Evidence a Driver May Have Run a Red Light Before Your Crash

Accidents involving running a red light were responsible for 846 deaths in the U.S. in 2018 alone. If you believe your accident was caused by another driver running a red light, certain evidence may help your lawyer prove this claim.

Below, the Arnold Law Firm’s Sacramento car accident attorneys explain different types of evidence that may support proving red light running as the cause of an accident.

Red Light Cameras

Red light cameras have proven to be effective in discouraging drivers from running red lights. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) states that red light cameras have reduced fatal accidents caused by running a red light by 21 percent in large cities.

If you are involved in an accident, your attorney may request footage from an intersection’s red-light camera. This footage may show the other vehicle running the red light and how that may have caused the accident.

Location of Vehicle Damage

The location of damage to your vehicle also tells us information about how the accident occurred. When a driver runs a red light, the victim’s vehicle is often hit on its broad side as it travels through the intersection on a green light.

Accidents that result from running a red light typically involve damage to the front of the at-fault party’s vehicle, as well as damage to the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle.

How You Can Help Your Attorney

After an accident, obtain the names and contact information for any witnesses who saw what happened. Provide this information to your attorney, so he or she can contact the witnesses if necessary. Witness testimony can help your lawyer determine what happened and prove who was at fault for the accident.

If possible, take pictures from many angles to get a full picture of the accident scene. Include photos of:

These images may be essential to your lawyer as he or she attempts to determine how the accident happened.

Common Reasons for Red Light Crashes

Red light accidents happen due to several reasons, including:

• Drivers speeding up when the light changes to yellow to make the light. Often times, they proceed through the intersection after the light has turned red. This is dangerous because vehicles from the perpendicular direction may have already entered the intersection on the corresponding green light.
• Drivers slamming on their brakes when they realize they are not going to make the green light. Despite sudden braking, the vehicle may still enter the intersection, which can cause a red-light accident.
• Distracted or reckless driving may result in failing to notice a traffic light has turned red. In this situation, the driver wrongly proceeds into the intersection as if the light is still green, thus a collision may occur.
• Drivers entering an intersection to turn left after the light has turned red may result in their vehicle being hit by another driver who has entered the intersection on a green light.
• Bad weather may make it difficult to clearly see traffic lights. Hard rain, heavy snow, fog or blinding sun may cause a driver to run a red light without realizing it.

Schedule a Free Consultation Today

If you were injured in a car crash caused by someone who ran a red light, you may be eligible to file a claim for compensation. The attorneys of the Arnold Law Firm help injured victims recover compensation for their medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to speak with our legal team about your claim. There are no upfront fees and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

Call (916) 777-7777 today or fill out our Free Case Review form.