What This Page Covers

• How intersection crashes often happen when drivers ignore traffic signals, fail to yield, become distracted, or misjudge complex roadway layouts.
• Examples of dangerous Maryland intersections, including locations in Baltimore, Upper Marlboro, and Annapolis where heavy traffic, red-light violations, distracted driving, or confusing signage may contribute to crashes.
• Different intersection types, including four-way intersections, T-intersections, roundabouts, and multi-leg intersections, and how right-of-way mistakes can lead to collisions.
• Why T-bone crashes are common and especially dangerous at intersections, with injuries that may include broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, whiplash, and other serious harm.
• How evidence such as eyewitness statements, police reports, photographs, traffic-camera footage, and expert testimony can help establish liability.

Why This Matters

• Intersection crashes can cause severe or fatal injuries because vehicles may collide at right angles with little protection on the side of the vehicle.
• Neck injuries such as whiplash, herniated discs, fractures, pinched nerves, and ligament damage can require ongoing treatment, medication, therapy, or surgery.
• Medical expenses may include ambulance transport, hospital care, diagnostic testing, medications, surgery, rehabilitation, medical equipment, and future treatment.
• Other recoverable losses may include property damage, lost wages, reduced future earnings, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.
• Maryland’s contributory negligence rule makes careful evidence collection important because disputes over fault can affect whether compensation is available.

Key Actions You Can Take

• Get medical attention after the crash and follow through with recommended care, especially if you develop neck pain, stiffness, headaches, numbness, dizziness, or other symptoms.
• Photograph the vehicles, roadway, traffic signals, signs, visibility conditions, and anything else that may show how the intersection crash happened.
• Collect witness names and statements when possible, and identify nearby traffic cameras that may have recorded the collision.
• Keep records of medical bills, treatment, missed work, property damage, and other losses connected to the accident.
• Have an experienced Maryland car accident lawyer review the evidence, liability issues, and available damages. Zirkin & Schmerling offers a free consultation.

Intersection accidents frequently cause motorists to suffer serious injuries in Maryland. These crashes almost always occur due to driver negligence at busy intersection locations. A driver may fail to see traffic signals or ignore them, resulting in major accidents. If you suffered from an intersection crash caused by another driver, you can file a personal injury claim against the at fault driver to recover compensation.

Don’t let the at-fault driver’s insurance company undervalue your claim — get experienced legal representation. Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers represent injured clients in Maryland, and we will fight to secure the fair compensation that’s rightfully yours.

Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers car accident lawyers can help you gather evidence to prove your personal injury claim, including eyewitness testimony, police reports, and expert witness testimony. Our law firm can help in determining liability, an essential part in recovering money for property damage, medical bills, lost wages, loss of future earnings, emotional distress, and more.

You can request a free consultation with our car accident lawyers today by calling 410-753-4611.

Most Dangerous Intersections in Maryland

While serious accidents can happen at any intersection, certain intersections in Maryland have proved especially dangerous. Notable hazardous intersections in Maryland include:

Intersection of Gwynns Falls Parkway and Reisterstown Road

This Baltimore intersection is the most dangerous in Maryland. It’s located in a heavy traffic area near shopping centers. Numerous drivers made red light violations at this intersection, causing many severe injuries and deaths.

Intersection of U.S. Route 301 and Central Avenue

This intersection in Upper Marlboro, Prince George’s County, is known for its bustling traffic flow during rush hour. The busy intersection has been the site of numerous car accident cases, including serious distracted driving crashes.

Intersection of U.S. Route 50 and Maryland Route 70

Many intersection crashes have occurred at this intersection near Annapolis. Confusing signage may contribute to the amount of fatal crashes in this area.

If you’re involved in an accident at these intersections, you should collect evidence at the accident scene if you’re physically able. Be sure to collect eyewitness testimony and take photos of the vehicle damage. You should also record any factors that may have contributed to the crash, such as poor visibility at the intersection. Faded road signs, obstructed traffic signs, and overgrown trees could have contributed to the intersection accident.

You should note if any traffic cameras could have recorded your intersection accident. Traffic camera footage is valuable for determining fault in car accident cases. Personal injury lawyers can help you by subpoenaing traffic camera footage and tracking down accident reports.

Types of Intersections

Maryland drivers have a responsibility to operate their vehicles safely at different types of intersections. Failing to yield the right of way at these intersections can result in serious collisions:

Crossroad Intersection (Four-Way): Crossroad intersections are the most common type. They consist of two roads crossing at a 90-degree angle to create a “+” shape. A driver may fail to adhere to traffic rules by running a red light or stop signs, causing a collision.

T-Intersections (Three-Way): A T-intersection is similar to a crossroad, but one road ends at the intersection, creating a “T” shape. Motorists on the terminating road typically must yield the right of way to drivers on the through road.

Roundabouts (Traffic Circle): Many Maryland drivers are unfamiliar with how to navigate a roundabout safely. Drivers are supposed to yield to other drivers who are already within the roundabout. A motorist unfamiliar with roundabout rules may fail to yield to oncoming traffic within the circle.

Multi-Leg Intersections: Multi-leg intersections feature more than two roads meeting, resulting in a junction with a complex layout. These intersections may confuse a motorist and cause them to enter without having the right of way.

Most Common Intersection Accident: T Bone

T bone accidents are incredibly deadly and common at intersections. These car accident cases happen when a vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle head-on. These accidents usually occur at intersections, where other vehicles traveling on perpendicular roads can collide if one driver fails to yield the right of way.

If a distracted driver fails to see an approaching stop sign, they may enter the crossing and strike the side of another vehicle at a 90-degree angle. The force of collision can cause the other driver to suffer broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, and various other severe injuries.

T-bone accidents often result in serious or even fatal personal injuries because the sides of a vehicle lack the protective features found in the front and rear. When a victim’s car is struck, they sustain more force from the collision, potentially causing life-threatening injuries.

Neck Injuries Caused by Intersection Accidents

Many victims who experience T bone accidents and other types of intersection crashes suffer from devastating neck injuries. Common injuries in collisions include:

• Whiplash
• Spinal injuries, such as cervical herniated discs
• Neck fractures
• Pinched nerves
• Strained or torn cervical ligaments
• Facet joint injuries

Whiplash is common in car accident cases. These neck injuries occur when a person’s head suddenly whips backward and forward due to collision force.

Common whiplash symptoms include neck pain that worsens with movement, stiffness and reduced range of motion, headaches, pain in the arms, upper back, and shoulders, arm numbness or tingling, dizziness, and fatigue.

While many believe that whiplash is minor, it can cause serious harm to an injured victim requiring surgery, medications, and physical therapy. Our legal team can help recover compensation for your medical expenses.

Medical Expenses You Can Recover

If you suffer from whiplash or another medical condition after an intersection accident, your recovery will depend on the damages you can collect from the responsible party. You’re entitled to receive the full extent of your accident-related expenses including ambulance expenses, hospitalization, doctor’s visits, diagnostic tests, medications, surgeries, physical and occupational therapy, medical equipment and ongoing treatments.

In addition to recouping medical expenses, an injured victim is entitled to other losses that directly result from the crash. For example, if a motorist isn’t paying attention when approaching a red light and T bones your vehicle, the driver’s insurance company is liable for all of your resulting damages. This may include property damage, lost wages, loss of future earnings, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life.

In rare cases, a car accident victim may also recover punitive damages. These damages are meant to punish a party for engaging in especially harmful and malicious behavior that puts others at risk.

If you believe you’re entitled to punitive damages, you should consult with personal injury lawyers to assist you with your complex case.

Contact the Maryland Car Accident Lawyers at Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers

You shouldn’t have to pay for financial losses that result from someone else’s negligent or reckless driving. If you’re involved in an intersection accident, contact the car accident lawyers at Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers. Our law firm can help you collect evidence, including witness statements, and seek compensation for all of your damages.

The personal injury lawyers at our firm are ready to guide you throughout the legal process, helping you secure maximum compensation for your intersection accident. We will help you sort through evidence which is an essential component in determining liability due to the state’s contributory negligence law.

Our car accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won’t pay for legal services until we win or settle your case. You can get started today by requesting a free case evaluation. Contact Zirkin & Schmerling Injury Lawyers today at 410-753-4611 or schedule your free consultation with personal injury lawyers.

Intersection Accidents FAQs 

What if a malfunctioning traffic signal contributed to my Maryland intersection accident?

A malfunctioning signal can change how fault is investigated. Evidence about the signal, maintenance records, witness accounts, and traffic-camera footage may help show whether a roadway or traffic-control problem contributed to the crash.

Can a passenger injured in an intersection crash seek compensation?

Yes. An injured passenger may pursue compensation from the driver or drivers whose negligence caused the collision, including the driver of the vehicle the passenger was riding in when appropriate.

What if the driver who caused the intersection accident fled the scene?

You may still have options. If the driver cannot be identified, uninsured motorist coverage may apply. Police reports, surveillance footage, vehicle damage, and other evidence can help support the claim.

What if the at-fault driver does not have enough insurance?

Uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage may provide additional compensation when the at-fault driver has no insurance or insufficient coverage. The available benefits depend on the policy and the facts of the crash.

Can PIP benefits help after an intersection accident in Maryland?

Yes, if Personal Injury Protection coverage is available under your policy. PIP may help pay certain medical expenses and lost wages regardless of who caused the crash, subject to the policy terms and coverage limits.

Can I still prove an intersection accident claim if there were no eyewitnesses?

Yes. A claim can still be supported by traffic-camera or surveillance footage, vehicle damage, photographs, police reports, skid marks, electronic data, and other physical evidence.

Does a traffic citation automatically determine who is liable for an intersection crash?

No. A citation can be useful evidence, but it does not automatically decide civil liability. Fault is determined from the full circumstances and all available evidence.

What if my injuries do not appear until hours or days after the intersection crash?

Delayed symptoms can still be connected to the accident. Get appropriate medical care, explain when the symptoms began, follow treatment recommendations, and keep records of your diagnosis and recovery.

Can a pedestrian or cyclist injured at an intersection pursue compensation?

Yes. A pedestrian or cyclist may have a claim when a negligent driver fails to yield, runs a signal, or otherwise causes the collision. Fault and available insurance coverage still need to be established.

Can an employer be responsible if the driver who caused the intersection accident was working?

Potentially. If the at-fault driver was acting within the scope of employment, the employer may also be involved in the claim. Employment status, job duties, and the circumstances of the trip must be reviewed.