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What Can Happen When a Driver Runs a Red Light?

• November 9, 2020
• Cloud, Ryan & Rouse, LLC
• LEAVE A COMMENT

When motorists don’t stop for red lights, they endanger everyone who is moving through the intersection. Distraction, excess speed, and disinterest in playing by the rules can all be the impetus behind running red lights, and far too many motorists engage in this practice. An expert attorney knows how to deal with this situation.

The rules of the road are put in place to help keep everyone safe out there. Red lights are a prime example. When it comes to intersections, the flow of traffic must be safely controlled, and red lights help to ensure that everyone makes it through our intersections safely. When motorists take it upon themselves to pick and choose which traffic signs, signals, and lights to pay attention to and which to ignore – or are too distracted to pay attention – they leave us all more vulnerable to serious injuries in dangerous traffic accidents. If a driver who runs a red light leaves you or your loved one injured, an experienced Huntsville car accident lawyer can help.

The Statistics Aren’t Good

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shares some sobering statistics related to motorists who run red lights, including:

• In 2018, nearly 850 deaths were caused by motorists who ran red lights. About half of these were either people in other vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians – who were hit by the motorist barreling through the red light.
• In 2018, about 139,000 people were injured in accidents caused by motorists running red lights. 
• An analysis of 19 intersections across four states (without red light cameras) showed a red-light-running rate of 3.2 incidences per hour per intersection.
• In a national survey conducted by AAA in 2018, 85 percent of motorists identified running a red light as being very dangerous or extremely dangerous, but 31 percent of this same group admitted to doing so within the 30 days prior. 

Motorists know that the privilege of driving and the safety of our roads hinge on their adherence to the rules of the road, but many don’t take this responsibility seriously enough. 

Speeding and Blowing through Red Lights Go Hand in Hand

Speed plays a critical role in far too many fatal car accidents, and excess speed can also play an outsize role in the dangerous act of running a red light. When motorists are traveling at top speeds, their stopping times and stopping distances are greatly increased. This means that when a motorist is approaching a light that’s turning red, he or she must assess whether it’s safer to blow through the light or to screech to a halt with the hope of keeping the vehicle out of the intersection. Neither option is great.

Turn to an Experienced Huntsville Car Accident Attorney for the Help You Need

If a motorist running a red light leaves you injured, the dedicated car accident lawyers at Cloud, Ryan & Rouse in Huntsville have a wealth of experience guiding cases like yours toward favorable resolutions that uphold our clients’ rights. We’re on your side, so please do not hesitate to contact us online or call us at 256-801-1000 to schedule a free case evaluation today.