Injured in an intersection accident in Lancaster? Contact the top Lancaster intersection accident lawyer to seek compensation and justice.
Intersection collisions often cause severe injuries because the impact angles and side forces give drivers and passengers little time to react. Lancaster’s mix of busy commercial corridors and residential streets creates additional hazards, with high-speed crossings, complex signal patterns, and congested traffic contributing to dangerous crashes. Victims are left facing painful injuries, mounting medical bills, and insurance companies determined to limit what they pay.
At Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, our auto accident attorneys have spent decades helping Lancaster residents recover after serious intersection accidents. We know the Antelope Valley’s most hazardous intersections—from Sierra Highway to Avenue K—and understand the traffic patterns, right-of-way issues, and roadway conditions that insurers often try to use against you. With aggressive investigation and proven negotiation strategies, we build strong claims aimed at securing the maximum compensation you deserve.
Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how we can help you seek the compensation and justice you deserve.
Why You Need a Lancaster Intersection Accident Lawyer Immediately
Intersection crashes create complex legal situations where determining fault requires immediate action. Because evidence can be lost and witness recollections can fade, you should act promptly to preserve traffic camera footage and respond to insurance investigations that may begin right away.
At Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers, we understand that time is your enemy after an intersection collision and have decades of experience successfully generating positive verdicts and settlements for our clients.
We move fast to preserve crucial evidence before it disappears forever. Our team sends preservation letters to the City of Lancaster, downloads vehicle data recorders, and interviews witnesses while details remain fresh. You pay nothing up front, and we only collect fees when we win your case.
How Fault Is Determined in Lancaster Intersection Crashes
California follows pure comparative negligence rules, meaning you can recover compensation even if you share some blame for the accident. Your final settlement gets reduced by your percentage of fault, but you don’t lose everything if you made a mistake.
A skilled Lancaster intersection accident lawyer knows how to minimize your assigned fault percentage.
Fault determination focuses on three key areas:
- Traffic signal violations: Who had the legal right to proceed through the intersection?
- Driver behavior: Speed, distraction, impairment, or other dangerous actions.
- Road conditions: Visibility issues, signal malfunctions, or poor intersection design.
Insurance adjusters and opposing lawyers will try to shift maximum blame onto you. We gather evidence to prove the other driver’s negligence while protecting you from unfair fault assignments.
California Vehicle Code Rules for Intersection Right-of-Way
Understanding California’s traffic laws helps establish who violated their legal duties in your crash. The California Vehicle Code provides specific rules that drivers must follow at intersections. When someone breaks these laws and causes an accident, they become legally responsible for your injuries and damages.
Red Light and Stop Sign Violations
California Vehicle Code Section 21453 requires drivers to stop at red lights before entering the intersection. Running a red light creates a strong presumption of fault against the driver who violated it. However, you must also prove you entered the intersection legally on a green light.
Stop sign violations are governed by Vehicle Code Section 21802, which requires a complete stop before the limit line. Rolling stops or failure to yield after stopping can make a driver liable for intersection crashes.
Left Turn Accidents and Right-of-Way Rules
Vehicle Code Section 21801 governs left-turn accidents at intersections. Drivers turning left must yield to all oncoming traffic unless they have a protected green arrow. This creates a legal presumption that left-turning drivers are at fault when they collide with oncoming vehicles.
The presumption can be overcome if the oncoming driver was speeding excessively, ran a red light, or violated other traffic laws. We investigate signal timing, vehicle speeds, and witness accounts to determine if the oncoming driver shares responsibility.
Uncontrolled Intersections and Four-Way Stops
At intersections without traffic signals, Vehicle Code Section 21800 establishes right-of-way rules. The first vehicle to arrive and stop has the right of way. When vehicles arrive simultaneously, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on their right.
These rules become complex when multiple vehicles approach from different directions. We reconstruct the accident timeline using witness statements, vehicle damage patterns, and available surveillance footage.
Common Types of Intersection Accidents We Handle
Intersection crashes follow predictable patterns driven by traffic flow and driver behavior. Each type of collision creates different injury patterns and legal challenges. Our Lancaster intersection accident lawyers have extensive experience with all varieties of intersection crashes.
T-bone collisions happen when one vehicle strikes another’s side at a perpendicular angle. These crashes often cause the most severe injuries because vehicle sides offer minimal protection, especially in truck accident cases. Determining fault requires analyzing which driver had the right-of-way and whether either driver could have avoided the collision.
Rear-end crashes at intersections typically occur when drivers follow too closely or become distracted while stopped for traffic signals. The following driver usually bears primary responsibility, but lead vehicles can share fault if they stop suddenly without cause.
Head-on collisions result from wrong-way travel, improper left turns, or vehicles crossing center lines, often caused by distracted driving. These crashes usually involve high speeds and cause catastrophic injuries or wrongful death.
Evidence Collection and Preservation in Intersection Cases
Building a strong intersection accident case requires quickly gathering multiple types of evidence. Much of this evidence disappears within days if not properly preserved. We know exactly what to look for and how to obtain it before insurance companies can destroy or alter crucial information.
Traffic Camera and Surveillance Footage
Lancaster maintains traffic cameras at major intersections that can capture the moments before, during, and after your crash. These cameras often provide the most unmistakable evidence of signal status and driver behavior. We immediately issue preservation demands to prevent the deletion of footage.
Private businesses near intersections may also have surveillance cameras that captured your accident. We quickly canvass the area to identify and preserve this evidence before it is overwritten.
Vehicle Data and Black Box Information
Modern vehicles contain event data recorders that capture speed, braking, steering, and other information in the seconds before a crash. This data can prove whether drivers attempted to stop, how fast they were traveling, and whether they took evasive action.
We coordinate with certified technicians to download this information before it gets lost or corrupted. Insurance companies often try to access this data first to use against you.
Witness Statements and Police Reports
Independent witnesses provide crucial testimony about signal status, driver behavior, and accident circumstances. We interview witnesses immediately while their memories remain clear and accurate.
Police reports document the officer’s initial findings but may contain errors or incomplete information. We review these reports carefully and investigate any discrepancies that could affect your case.
Injuries Common in Lancaster Intersection Accidents
Intersection collisions often cause severe injuries due to the high speeds and unexpected nature of these crashes. Side-impact collisions are hazardous because vehicle doors and windows provide minimal protection. Understanding your injury patterns helps us calculate appropriate compensation demands.
Traumatic Brain Injuries
Head impacts against windows, door frames, or steering wheels can cause concussions, skull fractures, and traumatic brain injury. These injuries may not show immediate symptoms but can cause lasting cognitive problems, memory loss, and personality changes.
Brain injury treatment requires specialized medical care and long-term rehabilitation. We work with neurologists and rehabilitation specialists to document the full extent of your brain injury and its impact on your life.
Spinal Cord and Back Injuries
The twisting and compression forces in intersection crashes frequently damage spinal discs, vertebrae, and the spinal cord itself. These injuries can cause chronic pain, limited mobility, or complete paralysis.
Spinal injuries often require surgery, extensive physical therapy, and permanent lifestyle modifications. We calculate both immediate medical costs and lifetime care needs when valuing these claims.
Broken Bones and Internal Injuries
The force of impact commonly fractures ribs, arms, legs, and pelvic bones. Internal organs can also be damaged by seatbelt forces or direct impact trauma. These injuries may require emergency surgery and extended hospital stays.
We document all medical treatment and coordinate with your healthcare providers to understand your recovery timeline and permanent limitations.
Dealing With Insurance Companies After Your Crash
Insurance adjusters contact car accident victims quickly, often while you’re still receiving medical treatment. They may seem helpful and concerned about your welfare, but their primary goal is to minimize claim payouts. Never give recorded statements or accept settlement offers without legal representation.
The adjuster’s playbook is full of common tactics they use to undervalue your case.
Some of these tactics are to rush settlement offers with a small amount of money before you fully understand how bad your injuries are, to argue that you caused or contributed to the accident, and to downplay your injuries by saying that your doctors are over-treating you.
In horrible cases, they might even use surveillance to record your daily activities to catch you doing something that goes against your injury claim.
From the very beginning, an experienced Lancaster intersection accident lawyer will handle all communications and negotiations with your insurance company to protect your interests. We know a lot about local adjusters and how they try to make money, so we can fight hard for a fair and maximum settlement without making mistakes that could hurt your case and make sure you get the cash you deserve for your specific intersection accident.
Never talk to an insurance adjuster without a lawyer. Call a Lancaster intersection accident lawyer right away for a free consultation to make sure you are legally protected.
Calculating Damages in Intersection Accident Cases
Settlement calculations must include all losses, both economic (tangible) and non-economic (intangible). We work with doctors and financial experts to ensure your claim covers all of your damages so you don’t have to accept lowball offers.
Economic Losses: Comprehensive Financial Coverage
Your claim must cover all medical expenses, including emergency care, surgery, and projected future medical expenses for long-term care or rehabilitation. We also calculate your lost income and aggressively seek compensation for diminished earning capacity if your injuries prevent you from returning to your former job, working with economists to project these lifetime financial losses.
Non-Economic Losses: Pain and Suffering
California law allows compensation for non-economic damages, including physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life. We use detailed documentation, medical records, and family testimony to establish the severe impact of the crash on your quality of life, maximizing the value of these intangible harms.
Do you need an accurate calculation of all your losses after an intersection crash? Contact us today for a free case evaluation to ensure every dollar of your damages is accounted for.
California Statutes of Limitations for Intersection Accidents
You have a limited time to file legal claims after an intersection accident. Missing these deadlines permanently bars you from recovering compensation, regardless of how strong your case might be. Different types of claims have different deadlines under California law.
Personal injury claims must be filed within two years of your accident date under Code of Civil Procedure Section 335.1. Wrongful death claims also have a two-year deadline from the date of death.
Property damage claims have a three-year statute of limitations. However, waiting this long often makes it harder to gather evidence and locate witnesses.
Government liability claims have much shorter deadlines. If a traffic signal malfunction, poor road design, or inadequate signage contributed to your accident, you must file a government claim within six months.
Why Choose Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers
Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers has served the Lancaster community and Antelope Valley for decades. We understand local traffic patterns, common accident locations, and the insurance companies that operate in our area. This local knowledge gives our clients significant advantages in their cases.
Our firm offers several key benefits:
Immediate response:
We’re available 24/7 to begin evidence preservation.
Bilingual services:
Our team provides complete legal services in English and Spanish.
No upfront costs:
You pay no attorney fees unless we win your case.
Proven results:
We’ve helped thousands of clients recover fair compensation.
We treat every client as family, providing personal attention throughout your case. You’ll work directly with experienced attorneys, not paralegals or case managers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After an Intersection Accident in Lancaster?
You have two years from your accident date to file a personal injury lawsuit under California law. However, government claims must be filed within six months if city negligence contributed to your crash. Acting quickly also helps preserve evidence and witness testimony that strengthens your case.
What if the Other Driver Claims They Had a Green Light?
Traffic camera footage, witness statements, and signal timing records can prove which driver actually had the right-of-way. We investigate these sources immediately to gather evidence before it disappears. Vehicle data recorders may also show whether drivers slowed for yellow lights or maintained speed through red signals.
Can I Still Recover Compensation if I Was Partially at Fault?
Yes, California’s comparative negligence law allows you to recover damages even if you share some blame for the accident. Your compensation gets reduced by your percentage of fault, but you don’t lose everything. We work to minimize your assigned fault percentage through thorough investigation and expert testimony.
Contact Our Lancaster Intersection Accident Lawyers Today
Don’t let insurance companies decide the value of your intersection accident claim. The experienced attorneys at Kuzyk Personal Injury & Car Accident Lawyers are ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. We offer free consultations to evaluate your case and explain your legal options.
Time is critical for preserving evidence and protecting your rights. Contact us immediately to begin building your strongest possible case. We handle all legal details while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
