Who’s AT-FAULT in Colorado Springs Car Accidents?

Written by Jeremy D. Earle, JD

March 5, 2023

BEST CAR ACCIDENT ATTORNEY IN COLORADO SPRINGS

After being wounded in a Colorado Springs car accident, the first question most people have is: “Who was at fault?” Nobody anticipates an accident, and even if the only damage is to your car, an accident may cause significant disruption in your life. Naturally, you want to know who caused the accident and who is responsible for your body and property injuries.

Establishing blame is difficult and will vary depending on the situation. Regardless, car accident injuries in Colorado Springs are costly, and the injuries may entirely change the direction of one’s life. Individuals who sustain minor injuries in car accidents in Colorado Springs must first seek reimbursement via their personal no-fault medical payments coverage MedPay insurance.

If your accident-related medical expenditures surpass $2,000, or if the accident caused:

  • The loss of a loved one
  • Loss of hearing, sight, or a limb
  • Significant or permanent deformity

A shattered bone, you may seek compensation for the at-fault responsible party via a personal injury lawsuit.
Suppose you were injured in a car accident due to someone else’s careless or reckless behavior. In that case, a Colorado Springs car accident lawyer could help you determine if you have a claim beyond PIP and can file your claim on your behalf.

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COMMON SCENARIOS OF CAR ACCIDENTS IN COLORADO SPRINGS

During the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic, the number of traffic accidents in Colorado Springs fell by 38% on interstates and 8% on municipal streets. While the reduction in accidents is encouraging, the sorts of accidents that are more likely to result in fatalities—such as those involving bikers or pedestrians—have risen. The figures in Colorado Springs are quite similar to the national pandemic rates, which tells a worrying narrative.

When adjusted for travel volumes, the number of total traffic-related deaths in Colorado Springs increased by an alarming 31%. The projected 45 per cent rise in car speeds as individuals drove on less-congested highways during the shutdowns was one of the key causes of this increase.

As society returns to pre-pandemic levels of activity, traffic congestion on city streets is returning, almost certainly increasing the number of accidents. Here are some of the most prevalent kinds of accidents that occur on Colorado Springs’ roads.

COLLISIONS ON BOTH SIDES

A broadside collision, also known as a T-bone or a side-impact collision, is a particularly severe form of accident in which one car’s front collides with the side. The most common location for this sort of collision is an intersection. The individuals seated on the side of the impacted car suffer the most serious injuries.

Because the car’s doors lack the same safeguards and locations that give a natural cushion from the accident’s impact, this is the case. If there is a substantial size difference between the two cars, the severity of the crash rises for the passengers of the smaller car.

Who is to blame? When one motorist fails to surrender the right-of-way to another, a broadside crash occurs. Intersections are the most common site of these collisions because they are the only places where cars moving in one direction must always yield to drivers travelling in opposite directions. Whether the front or side of their car was impacted, the motorist who failed to surrender right-of-way often caused the collision.

ACCIDENT INVOLVING A LEFT-HAND TURN

Failure to yield on a left turn, which often results in a broadside collision, is another prevalent circumstance that frequently leads to accidents in intersections. When a motorist making a left turn fails to appropriately gauge the distance in traffic and pulls into the path of an oncoming car, a left-turn accident occurs.

When a car makes a left turn on a green arrow, and an approaching traffic driver fails to cede the right-of-way, which usually means they run a red light, an accident might result.

Who is to blame? When it comes to left-turn accidents, whether the motorist who attempted the turn had a green arrow or not is typically the deciding factor. On left turns, the green arrow signifies that the turn lane has the right-of-way. Left-turning cars must surrender the right-of-way to drivers travelling straight through the green light if the green arrow is not on if the traffic signal does not display a green arrow.

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING A RIGHT-HAND TURN

When a car is hit while attempting to make a right-hand turn on a red light, it is known as a right-turn accident. Individuals wishing to turn right at an intersection in Colorado Springs must first stop at a red light to check that there is enough space in the traffic to execute the turn. When they’ve done so, the motorist may make the right turn. Exceptions to this regulation may exist at some junctions, as indicated by a sign.

Who is to blame? The motorist attempting the right turn, in most cases, is the one who causes the collision since they must cede the right-of-way. In right-turn and other failure-to-yield incidents, speeding drivers are the exception. When performing a right turn, speeding may make it difficult, if not impossible, for a motorist to effectively gauge if they have enough distance to complete the turn.

COLLISIONS WITH THE BACK OF THE CAR

Back-end crashes, which occur when the front of one car collides with the rear, are among the most prevalent. Around 1.7 million rear-end collisions occur in the United States each year, resulting in roughly 1,700 fatalities and half a million injuries.

The most common cause of rear-end collisions is when the driver of the following car tailgates or drives too close to the lead car. Tailgating raises the likelihood of an accident by reducing the distance required for a car to stop if the car in front of it abruptly stops.

Tailgating is often the consequence of inattentive driving or intoxicated driving, both of which affect the driver’s ability to pay attention to the road. Aggressive driving includes a variety of driving offences, including tailgating. Drivers typically drive recklessly to get through especially crowded places during Colorado Springs’ renowned traffic.

Who is to blame? Contrary to common assumption, rear-end collisions aren’t always the fault of the following car’s driver, but they generally are. The driver of the leading car may be held accountable if: 

  • they were reversing their car, or 
  • they were driving erratically due to impairment.
  • They purposefully slammed on the brakes to avoid being struck, a practice known as brake-checking.
  • They were driving a car with faulty tail lights.

COLLISIONS THAT COLLIDE HEAD-ON

Head-on accidents, in which the front of one car collides with the front of another, are uncommon but dangerous. When a motorist drives on the wrong side of the road, goes the wrong way down a one-way street, or crosses the centerline into the opposing travel lane, this sort of collision is common.

The following driving errors cause head-on crashes:

  • Failing to read the signs indicating the permissible direction of movement on a one-way street.
  • Crossing the centerline due to distractions such as texting or because the driver has fallen asleep 
  • Passing a car on a two-lane road by entering the opposite lane of travel in an area where such passing is banned 
  • Sliding into an opposing travel lane on wet or snowy roads

Who is to blame? In most head-on collisions, the motorist who enters the incorrect lane of travel—due to distraction, speeding, weariness, distraction, or even uncertainty regarding traffic signs—is held responsible for injuries and property damage. However, if the head-on collision was caused by a collision between two cars in the opposite travel lane, and the impact forced one of the vehicles to cross the centerline, the driver who caused the first collision may be held liable.

ON ICY ROADS, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT

In Colorado Springs, snow is always a possibility, especially between December and March. The city is very bustling at this time of year, with Christmas celebrations taking place throughout. Spring vacations and St. Patrick’s Day are celebrated in March, albeit the snow and ice aren’t always gone.

All of these activities increase the number of automobiles on Colorado Springs’ roads during snowstorms during the winter months. Although snowstorms are common in our area, it doesn’t imply that someone isn’t responsible for an ice road accident.

Who is to blame? Even on snowy roads, drivers must keep control of their cars and follow traffic regulations. This implies that even if a car tries to stop at a red light but slips through because they were travelling too fast for the ice conditions, you may hold them accountable for any resulting incident.

Similarly, suppose car moving lanes cross the centerline and collide head-on with another car. In that case, the driver who crossed the centerline may be solely responsible for failing to maintain their lane of travel.

Suppose an incorrect road design or another infrastructure flaw created an ice spot on the road. In that case, the municipal or state body in charge of repairing and maintaining roadways might be held liable.

AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY A TIRE BLOWOUT

When a tire cracks and loses air quickly, it is called a tire blowout. When this occurs, the car will usually veer violently to the side of the blowout and vibrate. Due to the great difficulty of navigating the car in traffic, this frequently results in an accident.

Tire blowouts are produced by a variety of factors, including: 

  • improper maintenance 
  • driving on bald tires 
  • under-inflation of the tire 
  • over-inflation of the tire 
  • over-loading the car 
  • large punctures, such as those caused by driving over something sharp

Who is to blame? Accidents caused by a blown tire are almost always the responsibility of the motorist who had the blown tire, especially if it was bald or not inflated according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Under-inflated tires are more likely to have sidewall failure, while over-inflated tires are more likely to have a puncture that results in a blowout.

However, in other cases, a tire flaw causes the blowout, in which case the manufacturer or distributor may be held liable for designing, manufacturing, and selling a dangerous product.

HAVE YOU BEEN INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN COLORADO SPRINGS?

JEREMY D. EARLE, JD, IS A LAWYER WHO SPECIALIZES IN CAR ACCIDENTS

An car accident may alter a person’s life forever in an instant, leaving them with a disability, missed pay, and significant negative effects on their quality of life.

Suppose you have been injured in a car accident. In that case, you should contact an expert Colorado Springs car accident lawyer who can protect your right to seek the maximum amount of compensation possible in your case.

One of these services is identifying all potential sources of responsibility depending on the accident situation and pursuing all available insurance resources to deliver the compensation you need. Call an attorney; they will generally provide you with a free case review so you can make the best option possible.

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