People make driving mistakes all the time. It could be as simple as not maintaining a proper following distance, which is commonly known as tailgating. It could be distracted driving, which can cause someone to drift out of their lane.
When you look at accident statistics, roughly half of all collisions leading to injuries happen at intersections. Additionally, nearly a quarter of all fatal crashes occur at intersections. With such a high percentage of serious accidents occurring in this one location, it shows that driving mistakes have the most serious ramifications when roads cross.
Why is this true?
The reason for this is simply that traffic crosses paths at these points, so accidents are more likely. There is always going to be a level of inherent risk. This is also why turning left is one of the most dangerous driving maneuvers.
Intersections are designed to work if drivers make the correct choices. A red light tells a driver when to stop, for example, but it does not actually force them to do so. Drivers need to pay attention to ensure they do not run the light.
Furthermore, other drivers at the intersection will assume that those around them are going to make the correct decisions, such as going in the proper order at a four-way stop. But it only takes one driver to make a mistake while they are distracted by their cellphone or feeling fatigued as they drive. That mistake can cause an accident because other drivers are not going to anticipate the error.
To some degree, being a defensive driver can help, but nothing guarantees an accident will not happen. If you have been injured in a crash caused by another driver, you may have a right to substantial compensation, so be sure you know what legal steps to take.