Cerritos Intersection Crashes: Why “Lower Total” Doesn’t Mean “Low Severity” and What Still Proves Fault
When people look at accident statistics, they tend to look at gross numbers. If an intersection has fewer accidents than other intersections in the same city, it’s widely regarded as safer—but that number alone doesn’t always tell the real story. In cities like Cerritos, there are intersections that may see fewer crashes, but when crashes do occur, they result in more severe injuries. Your car accident attorney may look into crash statistics to get a better understanding of what caused your collision.
At the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates, we advocate for accident victims every single day. Robin Perry, Esq. has fought for clients for over 25 years, serving local clients and contributing to communities in Southern California. Find out how our Cerritos car accident law firm can help you now by calling us at 562-216-2944.
Why Crash Totals Alone Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Traffic safety reports tend to measure two different things. First, they look at crash frequency—how often collisions happen in a specific location. Second, they look at crash severity—how serious accidents are when they do occur.
An intersection with a low crash count may still be considered very dangerous if its collisions tend to leave victims severely injured. This is often the result of intersections with higher speeds, more dangerous impact angles, or a higher number of vulnerable road users like pedestrians and bicyclists.
Consider, for example, an intersection in a residential neighborhood. Because of fading stop signs and overgrown shrubbery, it sees a fairly high number of accidents. But speeds are low, so outcomes are usually minor. But if you move to a major arterial intersection, you may see a lower number of accidents. The higher speeds and road layout may result in more severe injuries, making it a more dangerous road.
This is why traffic engineers look beyond raw numbers when determining which changes to make to local roads.
Common Types of Cerritos Intersection Collisions
Car accident lawyers in California see the same types of collisions occur over and over on Cerritos roads. Some common types of accidents we see include:
- Left-turn accidents: Left-turn collisions are some of the most common and severe intersection accidents you’ll see in Cerritos. These collisions occur when a driver is turning left across oncoming traffic and misjudges the speed of the other vehicles or the distance between them. T-bone crashes can cause significant injuries, and in a top-heavy vehicle, they may result in rollovers. Car accident attorneys may need to step in to help victims recover compensation for severe or catastrophic injuries.
- Red light violations: Red light violations cause mayhem at intersections. In some cases, these accidents occur because someone thinks they can clear the intersection in time, only to actually enter after the light changes. In others, they’re the result of distracted drivers who don’t even know they’re entering against a red light.
- Failure to yield to pedestrians: When drivers fail to yield to pedestrians at intersections, the fallout can be fatal. Pedestrians have no real protection against vehicles.
Why Intersection Crashes Often Lead to Severe Injuries
Certain roadway conditions can ramp up the likelihood of an accident that causes severe injuries. As car accident lawyers, some of the common traits we see include:
- Higher approach speeds: Vehicles often fly along major corridors at 35 to 50 miles per hour, making collisions more severe when they occur.
- Wide multi-lane intersections: More lanes simply create additional potential points of impact when someone is trying to cross an intersection.
- Left-turn conflicts: Left-turn accidents often involve vehicles traveling at full speed, worsening outcomes for everyone involved.
- Signal timing issues: When traffic lights have short yellow lights, drivers may either rush to beat them or misjudge how much time they actually have to clear an intersection.
- Visibility concerns: Intersections that have large buildings, landscaping, or other obstacles can affect visibility.
Explore Your Legal Options With the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates
At the Law Offices of Robin D. Perry & Associates, we know how stressful a Cerritos collision can be. Call us at 562-216-2944 or send us a message online to discuss your case with our team now.
Attorney Robin D. Perry has been part of the Long Beach Community for over 25 years handling business litigation, employment litigation and advising, criminal defense, personal injury and code enforcement defense for businesses.
