You’re driving through Colorado Springs, maybe heading home from work or picking up groceries, when suddenly your world gets turned upside down. An intersection accident happens in the blink of an eye, but dealing with the aftermath can drag on for what feels like forever. If you’ve been hurt in an intersection crash here in the Springs, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed and wondering what your next steps should be.
Here’s the thing about intersection accidents in Colorado Springs – they’re incredibly common and often more complicated than they first appear. I’ve seen too many people try to handle these cases on their own, only to get steamrolled by insurance companies or miss out on what they actually deserved. That’s why having the right legal representation can make all the difference between getting fairly compensated and getting stuck with massive medical bills.
Why Intersection Accidents Are Such a Big Deal in Colorado Springs
Let me paint you a picture of what we’re dealing with here in Colorado Springs. According to current data, intersection crashes account for about 40% of all traffic incidents in our city. That’s not a typo – nearly half of all accidents happen at intersections. This rate has remained frustratingly steady from 2024 into 2025, which means if you’re driving around town, you’ve got a pretty significant chance of running into trouble at one of these crossroads.
What makes this even scarier is how deadly these accidents can be, especially for motorcyclists. Over 40% of fatal motorcycle crashes occur at intersections, which should make all of us think twice about how we navigate these areas. But it’s not just motorcycles – pedestrians and cyclists are incredibly vulnerable too.
The reality is that intersections are basically conflict zones where multiple streams of traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists all converge. Add in factors like Colorado Springs’ elevation changes, sudden weather shifts, and some poorly designed intersections, and you’ve got a recipe for serious accidents.
The Most Dangerous Intersections You Should Know About
If you’ve lived in Colorado Springs for any length of time, you probably already know which intersections make you grip the steering wheel a little tighter. Powers and Woodmen Road is notorious for being a crash hotspot, and there’s good reason for that reputation. The combination of high-speed traffic, poor visibility during certain times of day, and drivers who seem to think yellow lights are just suggestions creates a perfect storm.
But it’s not just the big, obvious intersections you need to worry about. Some of the most dangerous spots are those smaller intersections where people get complacent or where visibility is compromised by buildings, trees, or Colorado’s ever-changing weather conditions.
What’s Really Causing These Intersection Accidents
After working with accident victims for years, I can tell you that the causes of intersection accidents often fall into predictable patterns. Understanding these can help you protect yourself, but more importantly, they’re key factors in building a strong legal case if you’ve already been hurt.
Distracted Driving Is Everywhere
This one makes my blood boil because it’s so preventable. Distracted driving, especially texting and phone use, accounts for about 30% of intersection crashes in 2025. Think about that – nearly one in three intersection accidents happens because someone couldn’t put their phone down for a few seconds.
I’ve seen cases where drivers were scrolling through social media, responding to work emails, or even watching videos while approaching intersections. The results are always devastating, and the victims are always the ones who pay the price for someone else’s poor choices.
Impaired Driving Remains a Serious Problem
Alcohol and drug impairment is a factor in about 20% of intersection accidents. This includes not just drunk driving, but also drivers under the influence of prescription medications, marijuana, or other substances that affect their reaction times and judgment.
What’s particularly frustrating about impaired driving cases is that they’re completely preventable, yet they continue to happen with alarming frequency. If you’ve been hit by an impaired driver, you’re likely looking at both criminal charges against the other driver and a civil case for your damages.
Infrastructure Problems That Nobody Talks About
Here’s something that doesn’t get enough attention – sometimes the intersection itself is part of the problem. Poorly designed intersections, inadequate signage, and traffic signals with bad timing all contribute to accidents. I’ve worked on cases where the city or county could have prevented an accident with better infrastructure, but they chose to ignore known problems.
These cases can be particularly complex because they might involve government entities, which have special legal protections. But that doesn’t mean you can’t hold them accountable when their negligence contributes to your injuries.
Why You Need a Lawyer Who Actually Gets Intersection Accidents
Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat this – intersection accident cases are getting more complicated every year. What used to be straightforward fault determinations have become intricate puzzles involving multiple parties, complex liability issues, and insurance companies that are getting increasingly aggressive about denying claims.
The Insurance Game Has Changed
Insurance companies aren’t playing around anymore. They’re using advanced investigative tools and specialized teams to analyze intersection accidents, looking for any excuse to minimize or deny your claim. They’ll scrutinize every detail, from the exact timing of traffic signals to your medical history from ten years ago.
This is where having experienced legal representation becomes a game-changer. At McCormick & Murphy P.C., we’ve been dealing with these insurance company tactics for decades. Since 1995, we’ve recovered millions of dollars for our Colorado clients, and we know exactly how these insurance investigators think and work.
Technology Is Both Friend and Foe
The good news is that there’s more evidence available now than ever before. Traffic cameras, dash cams, cell phone videos, GPS data, and even information from your car’s computer systems can all help prove what really happened in your accident.
The bad news? You need to know how to find this evidence, preserve it, and use it the right way. Some of this evidence disappears quickly – traffic camera footage might only be stored for 30 days, and accident scenes get cleaned up and changed rapidly.
That’s why it’s so important to get legal help quickly after an intersection accident. The sooner we can start investigating your case, the more evidence we can gather to support your claim.
What Makes McCormick & Murphy Different
With over 60 years of combined legal experience, we’ve seen just about every type of intersection accident you can imagine. Our team knows Colorado Springs inside and out – we know which intersections are problematic, which insurance companies try to lowball settlements, and which medical providers give our clients the best care.
We’re located right here in Colorado Springs at 929 W Colorado Ave, so we’re not some distant firm trying to handle your case from across the state. We live and work in this community, and we understand the unique challenges that Colorado Springs drivers face.
What really sets us apart is our approach to these cases. We don’t just file paperwork and hope for the best. We dig deep into every aspect of your accident, often working with accident reconstruction experts, medical professionals, and other specialists to build the strongest possible case.
Our Track Record Speaks for Itself
You can check out our professional credentials and client reviews to see what other people have to say about working with us. But here’s what I think is most important – we’ve been doing this for nearly 30 years, and we’re still here because we get results for our clients.
We’ve handled intersection accident cases involving everything from minor fender-benders to catastrophic crashes that changed people’s lives forever. Each case is unique, but our commitment to fighting for fair compensation never wavers.
Common Problems We See (And How We Solve Them)
Problem #1: Insurance Companies Claiming You’re at Fault
This is probably the most common issue we encounter. You know you had the right of way, but the insurance company is trying to pin the blame on you. Maybe they’re saying you were speeding, or that you should have been more careful, or that you contributed to the accident in some way.
Our solution: We immediately start gathering evidence to prove what really happened. This might include getting traffic camera footage, interviewing witnesses, analyzing skid marks and vehicle damage, and working with accident reconstruction experts. We also examine the other driver’s record and look for evidence of distraction, impairment, or other negligent behavior.
Problem #2: Delayed Injury Symptoms
You felt okay right after the accident, maybe even declined medical attention at the scene. But now, days or weeks later, you’re dealing with pain, headaches, or other symptoms. The insurance company is trying to argue that your injuries aren’t related to the accident.
Our solution: We work with medical professionals who understand how intersection accident injuries can manifest over time. Conditions like whiplash, concussions, and soft tissue injuries often don’t show symptoms immediately. We make sure you get the medical evaluation you need and that your doctors understand the connection between your symptoms and the accident.
Problem #3: Lowball Settlement Offers
The insurance company made you an offer, but it doesn’t come close to covering your medical bills, lost wages, and other damages. They’re pressuring you to accept it quickly, claiming it’s the best you’ll get.
Our solution: We calculate the true value of your claim, including not just your current expenses but also future medical costs, ongoing pain and suffering, and lost earning capacity. We’re not afraid to take cases to trial if insurance companies won’t offer fair settlements.
Best Practices for Protecting Yourself
While I hope you never need this information, here are some helpful steps you can take to protect yourself if you’re ever in an intersection accident:
1. Stay at the Scene and Call 911
Even if the accident seems minor, call the police. Colorado law requires you to report accidents involving injuries or significant property damage, and having an official police report can be super helpful for your case later.
2. Document Everything
Take photos of the vehicles, the intersection, any visible injuries, and the surrounding area. Get the other driver’s insurance information, license plate number, and contact details. If there are witnesses, get their information too.
3. Seek Medical Attention
Even if you feel fine, consider seeing a doctor within a day or two of the accident. Some injuries don’t show symptoms immediately, and having medical documentation can be important for your case.
4. Don’t Give Recorded Statements
The other driver’s insurance company will likely call you asking for a recorded statement. Politely decline and tell them to contact your attorney. These statements are often used against you later.
5. Contact an Experienced Intersection Accident Lawyer
Don’t wait to get legal help. The sooner we can start working on your case, the better we can protect your interests and gather important evidence.
What’s Happening in 2025: Trends You Should Know About
The legal world for intersection accidents is evolving rapidly. Courts now expect much more detailed accident reconstructions and expert testimony than they did just a few years ago. This reflects the increasing complexity of these cases and the need for specialized legal expertise.
We’re also seeing more multi-party claims, where several vehicles and drivers might share responsibility for an accident. These cases require careful analysis to determine how fault should be allocated and which insurance policies should cover your damages.
On the positive side, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has been implementing safety improvements at high-risk intersections throughout 2025. These include better signal timing, improved signage, and pedestrian safety islands. While these improvements are helping reduce accidents, they also create opportunities to hold government entities accountable when they fail to address known hazards.
Understanding Colorado’s Laws
Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence rule, which means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident – as long as you weren’t more than 50% responsible. However, your recovery will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
This is why fault determination is so important in intersection accident cases. The difference between being found 30% at fault versus 60% at fault can mean the difference between getting significant compensation and getting nothing at all.
Colorado also has specific requirements for insurance coverage, including minimum liability limits. However, these minimums often aren’t enough to cover serious intersection accident injuries, which is why we also look for other sources of compensation, such as underinsured motorist coverage.
When to Call McCormick & Murphy
Don’t wait to get help if you’ve been hurt in an intersection accident. The earlier we can get involved in your case, the better we can protect your rights and build a strong claim for compensation.
You should definitely call us if:
- You’ve suffered any injuries, even if they seem minor
- The other driver’s insurance company is disputing fault
- You’re dealing with significant medical bills or lost wages
- The accident involved multiple vehicles or complex circumstances
- You’re feeling overwhelmed by the insurance process
We also handle cases throughout Colorado, so if you’re in Denver or Pueblo, we can help there too.
Taking the Next Step
Dealing with an intersection accident is stressful enough without having to worry about legal complexities and insurance company games. You shouldn’t have to become an expert in accident law just to get fair compensation for your injuries.
That’s where we come in. At McCormick & Murphy P.C., we handle the legal side of things so you can focus on recovering from your injuries and getting your life back on track. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t pay us unless we win your case.
If you’re ready to take the next step, contact us today. You can call us at (719)-389-0400 or email [email protected]. We’ll review your case, explain your options, and help you understand what to expect moving forward.
Remember, intersection accidents are complicated, but you don’t have to face the aftermath alone. With the right legal team on your side, you can focus on healing while we fight to get you the compensation you deserve.
