Every year, red-light runners cause hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. In 2019 alone, around 850 people died and an estimated 143,000 people were injured in accidents, involving red-light running. Just over 50% of those who died were people in other vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians, who were struck by red-light runners.
If you have recently been involved in an automobile accident, you might be suffering from an injury or emotional trauma. In case the accident happened when another vehicle took no notice of a traffic light, and you were stuck at a red light intersection, your insurer may recompense you for medical expenses arising due to the crash. However, if you have suffered severe harm, you may need more treatment than what your insurer wants to cover.
Fault in Red Light Accidents
In a red light automobile accident, the driver at fault is immediately apparent. It is the driver who ran the red traffic light at an intersection. If you are the sufferer of an automobile accident in which another driver ran a red light and collided with your vehicle, leading to your personal injury, emotional trauma, medical expenses, or even property damage, you might have a personal injury claim.
To find out if you have an injury claim, you may need to provide:
- A police report
- Evidence of any property damage (preferably at the accident scene)
- Medical treatment bills
- Communication with your insurer regarding claim handling
If you have hefty medical bills, but your insurer has paid just a fraction of your injury claim or denied your claim altogether, you may need to contact a trusted law firm in Clermont, Florida for expert legal advice.
Traffic law favors people who follow it. The at-fault driver’s insurer or your insurance company may be accountable for recompensing you for things like medical costs and lost income.
The personal injury attorneys at MANGAL, PLLC are by your side to fight for your rights.
Right Of Way at Traffic Signals
Many individuals understand the meaning of the main three traffic signals. Understanding red, yellow, and green lights is one of the most basic requirements to pass a driver’s test. However,
when there are more than three traffic signals, their specific meanings aren’t always clear to all drivers. Here are different traffic signals as well as what they mean:
- Red Light: Come to a complete stop (also known as a stoplight)
- Green Light: Tells drivers to move
- Yellow Light: Asks drivers to slow down and prepare to stop
- Blinking Yellow Light: Start to move with caution
- Blinking Red Light: Operates as a four-way stop (instead of stop signs)
- Crosswalk Signal: Shows a crosswalk, where pedestrians might be present
Different Types of Car Accidents at Intersections
If you’ve met with a car crash, you may require an experienced car accident attorney in Florida to ensure you get fair compensation against your claim. A red light car accident can be risky for you, the at-fault driver, and oncoming traffic. Some common types of red light automobile accidents are as follows:
- Left Turn Accident: This type of accident happens when a driver turns left on a red signal arrow or runs a red light via an intersection when the left-turn signal arrow is green.
- Right Turn Accident: This kind of accident happens when a right-turning driver hits a vehicle in the intersection.
- T-Bone Collision: A t-bone car crash occurs when the front end of one vehicle strikes the side of another vehicle in an intersection.
- Broadside Collision: This type of collision is the result of sideswipes that usually happen from illegal lane changes.
- Rear-End Collisions: These can happen when an accident occurs in traffic.
Different Types of Injuries in Red Light Car Accidents
Different kinds of serious to minor injuries can happen in accidents when a driver runs a red light. Contact a car accident lawyer in Florida if you have suffered injuries like:
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Soft tissue damage
- Traumatic brain injury
- Emotional and mental distress
Reporting Someone Running a Red Light
Running a red light is risky and may result in serious accidents. If you find a driver running a red light, whether or not the red light runner caused an automobile accident, you can report that automobile for running the traffic signal. For this, you may need to:
- Memorize the at-fault driver’s license plate number and write it down when you are not driving
- Make a call to the non-emergency line of your local sheriff’s office, and tell them what you observed
- Use an app like Bad Driver Database, Nexar, and Sherlock
Avoiding Red Light Accidents
While there is no sure-fire way to avoid red-light running crashes, drivers can take several measures to lower their risk of becoming a victim of red-light-running accidents.
- Avoid running red lights. If you usually speed through intersections or accelerate upon seeing a yellow light, you need to get rid of this habit. Instead of thinking of red lights as annoying hurdles in your way, consider them as an essential safety tool that helps you keep safe and maintains the traffic flow.
- Always drive at a recommended rate of speed. If you have a habit of speeding, you may find it tough to stop in time as soon as you see a yellow light, particularly if it is for a short duration. By following traffic rules and driving at a reasonable speed, you can easily stop your automobile in time, which could help lower your chance of being involved in a red light collision.
- When the traffic light turns green, take a pause and wait for a few seconds before moving through an intersection. Count to three and look at the intersection to make sure it is clear before you move.
- Pay heed to the traffic around you. While waiting at a red traffic signal, many drivers tend to check their phones or do several other things in their vehicles. Instead, you should pay attention to the traffic flow. Look for drivers who appear to be behaving abnormally. Also, see if the traffic is heavy. These situations may up the odds of someone running a red light.
Contact MANGAL, PLLC If You Have Been Injured Due to Red Light Runner
If you need expert legal advice, the professionals at MANGAL, PLLC understand the importance of the attorney-client relationships in the process of case evaluation. The lawyers at MANGAL PLLC will review your insurance policy to ensure your car crash is compensated fairly.
Note that insurance adjusters work in the best interest of their insurance company to make sure they pay as little as possible for your personal injury claim. So, you need an expert on your side to level the playing field. Through proper guidance, the experienced personal injury attorneys at MANGAL, PLLC in Clermont, Florida will help you receive the compensation you truly deserve to cover your losses due to a red light car accident.
