St. Louis Intersection-Related Accidents

Crashes frequently occur at intersections because actions such as turning and crossing over in front of other vehicles increase the likelihood of a collision. Common causes of intersection crashes include:

• Distracted driving
• Failure to use turn signals
• Poor visibility due to inferior road design
• Drunk driving
• Making illegal turns

Distracted driving is the most common cause of intersection crashes. A driver may be distracted by using a cell phone, texting, eating, drinking, rubbernecking, talking to other people in the car, or changing music on the radio or their playlist. While distracted, a driver may not notice that a yellow light has turned red or that another vehicle is coming into the intersection.

Illegal turns are also a common cause of intersection crashes, such as where the intersection does not allow right turns at a red light or where a driver pulls out in front of another car that’s moving at a high rate of speed. Also often linked to intersection crashes is when a driver fails to use turn signals, so other drivers aren’t alerted that the driver is slowing down to turn.

Finally, while drunk driving can lead to many types of crashes, drunk driving accidents are widespread at intersections because of the impaired driver’s slowed reflexes. Due to their lack of awareness and poor judgment and reaction times, they may not be alerted to a potential collision until it’s too late to avoid it.

Injuries from car accidents happening at intersections in St. Louis can range from minor to severe and sometimes even deadly. Common injuries from intersection crashes include:

• Broken bones
• Soft-tissue injuries
• Neck and back injuries
• Spinal cord injuries and paralysis
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Internal bleeding
• Burns, lacerations, and contusions

The most severe injuries usually occur when the crash is a head-on or T-bone collision. These injuries can result in pricey medical treatment, leading to mounting bills.

Persons in intersection crashes can also suffer from non-physical injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), often manifesting as anxiety, depression, hypervigilance, sleep disorders, and other psychological trauma. Additionally, if the person’s physical injuries are long-lasting or life-altering, this can affect a person’s mental state, resulting in depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, as well as a loss of enjoyment of certain activities or an inability to perform specific tasks altogether.