Were you injured in a crash involving a traffic light in San Bernardino, California? At Kenny Ramirez Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, we can investigate the collision and help you seek compensation from the responsible party. Call us today at (909) 515-0646 to schedule a free consultation with a San Bernardino red and yellow light accident lawyer.
Red and yellow light accidents can lead to serious injuries, especially when vehicles collide at high speeds or from different directions. Determining which driver had the right-of-way can become a major part of an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.
How Can Kenny Ramirez Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Red or Yellow Light Accident in San Bernardino, CA?
The team at Kenny Ramirez Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers has 15 years of combined experience and has recovered over $30 million for clients. We represent people injured in intersection crashes throughout San Bernardino, CA.
Our San Bernardino personal injury lawyers can:
- Investigate how the collision happened
- Obtain police reports and available traffic camera footage
- Interview witnesses
- Review photographs and vehicle damage
- Identify the parties responsible for the crash
- Document your injuries and losses
- Negotiate with insurance companies
- Take your case to court when necessary
An experienced car accident attorney can help you build a claim based on the evidence and pursue fair compensation. Contact us today for a free consultation.
What Are California’s Rules for Red and Yellow Traffic Lights?
California law requires drivers facing a steady red light to stop before entering the intersection. Unless a sign prohibits it, a driver may generally turn right after stopping, but must yield to pedestrians and other traffic as required by law.
A steady yellow light has a different meaning. Under California law, it warns drivers that the related green signal is ending and that a red signal will immediately follow.
A yellow light does not give a driver permission to speed through an intersection without regard for safety. When a crash occurs as a signal changes, evidence about each vehicle’s location, speed, and actions may be important in determining who was responsible.
What Causes Red and Yellow Light Accidents?
Intersection crashes can happen for many reasons. Some involve drivers who deliberately ignore traffic signals, while others happen because a driver is distracted or misjudges when a light will change.
Common causes include:
- Running a red light
- Speeding up to beat a yellow light
- Distracted driving
- Following another vehicle too closely
- Driving while impaired
- Making an unsafe turn
- Failing to yield while turning
- Misjudging the speed of approaching traffic
- Defective or malfunctioning traffic signals
Finding the cause of a collision can help identify who may be responsible for the resulting injuries and financial losses.
Who Could Be Liable for an Intersection Accident?
A driver who violates a traffic law or otherwise fails to use reasonable care may be responsible for an intersection accident. However, fault is not always obvious simply because one driver says the other ran a light.
More than one person can sometimes contribute to a collision. For example, one motorist might enter an intersection improperly while another is speeding or driving while distracted.
Evidence can help establish what happened. Witness statements, dashcam recordings, nearby surveillance footage, vehicle damage, photographs, police reports, and electronic vehicle data may all provide useful information. In some cases, accident reconstruction experts can also examine the evidence to determine how the vehicles collided.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Traffic Light Accident?
People injured in red or yellow light accidents may suffer financial losses and personal harm. If another party is legally responsible, compensation may be available through an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Economic damages may compensate you for losses such as:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Rehabilitation expenses
- Property damage
Non-economic damages can compensate for pain and suffering, emotional distress, disability, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.
The amount available depends on the facts of your case. A San Bernardino car accident lawyer can help you understand which of your losses may be eligible for compensation.
What if Both Drivers Share Fault for the Accident?
California follows a pure comparative negligence system. This means you can generally recover damages even when you share some responsibility for an accident, but your compensation can be reduced based on your percentage of fault.
Suppose your total damages are $100,000, and you are found 25% responsible for an intersection collision. Your recovery could be reduced by 25%, leaving you with $75,000.
Shared fault can become especially important in red and yellow light cases because drivers may disagree about the signal or what happened just before the collision. Insurance companies may also try to assign you more responsibility to reduce what they pay. Evidence from the accident scene can help address these disputes.
Contact Our San Bernardino Red and Yellow Light Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
A red or yellow light collision can leave you facing medical treatment, lost income, and questions about who was responsible. You may have legal options if another driver’s careless or unlawful actions caused your injuries.
Kenny Ramirez Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers can help you understand your options and pursue compensation from those responsible. Contact our firm today to schedule a free consultation with a San Bernardino red and yellow light accident attorney.