Table of Contents
- What to Do After a Collision at a Red Light
- How Can You Tell If Someone Ran a Red Light?
- How Do Red Light Cameras Help?
- Does Vehicle Damage Matter?
- Damages That Might Happen After A Car Accident
- How to Prove You Didn't Run a Red Light In An Accident
- Injuries That Could Occur if Someone Runs a Red Light and Hits You
- What Happens If Someone Ran a Red Light and Caused an Accident?
- What Happens if Someone Runs a Red Light and You Hit Them?
- Can You Sue Someone for Running a Red Light?
- Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
- Additional Resources
If someone ran a red light and hit you, you most likely suffered a variety of damages. Your car could be severely damaged, and you might suffer serious injuries. In this situation, you might be able to pursue a personal injury claim and recover compensation for your damages.
You need to do everything that you can to protect your rights in such situations, so make sure you gather evidence and documentation. You should make sure you stay on the accident scene and gather all the information that you can to support your claim.
What to Do After a Collision at a Red Light
First, check to see if there are any injuries. If an ambulance is needed, call for one. Next, call the police and make sure they come out and complete an accident report. Be sure to give the officer your account of the story, so it can be documented in the accident report. Exchange contact details and insurance information with the other driver.
Make sure any witnesses stay on the scene and you get their names and contact details. Make sure the officer is aware of any witnesses as well, so he or she can talk with them. Use your smartphone to get photos of the accident scene and of the damage.
Seek medical care as soon as you can after the accident. Keep copies of medical records and bills. Document any missed work and lost wages. Document any missed activities or your inability to participate in hobbies or events. Always document everything and maintain evidence.
If the other driver alleges that he or she did not run a red light, there might be a video account of the collision if there is a camera at the intersection. Eyewitnesses might be able to confirm your claim. Also, the officer might know the history of the intersection or the light pattern, so it could be determined who had right-of-way.
How Can You Tell If Someone Ran a Red Light?
Unfortunately, if a driver decides to run a red light, it can result in a serious accident that can cause injuries. In addition to injuries, the vehicles can also suffer serious damage.
To get compensation for the negligence of another driver, you have to submit convincing evidence with an insurance claim. For a red light incident, how can you tell if someone ran a red light? There are a few ways to tell someone ran a red light, but the best way is the red light camera.
How Do Red Light Cameras Help?
Red light cameras are effective at deterring the type of careless behavior that motivates drivers to run red lights. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), red light cameras have reduced the number of fatal auto accidents in the United States by 21 percent.
Another benefit of red light cameras is they typically provide clear evidence of a driver running a red light. The most advanced cameras cover 360 degrees of space to detect unlawful driver maneuvers. Law enforcement then accesses the footage and runs it through its video system.
Does Vehicle Damage Matter?
Yes, vehicle damage matters, but more for the location of the damage than the extent of the damage. When a driver runs a red light, the impact made is usually on the side of the second vehicle.
This is because the victim moves through an intersection at the same time the red light driver broadsides his or her car. Side impact damage is solid supporting evidence that a driver ran a red light to cause a motor vehicle accident.
Damages That Might Happen After A Car Accident
A variety of damages can result from a collision at a red light. Here are a few of those damages:
- Property damages
- Medical expenses – past and future
- Lost wages – past and future
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Mental trauma
- Loss of consortium
- Permanent scarring and disfigurement
- Long-term or permanent disabilities
Gather up documentation and keep a file. You will want to show that you suffered both economic and non-economic damages. Your attorney will assess your situation and determine your damages, so they can all be listed in your personal injury claim.
How to Prove You Didn't Run a Red Light In An Accident
If you were involved in an accident at an intersection and you believe that the other driver is at fault because s/he ran a red light and hit you, there are ways you can prove who was at fault. First of all, many intersections have traffic video cameras in place to catch drivers who are breaking the law. Video surveillance footage can be accessed by request via the Freedom of Information Act.
Other evidence that may be accessible includes eyewitness reports and a police report once they have inspected the site and interviewed witnesses. Often, the car repairer knows from experience how a car was damaged and can help to support your claim that the accident you were involved in was caused by running a red light.
As long as you have firm evidence that the accident you were involved in was due to another driver running a red light, this should be sufficient to prove that you didn’t run the red light yourself. You should have all the evidence at your fingertips to prove the other driver was at fault. This could include any of the following:
- eye witness reports;
- police report;
- photos taken at the accident scene;
- traffic video camera surveillance footage;
- car repair yard report.
In order for the evidence to be sufficient to prove that you didn’t run the red light there should be no doubt in the evidence you provide. In some states if it is found you are partly to blame for running the red light, this is called contributory negligence and you may not be awarded the full PI claim.
Injuries That Could Occur if Someone Runs a Red Light and Hits You
The most likely scenario when a car runs a red light and hits you is that it will be a side swipe accident. The sorts of injuries from this type of accident will depend on the speed the car was being driven when the driver ran into you. A car that is not speeding and hits your car door may not only cause serious door damage but may cause injuries like:
- broken limbs;
- facial lacerations from broken glass;
- whiplash following the sudden backward and forward movement of your neck;
- cuts and bruises.
If the at-fault driving involved speeding when you were hit on the side, the injuries are typically going to be more serious, such as:
- internal organ damage from broken glass;
- lacerations to the arms and face;
- severe breakages to limbs;
- traumatic head injuries if you hit your head on impact.
What Happens If Someone Ran a Red Light and Caused an Accident?
A driver running a red light can still cause an accident even if they were not directly involved in the accident. This is what is known as a phantom driver. A phantom driver accident refers to an accident where the at fault driver sustained no damage.
A vehicle running a red light might cause you to break suddenly or swerve to avoid being hit. It is possible that by avoiding that potential accident, another one was caused. If the vehicle that ran the red light got away without damage it becomes even more important to gather the evidence to prove that you were not at fault.
In this situation, the driver that ran the red light would be at fault because they were in violation of traffic law. Each state looks at fault a little differently which is why you may want to speak with an attorney about your claim. In most states the party that contributed more to the accident will be responsible for covering the damages. However, there are still a few states that if you were even partially at fault for the accident, you might miss out on the damages that you could have received.
What Happens if Someone Runs a Red Light and You Hit Them?
In another scenario, if someone runs a red light, you might end up hitting them. You would not be at fault, because the other driver violated traffic laws. However, unless you are able to prove that you had the right of way, the evidence at the accident might be less conclusive.
A T-bone accident is a common type of accident that occurs at a red light. One car is crossing the intersection and they are struck from the side. Typically this would be the fault of the driver that hit the side of the other car. If the other driver ran a red light and you hit the side of their car, this might look like a typical T-bone accident which is why it is important to immediately begin gathering evidence as soon as you are able to.
If you struck a driver that ran a red light, video of the intersection will be the most important piece of evidence. If you are unable to get that, you should focus on witness statements and the police reports. At the scene of the accident, be sure to exchange information with anyone that might have seen the accident. This should include:
- Full Name
- Address
- Phone Number
Having all of that information available would make it easier for your attorney to contact them later.
In addition to witnesses, involving the police will be important. It may seem daunting to get the police involved, but they will be able to help you gather witness statements and they will be trained in looking at the scene of the accident to determine what happened. If the damage exceeds a certain monetary threshold set by your state, it is required that an accident is filled out. This will provide a good snapshot of what happened when the details are the most fresh.
Can You Sue Someone for Running a Red Light?
Yes, you can sue someone for running a red light if it resulted in your injuries or any damage to your property. Your lawsuit would be to recover any medical bills, costs of fixing property damages, as well as any missed wages and legal fees. If you were not injured or you did not sustain any damages, you will likely not be able to file a lawsuit for someone running a red light.
When you sue someone for running a red light, you will need to prove that their negligence caused your damages. To prove negligence, you’ll need to demonstrate that:
- You were owed a duty to stop at the red light
- The duty was breached when they ran a red light
- Running the red light caused the accident and your injuries
- The accident resulted in damages
Suing someone for running a red light may sound easy, but it can have its challenges. As such, it is critically important that you gather evidence that proves the other party’s negligence and negotiate with their insurance company. Given that gathering the proper persuasive evidence and negotiating with insurance companies can be a lot to deal with, an auto accident lawyer may be able to help you sue someone for running a red light. In other words, auto accident attorneys can help you gather evidence, negotiate with insurance, and may help you get a fair settlement.
Contact a Personal Injury Attorney
An attorney can help you gather and organize the evidence you need to receive compensation from the other driver’s insurance company as well as write a car accident demand letter. You also receive legal support in terms of having an advocate at your side throughout the entire process.
Your attorney is there to help you file a lawsuit, if the evidence verifies the other driver’s gross negligence. Sometimes, bad weather or poor road conditions contribute to a driver running a red light. If you are wondering ifyou have to pay for a lawyer upfront, the answer is no. Personal injury attorneys are paid on contingency fees.
Fill out the Free Case Evaluation to get connected with an independent personal injury attorney who subscribes to the website and may be able to help with your case.
For more information on car accident demand letters, visit Sample Demand Letter – Auto Accident at a Stoplight.
