Dallas Car Crashes Caused by Red Light Runners

Traffic lights are designed to manage traffic and keep drivers safe, but it’s each driver’s responsibility to pay attention & exercise reasonable care when operating a motor vehicle.

Most red-light-related car accidents are caused by drivers who are either distracted, speeding excessively, or trying to beat a yellow light. In the majority of cases, the person who ran the red light will be found negligent and held liable for any injuries or other damages suffered as a result.

Unfortunately, insurance companies are not in the business of paying what’s fair. Even when fault is obvious, their goal will always be to pay out as little in compensation as possible. They may deny liability off the bat, or they may offer you a (small) settlement early on, but the truth is that they’re only looking out for their bottom line.

Due to the fact that a serious car accident can result in significant financial damages (e.g., medical expenses, rehabilitation, lost wages, car repairs, etc.), it’s important that you have someone looking out for you and your best interests.

At Montgomery Law, our job is to handle your car accident claim from beginning to end while you focus on recovering. Best of all, we handle all accident injury claims on a no-win no-fee basis. Call us today for a free consultation at 214-720-6090 (local) or 1-833-720-6090 (toll-free), and learn how we can help.

Car accidents at intersections tend to be quite violent given the circumstances and speed involved. Red light runners usually cause broadside (T-bone) accidents, which can result in significant injuries—especially for those in older-model vehicles not equipped with side-impact airbags.

Injuries sustained in these types of accidents can be catastrophic, and generally include:

• Soft-tissue injuries (e.g., whiplash)
• Broken bones or fractures
• Neck, shoulder, and back injuries
• Extremity injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Brain injuries
• Wrongful death

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), people are more-likely to be injured by someone running a red light (or stop sign) than any other type of accident. In fact, running a red light or other traffic control device is the most-common cause of all urban crashes in America.

• Approximately 165,000 drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians are injured by red-light runners in the U.S. each and every year.
• On average, there are seven fatal crashes and more than 1,000 injury crashes reported every single day at signalized intersections in the U.S.
• More than half of those killed in red-light accidents are other motorists, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
• 36 percent of drivers surveyed by AAA admit to having ran a stoplight within the past 30 days.

As previously mentioned, one of the most-common reasons people run a red light is because they’re trying to “beat” a yellow light. These drivers often increase their speed as they approach, and as a result, blow through the intersection with no regard to the safety of other motorists—or (God forbid) pedestrians.

Statistically, red light runners are more-likely to be driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding, or driving on a suspended license. That being said, the most-likely cause of a driver blowing though a red light is something we all must contend with; distracted driving. Distracted drivers are 84 percent more-likely to roll through a stop sign or red light, and those distracted by cell phones are 2.5 times more-likely to run a stop sign or red light.

If the facts of your accident are in dispute (e.g., the other driver claims they had a green light) and there are no unbiased witnesses to back up your version of the story, it’s important that you speak to an attorney as soon as possible. Police accident reports are often based only on the responding officer’s observations and conversations with the involved parties. In some cases, this report may be entirely inaccurate—especially if the victim was incapacitated and unable to give their version of events to the officer.

Many larger cities utilize red light cameras (update: Texas banned red light cameras in 2019), which often provide irrefutable evidence when it comes to determining fault in an accident. While obtaining the video from these cameras yourself can be difficult to impossible (i.e., often requires a subpoena), a personal injury attorney will have the resources necessary to discover and obtain this evidence on your behalf.

Even if the accident report is wrong and there’s no video evidence available, your attorney can hire an independent accident investigator to examine the facts and give their expert analysis on what factors contributed to the accident—including who was ultimately at fault. While the insurance company isn’t going to take your word for it, the testimony of a trained accident reconstruction specialist generally takes precedence over a police officer’s crash report.

Dealing with the aftermath of a car accident can be a nightmare. If you were injured in a crash and are unable to return to work, you’re likely dealing with a serious financial burden for something that wasn’t even your fault. Insurance companies often prey on a victim’s financial vulnerability during this time, hoping that they will accept a quick (yet wholly inadequate) settlement.

While it may not be the first thing on your mind after an accident, hiring an attorney will give you the best chance at recovering the compensation you truly deserve. Our job is to deal with the insurance company while you focus on recovering. Best of all, we handle all car accident cases on a no-win no-fee basis.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by a red light runner in north Texas, the Dallas car accident attorneys at Montgomery Law are here to answer your questions 24 hours a day by phone or email. For a free consultation, call 214-720-6090 (local) or 1-833-720-6090 (toll-free) today.