I recently had an accident at a busy intersection in Memphis. As I was making a left hand turn, a car entered the intersection and crashed into my passenger side door. What are the rules for safe turns at intersections? Am I at fault?

While we cannot be exactly sure what happened in your case, we can share some important rules of intersection safety. Because traffic crosses paths at intersections, the chances for accidents are greater than in other situations.

It is very important that drivers understand the following rules. If everyone did, the number of Tennessee intersection accidents would decrease greatly.

When you see an emergency vehicle, whether it is a fire truck, police car or ambulance, that vehicle has the right of way, no matter what. All other traffic shouldstop and get to the side of the road if possible. No vehicle should move until the emergency vehicle passes through the intersection.
All pedestrians have the right of way. This is another situation in which there are no ifs, ands, or buts.
Intersections with four-way stop signs and no traffic lights can confuse people. The first car to stop has the right of way. If two cars stop at the same time, the one on the right goes first.
A green light means you can go, but only if the way is clear. Green does not mean you have the right of way. It only means you can proceed with caution.
A green arrow means that you can turn, but again, only if the way is clear. Special caution is needed at all green lights, as other drivers may run red lights, putting you in danger.
Amber lights confuse many people. If the light turns amber and it is possible, you must stop at the line. The only exception is if you are traveling too fast to stop safely.

Always drive defensively through intersections. In your case, you may well have just cause to file a Tennessee car accident claim against the other driver. To find out more, call an experienced Memphis auto accident attorney. Greer Injury Lawyers offers a compassionate, caring representation of auto accident victims. Our toll free number is 888-470-9143. Call for a free consultation today.