Austin, Texas, remains one of the fastest-growing metro areas in the country. The suburbs north of the city, such as Harris Ridge and Dessau, have seen some of the biggest changes and most rapid development. With growth, however, comes traffic congestion and accidents.
In particular, the East Howard Lane and Harrisglenn Drive intersection in Austin presents several risks for drivers, including high traffic speeds and vehicles entering from stop-controlled approaches. Whether you’re a local or plan to visit the area, it’s important to learn more about these intersection hazards and how an Austin intersection accident lawyer from McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers can help after a car crash.
Contact (512) 474-0222 today to schedule a free consultation.
How McMinn Law Firm Can Help After An Intersection Accident In Austin, TX
Since our opening, McMinn Law Firm has helped accident victims in Austin, TX, fight for compensation for all types of injuries, from minor to severe. With over 50 years of combined experience at our disposal, we’ve secured over half a billion dollars in financial compensation for our injured clients.
When someone’s carelessness at an intersection results in an injury crash, our Austin car accident lawyers can assist you in the following ways:
- Review your accident and explain your choices for pursuing injury compensation
- Investigate the case by recovering records and other evidence
- Prepare your claim and negotiate with the other driver’s insurer to resolve it
- Sue the other driver for compensation if their insurer refuses to settle fairly
Intersection accidents, especially T-bone and head-on collisions, can cause serious, disabling injuries. Contact us to schedule a free meeting with an Austin personal injury attorney from our team to discover your options for pursuing compensation.
Where Is the Howard Lane and Harrisglenn Drive Intersection?
Howard Lane intersects with Harrisglenn Drive about 11 miles northeast of Downtown Austin in the Harris Ridge neighborhood.
Howard Lane is a high-volume, divided roadway with two lanes in each direction separated by a median. Although it does not have a highway designation, it carries substantial traffic. The speed limit approaching Harrisglenn Drive is 40 miles per hour.
Harrisglenn Drive is a wide street with one lane in each direction. Its speed limit is also 40 miles per hour near Howard Lane, although a nearby school zone reduces the limit to 25 miles per hour when the school zone signs are active.
How Is Traffic Controlled at Howard Lane and Harrisglenn Drive?
The intersection of Howard Lane and Harrisglenn Drive does not have traffic signals. Instead, stop signs control northbound and southbound traffic on Harrisglenn Drive, while drivers on Howard Lane can travel through the intersection without stopping.
Drivers approaching on Harrisglenn Drive must stop and yield to traffic on Howard Lane before proceeding. The permitted movements differ depending on the direction of travel:
- Northbound Harrisglenn Drive: Drivers may continue straight through the intersection or turn left or right onto Howard Lane.
- Southbound Harrisglenn Drive: Drivers may continue straight or turn right onto Howard Lane. A posted sign prohibits left turns.
These traffic controls make yielding particularly important for drivers entering or crossing Howard Lane, where approaching vehicles may be traveling at higher speeds.
Why Is the Howard Lane and Harrisglenn Drive Intersection Dangerous?
The intersection of Howard Lane and Harrisglenn Drive presents several risks because of its traffic patterns, speed limits, and lack of traffic signals. Drivers entering or crossing Howard Lane from Harrisglenn Drive must judge approaching traffic before proceeding.
Several factors can make this intersection particularly hazardous:
- High traffic speeds: The posted speed limit on both roads is 40 miles per hour, giving drivers less time to react when another vehicle enters their path.
- No traffic signals: Stop signs control Harrisglenn Drive, but traffic on Howard Lane does not have to stop. Drivers who fail to yield can cause collisions with vehicles traveling through the intersection.
- Multiple lanes of traffic: Howard Lane has two lanes in each direction, requiring drivers crossing or turning left to account for vehicles approaching in multiple lanes.
- Turning restrictions: Southbound drivers on Harrisglenn Drive cannot turn left onto Howard Lane. Drivers who overlook or disregard this restriction may create conflicts with approaching traffic.
- Nearby school zone: The school zone on Harrisglenn Drive can increase pedestrian activity and requires drivers to adjust their speeds when the reduced speed limit is active.
These conditions can contribute to intersection crashes, particularly when drivers misjudge gaps in traffic, fail to stop, or attempt unsafe turns onto Howard Lane.
Top Causes of Intersection Accidents in Austin
Under Texas law, the driver must stop until they can cross the intersection or enter the roadway without interfering with traffic or colliding with vehicles on the roadway. Since the intersection of Howard Lane and Harrisglenn Drive has no traffic signals, drivers on Harrisglenn Drive must stop and yield.
Some common causes of intersection accidents at Howard Lane and Harrisglenn Drive include the following:
- Failure to yield: Under Texas law, drivers must yield to vehicles with the right of way before entering an intersection. Drivers on Harrisglenn Drive may cause collisions by running the stop sign or misjudging the speed or distance of approaching vehicles on Howard Lane.
- Failure to yield to pedestrians: The intersection has marked crosswalks across Harrisglenn Drive but no marked crosswalks across Howard Lane. Drivers must yield to pedestrians when required by Texas law, including at qualifying unmarked crosswalks.
- Distracted and inattentive driving: Drivers who are texting, using navigation systems, or otherwise distracted may fail to notice approaching vehicles, pedestrians, or the stop sign. Inattention can also prevent drivers on Howard Lane from reacting to vehicles entering the intersection.
These accidents can result in serious injuries, particularly when drivers enter Howard Lane without yielding to approaching traffic. An Austin car accident attorney can help you identify what may have caused your crash and who may be liable.
Contact Our Austin, TX, Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
An intersection accident in Austin, Texas, at East Howard Lane and Harrisglenn Drive can leave you with debilitating injuries and significant medical bills. Contact McMinn Law Firm for a free consultation with an Austin intersection accident attorney and find out how our determined team can fight for your future today.
