It is very dangerous to drive through intersections. According to some studies, roughly half of all injuries in car crashes happen at intersections and about 25% of fatal car accidents happen at intersections.
Part of the reason that the fatality rate may be lower is that some intersection crashes happen at relatively low speeds. If a driver goes out of turn at a four-way stop and hits the driver who had the right of way, injuries could certainly take place. However, the crash will probably only happen at 10 or 15 miles per hour. It is possible, but less likely, that it would be fatal at that speed.
There are also plenty of instances of high-speed accidents, such as when a driver speeds up to try to make it through a yellow light but ends up running the red light at 65 miles per hour. They can T-bone a car that is moving through the intersection.
Traffic crossing paths
The example above underscores the real issue with intersections, which is that they are inherently dangerous. Every time someone drives through an intersection, they are crossing opposing traffic lanes.
Naturally, if everyone followed the rules of the road appropriately, this would not be a problem. If every driver went at the right time at a four-way stop and every driver stopped appropriately at a red light, these crashes would not happen. However, because there is an inherent risk and traffic lanes have to cross, all it takes is one mistake by a driver to lead to a catastrophic crash.
Seeking compensation
You may drive perfectly at intersections, but you could still suffer serious injuries or lose a loved one in an accident that another driver causes. If you do, be sure you know how to seek financial compensation for your medical bills and other expenses and damages.