Car Accidents at Intersections: Who Is at Fault?
Posted on: October 4, 2025
Car accidents that occur at intersections, also known as “T-bone” crashes, are incredibly dangerous events. The reason is that both cars would sustain a serious impact. The driver who strikes the other would be dealing with effects similar to a head-on crash. The one whose car was struck could have been hit on the driver’s side and seriously injured as a result. Although there is a possibility that both drivers may share in some of the blame, there is usually one driver who was at fault for the accident.
What Is the Legal Rule in an Intersection Car Crash?
The legal rule in an intersection car accident is that the driver who has failed to yield the right of way as required by law is the one who is legally responsible for the accident. Typically, this is the motorist who has run either a red light or a stop sign. A driver may have also not made a turn at the proper time, or they may not have given a fellow motorist enough time to complete a turn. While you think liability may be clear under these circumstances, it is not always the case.
You would prove liability by coming forward with evidence that shows that someone else failed to yield the right of way. In some cases, what happened to cause the car accident could be very clear. There may have been witnesses to the crash who saw what happened, and they are able to testify. A police officer may have even shown up to the scene and issued a citation to the driver who ran a red light or stop sign. These are known as easier types of intersection car accidents because you may not have to fight to establish liability.
How Does a “Truth Contest” Affect Your Case?
In some circumstances, the other driver could be telling a completely different story from yours. They may be fully aware of the legal consequences of admitting, and they try to blame you for the accident. They have more of a chance of doing so when there is no one around who saw the crash.
In that case, it could be a matter of your word against that of the other driver. You would need evidence of your own to break the so-called “truth contest” and establish that the other driver was at fault. If you are not able to do so, you may not be able to receive any financial compensation.
There are times when both you and the other driver may share fault for the accident. For example, the other driver may have run a red light, but you were speeding through the intersection. In that event, you may find that your financial compensation is reduced by the amount of blame that you bear for the accident. If you are more than 51% responsible for the crash, you would not be able to receive compensation at all.
The insurance company may try to blame you in some way for the accident because they want to reduce the amount of money that they owe you in a settlement. If you are being wrongfully assigned any blame for the accident, it is vital that you fight back. With the help of a car accident lawyer, you may need to present evidence of your own to clear your name of these wrongful allegations. If you do not push back, you may find that you get a smaller settlement and do not have the money that you need in the future to pay for your injuries.
Contact the Freehold Car Accident Lawyers at Ellis Law to Get the Compensation You Deserve for Your Car Crash Injuries
If you have been injured in an intersection crash, speak to the Freehold car accident lawyers at Ellis Law. We can investigate the accident and gather the evidence that you need to win. For a free consultation, contact us online or call today at 732-308-0200. With office locations in New Jersey and New York, we proudly serve clients throughout both states.
