Injured during an intersection accident in Bakersfield, CA? Contact the top intersection accident lawyer to seek compensation.
When two vehicles collide at a Bakersfield intersection, determining fault requires analyzing traffic signals, right-of-way rules, and often conflicting witness statements. Victims face serious injuries, insurance disputes, and rising medical bills while key evidence fades quickly.
At Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we understand how complex intersection crashes can be. Our Bakersfield attorneys have decades of experience handling collisions at busy locations like Ming Avenue and Stockdale Highway, where heavy traffic and confusing signal patterns lead to severe T-bone and broadside impacts.
Our experienced car accident lawyers act fast to preserve surveillance footage, collect signal timing data, and build a clear case proving the other driver’s negligence. With deep local knowledge and proven legal skill, our firm fights to secure the maximum compensation for your injuries, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
What Is an Intersection Accident?
An intersection accident occurs where two or more roadways meet, creating a convergence point for multiple traffic flows. These crashes include T-bone collisions, left-turn accidents, right-turn incidents, and stop sign violations. Intersection crashes often result in severe injuries due to the side-impact nature of many collisions and drivers’ inability to anticipate cross-traffic movements.
The complexity of these accidents stems from multiple traffic control devices, varying right-of-way rules, and split-second decision-making required at busy crossroads.
Contact us for a free consultation and understand how our Bakersfield intersection accident lawyers can help you seek compensation and justice.
Why Hire Kuzyk Law for Your Bakersfield Intersection Accident Case?
Our legal team brings decades of experience handling complex intersection collision cases throughout Kern County. We understand the unique challenges these accidents present and have successfully represented many clients throughout our years of practice.
Our Bakersfield intersection accident attorneys are available 24/7 and provide services in both English and Spanish to serve Bakersfield’s diverse community.
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay no attorney fees unless we secure compensation for your case. This arrangement allows you to focus on recovery while we handle all legal aspects of your claim.
Local Knowledge of Dangerous Bakersfield Intersections
Our attorneys possess intimate knowledge of Bakersfield’s most hazardous intersections and traffic patterns. We understand which locations have histories of accidents and know how to quickly identify and preserve crucial evidence from nearby businesses and traffic control systems.
This local expertise proves invaluable when building your case and negotiating with insurance companies familiar with area conditions.
Immediate Evidence Preservation
Time-sensitive evidence disappears quickly after intersection accidents. Our team acts immediately to send preservation letters to government agencies and private businesses that may have captured video footage of your collision. We also work to secure traffic signal timing data, witness statements, and police reports before they become unavailable.
Who Is at Fault in an Intersection Accident?
California uses pure comparative negligence to determine fault in intersection accidents. This means each party’s fault percentage reduces their recoverable damages, but you can still recover compensation even if you bear some responsibility for the collision.
Fault determination depends on several key factors that our attorneys thoroughly investigate.
Traffic Control Devices and Signal Compliance
Red lights, green arrows, stop signs, and yield signs dictate right-of-way at intersections. California Vehicle Code Section 21453 requires drivers to obey traffic signals, while Section 21800 governs stop sign compliance. Violations of these statutes typically establish primary liability for the violating driver.
However, having a green light doesn’t necessarily mean freedom from fault if other factors contributed to the accident.
Driver Actions and Behavior
Speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, and failure to yield when required all contribute to intersection accident liability. Our investigation examines cell phone records, toxicology results, and witness testimony to establish each driver’s actions leading up to the collision.
Even seemingly minor violations can significantly impact fault allocation in your case.
Road Conditions and Municipal Responsibility
Faded lane markings, malfunctioning traffic signals, and obstructed visibility from overgrown vegetation can shift liability to government entities. Cities and counties have a duty to maintain safe intersection conditions and may be held responsible when their negligence contributes to accidents.
Common Types of Intersection Accidents We Handle
Different intersection accident scenarios present unique liability and evidence challenges. Our attorneys have extensive experience with all major types of intersection collisions throughout Bakersfield.
T-Bone and Broadside Collisions
T-bone accidents occur when one vehicle’s front end strikes another vehicle’s side. These crashes typically happen when drivers run red lights, fail to yield at stop signs, or misjudge gaps in cross traffic. The striking vehicle is usually held primarily liable, though shared fault situations can arise.
Side-impact collisions often cause severe injuries due to the limited protection vehicle sides provide compared to front and rear crumple zones.
Left-Turn Accident Claims
Left-turning drivers must yield to oncoming traffic unless they have a protected green arrow signal. California Vehicle Code Section 21801 establishes this duty, making left-turning drivers liable in most scenarios. However, fault can shift if oncoming vehicles were speeding, ran red lights, or violated other traffic laws.
These cases require careful analysis of traffic signal timing and vehicle speeds at the point of impact.
Right-Turn and Pedestrian Collisions
Right-turning drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and check for cyclists in bike lanes before turning. California Vehicle Code Section 21950 requires drivers to yield to pedestrians, while Section 21717 governs proper turning procedures across bike lanes.
Stop Sign and Yield Sign Violations
Four-way stops require drivers to yield to vehicles that arrived first or were already in the intersection. At yield signs, drivers must yield to cross traffic and pedestrians before proceeding. Rolling through stops or failing to yield properly establishes fault in most cases.
What Evidence Proves Fault in Intersection Accidents?
Successful intersection accident claims depend on gathering and preserving multiple types of evidence quickly before it disappears. Our legal team knows exactly what evidence to pursue to establish fault.
Video and Surveillance Data
Traffic Camera and Business Footage
Many intersections have traffic cameras or nearby business surveillance that record signal violations and collision sequences. This footage is objective but often gets overwritten quickly, requiring immediate preservation notices to secure it.
Technical and Vehicle Data
Signal Timing and Engineering
We obtain traffic signal timing diagrams from city engineering departments. This data proves whether drivers had adequate time to stop or whether signals malfunctioned.
Vehicle Data Recorders (EDRs)
Modern vehicles contain Event Data Recorders (EDRs) or “black boxes” that capture speed, braking, and steering inputs before impact. Our experts download and analyze this objective data to reconstruct the crash.
Statements and Official Reports
Witness Statements
Independent witnesses provide unbiased accounts of intersection accidents that carry significant weight. We interview them promptly while their memories are fresh.
Police Reports
Police officers’ observations and initial fault determinations carry weight in negotiations and court. We secure these official documents to support your claim.
Injuries Common in Intersection Accidents
The sudden, high-force impacts typical of intersection collisions cause a wide range of serious injuries. Our Bakersfield intersection accident attorneys understand the medical complexities of these injuries and work with healthcare providers to document their full extent.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Head impacts against windows, steering wheels, or door frames frequently cause concussions and more severe brain injuries. These injuries may not show immediate symptoms but can cause long-term cognitive, emotional, and physical problems requiring extensive treatment and rehabilitation.
Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
The twisting and compression forces in intersection accidents commonly cause herniated discs, spinal fractures, and, in severe cases, paralysis. These injuries often require surgery, physical therapy, and long-term care that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Broken Bones and Orthopedic Injuries
Arms, legs, ribs, and pelvis fractures are standard when vehicles crush inward during side-impact collisions. These injuries may require multiple surgeries, hardware implantation, and extended rehabilitation periods that prevent victims from working.
Internal Organ Damage
Blunt force trauma can cause internal bleeding and organ damage that may not be immediately apparent after accidents. Delayed symptoms can be life-threatening, making prompt medical evaluation crucial even when you feel fine initially.
Damages Available in Intersection Accident Cases
California law allows intersection accident victims to recover both economic and non-economic damages for their losses, based on the severity of the injuries and their impact on their life.
Economic Damages (Financial Losses)
Economic damages include all measurable financial losses. This includes costs for medical care and treatment, such as emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, and future medical needs.
It also covers lost income and earning potential, including wages missed while recovering and any future earning potential reduced by permanent limitations. Lastly, it covers Property Damage, including the costs of repairing or replacing a car and renting a car.
Non-Economic Damages (Personal Suffering)
Non-economic damages make up for the harm that can’t be measured in money. This includes pain, suffering, and loss of quality of life, such as physical pain, emotional distress, and a decrease in the overall enjoyment of life.
Most personal injury cases in California don’t have a limit on how much money you can get for pain and suffering.
Steps to Take After a Bakersfield Intersection Accident
The actions you take immediately after an intersection accident can significantly impact your ability to recover compensation. Following proper procedures protects both your health and legal rights.
Ensure Safety and Call for Help
Move to safety if possible and call 911 immediately to report the accident. Request both police and medical response, even if injuries seem minor initially. Some serious injuries don’t show symptoms for hours or days after accidents.
Never leave the scene of an accident, as this can result in criminal charges regardless of fault.
Document the Scene Thoroughly
Take photographs of vehicle damage, intersection conditions, traffic signals, and any visible injuries. Capture the positions of all vehicles and any skid marks or debris. Look for nearby businesses with security cameras aimed at the intersection.
This documentation becomes crucial evidence when insurance companies dispute what happened.
Gather Information from All Parties
Exchange insurance information, driver’s license numbers, and contact details with other drivers involved. Get names and contact information from any witnesses who saw the accident occur. Note the exact time and location of the collision.
Be courteous but avoid discussing fault or admitting any responsibility for the accident.
Seek Medical Evaluation Promptly
See a healthcare provider as soon as possible after the accident, even if you feel fine. Some injuries like concussions and soft tissue damage may not cause immediate pain but can worsen without treatment. Having medical documentation also strengthens your legal claim.
Follow all treatment recommendations and attend all follow-up appointments your doctor schedules.
Government Liability for Dangerous Intersections
Cities and counties can be held liable when dangerous intersection conditions contribute to accidents. These government liability cases have special rules and shorter deadlines, making experienced legal representation essential.
Government entities must maintain traffic signals, signage, and road markings in proper working condition. They also have a duty to address known hazardous conditions that create unreasonable accident risks. Failure to fulfill these duties can create liability when accidents result.
Malfunctioning traffic signals, inadequate yellow light timing, and obstructed sight lines from overgrown vegetation are common government liability issues. Poor intersection design that creates confusion or dangerous traffic patterns can also support claims against government entities.
Claims against government entities must be filed within six months of the accident date under California Government Code Section 911.2. This deadline is much shorter than the two-year statute of limitations for claims against private parties. Missing this deadline typically bars recovery entirely.
How Kuzyk Law Builds Your Intersection Accident Case
Our systematic approach to intersection accident cases maximizes your chances of full recovery. We handle every aspect of your claim while you focus on healing from your injuries.
Comprehensive Investigation and Evidence Gathering
We immediately begin investigating your accident by securing video footage, interviewing witnesses, and obtaining official reports. Our team works with accident reconstruction experts when necessary to establish precisely how your collision occurred and who was at fault.
Medical Documentation and Damage Calculation
We work closely with your healthcare providers to ensure all injuries are properly documented and connected to your accident. Our team also calculates the full extent of your economic losses, including future medical expenses and lost earning capacity.
Strategic Negotiation with Insurance Companies
Insurance companies often try to minimize intersection accident claims by disputing fault or downplaying injury severity. Our attorneys have extensive experience negotiating with all major insurance companies and know their tactics for reducing payouts.
Intersection Accident FAQs
How Long Do Traffic Cameras Keep Footage After Bakersfield Intersection Accidents?
Traffic camera and business security footage is often retained only for a limited time before being overwritten. Some systems may keep recordings for shorter periods, making immediate preservation efforts critical. We send preservation notices within 24 hours of being retained to prevent this evidence from being lost.
Can I Still Recover Compensation If I Received a Traffic Citation After My Intersection Accident?
Yes, receiving a traffic ticket doesn’t prevent you from recovering compensation for your injuries. Citations are often issued based on incomplete information at accident scenes, and they can be challenged in court. California’s comparative negligence law allows recovery even when you bear some fault for the accident.
What Should I Do If the Other Driver’s Insurance Company Contacts Me After My Intersection Accident?
Politely decline to give any recorded statements and refer them to your attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to ask questions designed to minimize your claim value or shift blame to you. Having legal representation ensures your rights are protected during all insurance communications.
Contact a Bakersfield Intersection Accident Lawyer Today
If you’ve been injured in an intersection accident in Bakersfield, don’t wait to seek legal help. The experienced attorneys at Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. We handle all aspects of your case on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we win.
Our team provides free consultations to evaluate your case and explain your legal options. We’re available 24/7 to take your call and begin working on your claim immediately. Don’t let insurance companies take advantage of you during this difficult time.
Contact Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers today for your free consultation. Time limits apply to all personal injury claims. Call now to protect your rights and maximize your recovery.
