Mobile Red and Yellow Light Accident Lawyer
Sometimes it’s easy to accidentally run a red or yellow light. You may be approaching the intersection when the light changes too quickly for you to safely brake. Maybe the sunlight in your eyes makes it difficult to tell when the light changes.
However, many car accidents involving a yellow or red light aren’t the result of a simple error but more serious negligence or reckless behavior.
Have you been seriously injured in an accident caused by a driver running a light? Lattof & Lattof, P.C. is here to help. Contact a Mobile red and yellow light accident lawyer at our firm today to schedule a free consultation.
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How Lattof & Lattof, P.C. Can Help After a Red or Yellow Light Accident
When you are hurt by someone speeding through a red light or engaging in otherwise dangerous behavior, recovering compensation for your injuries should be easy. Unfortunately, most car accident injury victims do not get the simple process they deserve.
Instead, they are blamed for the accident or receive lowball offers that do not fully compensate them.
When you are facing financial uncertainty, a painful recovery, and time off work from a crash, you deserve an experienced Mobile personal injury lawyer on your side to fight for you. Lattof & Lattof, P.C. is a family-run law firm that has represented Mobile accident victims since 1952. We have more than a century of combined legal experience recovering multi-million-dollar settlements. We have represented more than 10,000 clients and we are here to fight on your behalf.
When you choose Lattof & Lattof, P.C. to represent you, you can count on us to:
- Conduct a thorough investigation of your accident
- Defend claims that you contributed to your accident or injuries
- Gather and analyze evidence to show how the accident happened and who is liable
- Negotiate on your behalf with the insurance company
- Represent you in court if a fair settlement offer can’t be reached
Contact Lattof & Lattof, P.C. today to schedule your free initial consultation with a red light accident lawyer in Mobile to discuss your case.
Red and Yellow Light Accident Statistics in Alabama
Across the nation, close to 40% of all traffic accidents occur at or near an intersection. Every year, there are over 2.5 million intersection crashes; 8,600 of these accidents are fatal. Among fatal accidents, over 30% occur at intersections with traffic signals, not intersections with signs or no traffic control. Red light accidents were responsible for 10% of intersection fatalities between 2000 and 2009.
Nearly 139,000 people in the United States were hurt in traffic accidents involving a driver running a red light in 2018 alone according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Sadly, almost two-thirds of fatalities in these accidents were people other than the driver running a red light.
In a AAA survey the same year, 85% of drivers agreed that running a red traffic light is very dangerous. Despite this, 31% said they had done so in the last 30 days. In 2019, AAA reported that deaths related to running a red light were at a 10-year high. Drivers who ran red lights were more likely to be speeding or under the influence of alcohol and less likely to have a driver’s license than other drivers.
While red light running is a nationwide problem, Alabama has one of the highest rates of fatalities from red light running. A study conducted by the University Transportation Center for Alabama in 2002 found 47,501 traffic accidents over 9 years caused by running a red light in Alabama. These crashes caused 16,500 injuries and 194 deaths. Alabama is usually one of the top 5 states for red light running.
Common Types of Red and Yellow Light Accident Cases
Red and yellow light traffic crashes can happen in many ways. Rarely are they single-vehicle accidents as other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians are usually involved as they enter the intersection.
Common types of red and yellow light accident cases handled by our Mobile car accident lawyers include:
- Rollover crashes
- Side-impact accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Head-on collisions
- Bus accidents
- Truck accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
Any type of intersection accident can be very serious with a higher rate of fatality than other accidents. At Lattof & Lattof, P.C., our Mobile red and yellow light accident lawyers are here to fight for you.
What Causes Red and Yellow Light Accidents in Mobile?
All intersections have inherent dangers as vehicles from multiple directions are merging with traffic that may be controlled by a light or nothing at all. A single distracted or reckless driver approaching an intersection doesn’t just place themselves at risk; they may even cause a multi-vehicle accident.
While drivers should be most careful when approaching a red or yellow light, this is sadly not always the case. Reckless or distracted drivers may increase their speed as they approach a yellow or red light and increase the risk and severity of an accident.
There are many factors that contribute to yellow and red light crashes in Mobile. According to one recent report, the rate of crashes may even be related to the length of the yellow light signal. By increasing the amount of time the light stays yellow, one town in Texas was able to significantly reduce the rate of red light running and number of accidents.
After increasing the time of the yellow light signal from 3.5 to 4.5 seconds, the number of red light running incidents declined from 91 to 19 and the number of crashes declined significantly.
While this measure can certainly help reduce red and yellow light accidents, the sad truth is most incidents of red light running come down to negligence or reckless behavior. Common behaviors that cause red light accidents in Mobile include:
- Immediately hitting the gas when the light turns green. When the signal changes, drivers should always check for cross-traffic before proceeding into the intersection to watch for red light runners.
- Risky left-hand turns. These turns often occur when the light is turning from yellow to red and a driver assumes oncoming traffic will stop.
- Speeding into an intersection trying to beat a yellow light.
- Failing to notice when a leading car stops as the light changes to yellow or red.
- Illegal right-hand turns on red at an intersection.
- Running through a red light without stopping or slowing down.
If another driver engaged in risky or negligent behavior at an intersection and caused your accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation for the injuries you have sustained. Your Mobile car accident lawyer at Lattof & Lattof, P.C. will investigate your accident and fight for your rights.
Who Is Liable After a Red or Yellow Light Crash?
Recovering compensation after an intersection accident requires proving the other driver was completely at fault. This is not always easy, particularly when more than two vehicles were involved.
Alabama law also makes it harder for accident victims to recover compensation thanks to the state’s contributory negligence law. This legal doctrine means that you are barred from recovering any compensation if you are found even partially to blame for your accident.
Because Alabama is a contributory negligence state, you must be prepared for the other driver and their insurance company to argue that you share fault for the crash. It’s very important to consult with an experienced personal injury lawyer in Mobile to build the strongest case possible.
Lattof & Lattof, P.C. will perform an investigation into your crash to determine how it occurred and who should be held liable. We will gather evidence from many sources:
- Damage to both vehicles
- Onboard vehicle system data
- Red light camera footage
- Witness statements
- Police reports
- Surveillance videos
- Road conditions and intersection design
- Reports from accident reconstruction specialists
Our Mobile car accident attorneys have represented crash victims for decades. We will fight for the maximum compensation you deserve and build a case to show you did not contribute to your accident.
Statute of Limitations to File a Car Accident Claim in Alabama
It’s crucial to pursue your injury claim as soon as possible. Under Alabama law, the statute of limitations to file a lawsuit is just two years. If you do not file a claim before this deadline passes, you lose your legal right to recover compensation from the at-fault party.
Delays in pursuing your claim can also make it harder to gather evidence needed to prove the other driver was liable. Contact our Mobile car accident injury law firm as soon as possible to schedule a free case review and begin exploring your options.
Contact a Mobile Red and Yellow Light Accident Lawyer
Have you been seriously injured in a red or yellow light crash in Mobile? The other party’s insurance company is prepared to blame you for the accident in an attempt to bar you from any recovery. You deserve an experienced legal advocate on your side to fight for you, protect your rights, and build the strongest case possible.
Contact the legal team at Lattof & Lattof, P.C. today to schedule a free consultation with a Mobile red and yellow light accident lawyer. We will help you assess your claim and understand your legal options.