If you frequently travel by motor vehicle in Pennsylvania, you no doubt encounter sections of roadway that form crossroads or intersections. Motorists, as well as pedestrians, must act with caution at all times but especially in these areas. If you live in or travel through Reading, you’ll want to be aware that this location is known for having some of the most dangerous intersections throughout the state.
In or outside of Reading, there are numerous issues that increase the risk for collisions at intersections. Some of the results of recent studies were surprising, including the fact that many of the crashes that occur take place at secured intersections, meaning that there are traffic lights or signage in place to govern traffic flow.
These three issues place you at risk in an intersection
Traffic and collision analysts say that there are a high number of accidents at intersections that contain stop signs and traffic lights. The following list shows three distinct issues that have been determined to be problematic in the Reading area:
- Speeding
- Disregard of traffic lights or road signage
- Visibility obstructions from parked vehicles or other objects
If you are a pedestrian who steps into a crosswalk when your walk light signals for you to go, you are still at risk if an approaching vehicle fails to stop at a red light. If you are behind the wheel of a car and start to enter an intersection when the light turns green, disaster may occur if another driver disregards a traffic signal and crosses your path in the crossroad.
No intersection is completely without safety risks
There’s always a risk involved when you are driving a car or walking across a street in Pennsylvania. However, you can reasonably expect all motorists to obey traffic laws and to act with caution at intersections. If a vehicle hits you, not only might you suffer severe physical injuries, you might also experience emotional trauma and financial distress in the days and weeks that follow the incident.
Recovery after a car accident can be difficult in many ways, especially if you have to take time off work due to the severity of your injuries. In some cases, your injuries might be life-threatening or so severe that you are permanently unable to return to work. If yours is the primary income in your household, this could bring you to the brink of financial ruin, which is why state law allows recovering accident victims to seek compensation for damages in court.