Traffic signals are there are for an important reason. Without them, driving on the congested roadways would be a chaos, and there would be many more traffic accidents. Motorists who fail to follow traffic signals put not only themselves, but other drivers at risk of accidents and serious injuries as well.
It is the legal duty of every driver to obey traffic signals and laws so that they do not end up endangering other drivers and pedestrians crossing the street. Whenever a driver disregards the traffic signals by running a stop sign or red light, or failing to yield when he/should, that driver may have acted negligently. Our St. Louis car wreck lawyer explains that a driver who runs a red light and causes an accident may be issued a ticket, and if the accident results in injuries to others, the individuals injured may have a claim against the responsible driver and the driver’s insurance company for medical expenses and other costs.
Car accidents caused by disregard for traffic signals
According to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on average, around 1,578 traffic deaths results from two vehicle accidents at intersections controlled by traffic signals. Of these, 51 percent were caused by motorists who ran red lights.
Nearly 29 percent were caused by motorists who failed to yield the right of way traffic signals. It was also found that drivers aged 65 or more were involved in 31 percent of the fatal accidents occurring at intersections, and most of these accidents were failure to yield accidents.
The study also revealed that 43 percent of the two-vehicle accidents occurring at intersections controlled by traffic signals were Straight Crossing Path accidents and 31 percent were Left Turn Across Path/Opposite Direction.
Common causes of accidents involving failure to obey traffic signals
When unsafe drivers disregard stop or stop-and-go signs, or run red lights, they put their own safety and that of other drivers and pedestrians in jeopardy.
- A driver who is impaired by alcohol or drugs, or isn't paying attention may fail to yield to a stop sign and crash into a vehicle or pedestrian that has the right of way.
- A distracted driver may fail to notice that the traffic signal has changed to red and may crash into another vehicle
- An aggressive driver may run a red light and cut through a busy intersection.
Disregard for traffic signals contributes to many T-bone collisions and intersection accidents, causing serious injuries. In most scenarios, the drivers often accelerate when trying to beat a red light, so their vehicle is traveling at a higher speed and is more likely to cause serious injuries.
If you have been injured by a driver who ran red light or failed to yield to a traffic signal, you may have a claim. Get in touch with a competent St. Louis auto accident attorney immediately to get help with your claim - Call (314) 361-4242 for a free consultation.
