Statistically speaking, about 40 percent of all car accidents happen near intersections. Those 40 percent of crashes cause roughly half of all car accident-related injuries and a quarter of all car accident fatalities every year. Needless to say, intersections - especially in busy cities like Santa Rosa, California - can be very dangerous to navigate.
If you’ve been injured in a Santa Rosa intersection accident because of someone else’s negligence, don’t let them off the hook. Whether you’ve needed costly medical treatment, been sidelined at work during your recovery, or suffered considerable damage to your car, they should be held accountable. Working with an experienced Santa Rosa car accident attorney at Singleton Schreiber can help you get every cent you deserve.
Car accident victims in Santa Rosa trust Singleton Schreiber because we’re local lawyers passionate about making a difference in the lives of the people we represent. Backed by decades of collective experience and national resources, we’ve helped clients obtain billions of dollars in monetary awards.
Now, we can help you make the most of your intersection accident case, too. Contact our award-winning personal injury law firm in Santa Rosa to arrange a free consultation now.
How Often Are There Accidents at Santa Rosa’s Intersections?
According to California crash data, 180 intersection accidents were reported in Santa Rosa in 2023 - representing 34.9 percent of all collisions in the city that year. While no intersection accident fatalities were reported, more than one-third of Santa Rosa’s crash-related injuries were sustained in intersection accidents.
So, there’s an accident at a Santa Rosa, CA, intersection roughly every two days.
Occupants of passenger vehicles aren’t the only ones who can get hurt while navigating Santa Rosa’s intersections. Everyone navigating the city’s roads - including bicyclists and pedestrians - can cross paths here.
In 2023, pedestrians were involved in 9.4 percent of Santa Rosa’s intersection accidents, while bicyclists and motorcyclists were each respectively involved in 4.4 percent of crossroads collisions.
What Types of Intersection Car Accidents Are Most Common in Santa Rosa?
While any type of car accident can potentially happen at an intersection in Santa Rosa, CA, these are the most common:
Broadside Collisions
More than 60 percent of collisions at Santa Rosa intersections are classified as broadside or T-Bone accidents. Broadside collisions occur when the front end of one vehicle drives straight into the side of another vehicle (thereby making a “T” shape).
Broadside collisions tend to happen when a driver ignores a traffic sign or signal and drives through an intersection when it’s not their turn. If there’s another car in the intersection when this happens, the driver who is there erroneously might drive directly into the passenger or driver’s side of that vehicle.
Head-On Collisions
Frontal collisions occur when the front ends of two vehicles traveling in opposite directions strike one another. In the context of an intersection accident, this can happen when a motorist drives on the wrong side of the road or makes a left-hand turn without checking for oncoming traffic. In Santa Rosa, 14 percent of intersection accidents are classified as head-on crashes.
Rear-End Collisions
Intersections require drivers - both at the intersection and those approaching it - to pay attention and anticipate potential changes in traffic. When a driver is distracted, drunk, drowsy, or aggressive, they might not notice that a traffic signal has turned from green or red (or vice versa) or that they’re approaching a crossroads at all. In these situations, drivers are likely to cause rear-end collisions by either impeding the normal flow of traffic or crashing into the car in front of them. Nearly 10 percent of Santa Rosa’s intersection accidents are rear-end wrecks.
Which Santa Rosa Intersections Are the Most Dangerous?
Looking at a map of traffic accidents in Santa Rosa, you’ll notice “hot spots” at certain intersections. These hot spots indicate places where collisions happen with greater frequency.
Some of these include:
- Bennett Valley Rd and E St
- Maple Ave and E St
- Sonoma Ave and E St
- 3rd St and B St
- Davis St and 6th St
- North St and Franklin Ave
- Guerneville Rd and Fulton Rd
- Santa Rosa Ave and Bellevue Ave
Knowing which intersections are the most dangerous can help you exercise extra caution and potentially avoid a collision.
Who’s Liable For an Intersection Accident in Santa Rosa?
Like most car accidents in Santa Rosa, those that unfold at or near an intersection usually happen because someone is careless. Some of the most common causes include distracted driving, road rage, tailgating, speeding, and drowsy driving. If someone causes an accident at a Santa Rosa intersection and you get hurt or experience the wrongful death of a loved one, you can hold them accountable for your damages.
More specifically, you can file a claim with their car insurance provider. Pursuant to California state law, all motorists are required to carry minimum amounts of car insurance coverage. You’ll be entitled to benefits up to their policy limits. If you’ve suffered a traumatic brain injury, a spinal cord injury, severe burns, or other catastrophic injuries, it might be necessary to seek additional damages to offset the difference between what the insurance company will pay and what you need to cover your losses.
However, if your injuries are severe, you’ll need to invest your time and energy into getting better. Hiring an experienced Santa Rosa personal injury lawyer can take the stress of a lawsuit off of your shoulders and provide an opportunity to focus on your recovery.
Choosing Singleton Schreiber means working with award-winning California civil trial attorneys with a billion-dollar track record of success. We care about each and every person we represent and don’t hesitate to take on powerful corporations on their behalf to help them find better days ahead.
You will only have two years from the date of your intersection accident to seek compensation under California state law, so don’t hesitate to contact our Santa Rosa law office for help. There’s no charge for your initial case review.
