Why side impacts can be serious
The side of a car has less space between the door and the person inside. Even at lower speeds, a side hit can cause head, shoulder, hip and rib injuries.
If you were sitting on the side that was hit, tell your doctor exactly where the impact came from. It can help explain your injuries.
Right of way rules that often matter
A driver turning left at an intersection must yield to vehicles coming from the opposite direction that are close enough to be a danger. That's the law in Arizona (A.R.S. § 28-772) and Georgia (O.C.G.A. § 40-6-71).
Other common causes include running a red light, rolling through a stop sign, or pulling out of a driveway or parking lot. A police citation can help, but it doesn't decide the insurance claim by itself.
The 3-Point Claim Check
- 1
An injury
You were hurt, even if it didn't seem serious at first.
- 2
Someone else at fault
Another driver or company caused the crash.
- 3
Insurance coverage
There's a policy that may cover what happened.
When both drivers blame each other
It's common for each driver to say they had the green light. When that happens, the insurer may split fault or deny the claim.
Arizona still lets you recover a reduced amount even if you share some fault (A.R.S. § 12-2505). In Georgia, you must be less than 50% at fault to recover (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33), so evidence about the light can make a big difference.
Evidence that helps
- Witnesses who saw the light or stop sign. Get names and phone numbers at the scene if you can.
- Traffic, red light or business cameras near the intersection. Footage may be deleted fast.
- Dashcam video from you or another driver.
- Photos showing where each car came to rest.
- The police report and any diagram it includes.
Next steps
Get medical care, keep your records, and be careful about agreeing with the other driver's version of events. If their insurer is denying fault, an attorney can help gather the proof.
It's free to check your claim, and you don't have to go ahead.