Car Accidents and Red Lights
Car accidents can be devastating, especially when injuries lead to loss of work and extensive medical bills. At times like these, a car accident attorney can help recover lost wages, medical costs, and other damages.
When car accidents happen at red lights, they can lead to serious injuries not just to drivers and their passengers, but also to pedestrians. At Quick Law Group, PLLC, our attorneys help victims of car accidents at red lights in Kirkland, WA, as well as the Redmond and Bellevue areas, recover compensation for their injuries. Please contact our offices to find out how our team can help you.
Running Red Lights Can Be Fatal
Running through a red light is a dangerous and potentially deadly risk some drivers purposely take. According to the Federal Highway Administration, traffic accidents caused by running a red light resulted in 890 fatalities and 46 fatalities for pedestrians and bicyclists in the United States in 2017 alone. Even red light accidents that don't cause fatalities can have serious repercussions, including permanent injuries.
One of the reasons red light accidents can be so dangerous is that they often happen at high speeds because drivers trying to beat red lights tend to increase their speed as they go through the intersection. Unfortunately, this can result in high impact collisions with severe injuries or fatalities.
Common Causes of Accidents at Red Lights
Accidents at red lights generally happen when a driver fails to stop at a red light while one or more vehicles with the right-of-way proceed through the intersection. This often ends with the car that's illegally driving through a red light colliding with the side of a vehicle as its driving through the intersection, commonly called a T-bone accident or broadside accident.
There are many reasons why a person may run a red light and cause an accident. Sometimes people run red lights due to a failure to pay attention to the road, and other times it may be due to drivers being late and speeding to get to where they need to go. Other times, a driver may run a red light simply because they are too impatient to wait for the next green. Other possible causes of red light accidents include:
- Distracted driving, for example changing the radio station or texting while driving
- Speeding through an intersection to try to beat the light turning red
- Failing to stop when making a right turn on a red light
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Negligent driving, such as speeding or racing
Accidents at Red Lights Can Lead to Serious Injury
Accidents at red lights can result in forceful collisions with serious injuries or even fatalities to other drivers, passengers, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
A car accident attorney can help victims recover compensation for hospital bills, lost wages, and other damages.
Injuries may be minor or serious with permanent damage. Some common injuries in red light accidents include:
- Neck injuries
- Broken bones
- Lacerations
- Back injuries
- Spinal cord damage which may result in paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries
A Car Accident Attorney Can Help
Whether injuries are minor or severe, victims may miss time at work and lose income, or they may have expensive medical bills.
A car accident attorney can help gather evidence to prove liability so victims may receive a fair settlement for their injuries and other damages.
Contact the Car Accident Attorneys of Quick Law Group, PLLC
If you have been injured in a car accident, a car accident attorney may be able to help you recover compensation for medical bills and other damages. To learn more about your options, you are encouraged to call (425) 576-8150 to schedule a consultation and have one of our car accident attorneys review the details of your case.