly into the path of other traffic.
- Impaired driving – Alcohol, drugs, and certain medications can slow drivers’ reaction times and impair their judgment, making accidents more likely.
Tennessee Right-of-Way Laws and Intersection Regulations
You can find Tennessee’s right-of-way traffic laws in Title 55, Chapter 8 of the Tennessee Code. Some key right-of-way rules under Tennessee law include:
- Drivers turning left must yield to oncoming traffic when the oncoming cars are close enough to pose a hazard.
- Vehicles facing a green light must still yield to any pedestrians who are lawfully crossing within a marked or unmarked crosswalk.
- Drivers approaching a stop sign must come to a complete stop and yield to traffic already in the intersection or approaching closely.
- Drivers entering a roadway from a private drive or parking area must yield to all approaching traffic on the public road.
- When two vehicles arrive at an uncontrolled intersection at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on their right.
Proving Liability in Tennessee Intersection and Turning Crashes
To recover compensation from a driver who hit you at an intersection or while turning, you must show that the other driver acted carelessly and caused the collision. A lawyer from The Terry Law Firm can collect evidence to support your claim and prove the other driver’s negligence.
For example, videos from nearby surveillance cameras or traffic camera footage can provide a neutral perspective of the accident scene, which can counter any efforts by the other driver to blame you. The same principle applies to accounts from neutral parties who witnessed the crash.
If surveillance footage or eyewitness accounts are not available, our Tennessee improper turns accident attorneys can use other evidence to support your claim. Photos from the crash scene can show the relative positions of the vehicles involved and the damage to your car to help illustrate how the collision occurred. Our attorneys might also request the police crash report, as the responding officer may have stated how they think the accident occurred and who is to blame.
How Our Tennessee Improper Turn Accident Attorneys Can Help
Our Tennessee car accident lawyers handle all the legal work in your case so you have less to worry about as you heal. We start by investigating the accident and collecting all available evidence. From there, we can calculate your potential compensation, including your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and the cost to repair or replace your car.
Once the initial accident investigation is complete, we will send a demand letter to the other driver and their insurance company outlining the compensation you are seeking. We handle all settlement negotiations and deal with the insurance companies for you, all while preparing your case for trial. If a fair settlement is not possible, we can file a lawsuit and take your case to court, where we will present our evidence and arguments.
Contact The Terry Law Firm Now for Your Free Case Review
Do not risk your future by failing to protect your rights after a Tennessee intersection or turning accident. Call The Terry Law Firm now or complete our contact form for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney.