Junctures where roads intersect are critical aspects of transportation in Washington and elsewhere. Unfortunately, about half of all traffic accidents occur in intersections, including those intersections in Washington guided by red lights. If you were injured in a red light accident, make sure to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer in Arlington.
Washington 1310.01 describes intersections in the following way:
“Intersections are a critical part of Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) highway design because of increased conflict potential … the separation or regulation of traffic movements into delineated paths of travel can facilitate the orderly movement of pedestrians, bicycles, and vehicles.”
Despite the guidance of signal lights, red light car accidents in Washington remain a consistent problem.
What Types of Accidents Happen at Red Lights?
A red light at an intersection means the vehicle approaching the traffic signal does not have the right of way. During a red light, the vehicles moving in the conflicting direction have a green light, giving them the right of way. Unfortunately, not all drivers follow the guidance of signal lights due to carelessness, recklessness, or intentional wrongdoing. Unfortunately, this causes the following types of red light accidents:
- Rear-end collisions occur when a driver hits a vehicle directly in front of them when the front vehicle slows or stops for a red light
- T-bone accidents (angle collisions) occur in intersections when a driver enters the intersection under a red light instead of stopping
- Head-on collisions occur when a driver makes an illegal left turn at a red light
- Sideswipe accidents happen when a driver fails to yield the right-of-way at a red light or makes an unsafe right turn at a red light, and their car strikes a glancing blow along the side of a vehicle already in the intersection
Car accidents are not the only type of red light traffic accidents in Washington. Intersections are also the most common locations for pedestrian, bicycle, and motorcycle accidents.
Common Causes of Red Light Accidents In Washington
Although the purpose of guided intersections with signal lights is to decrease accidents and facilitate orderly traffic flow, according to Washington’s Pierce County traffic department, studies show that signal lights may cause an increase in rear-end collisions.
The most common causes of red light accidents at Washington intersections include the following:
- Speeding, especially in cases of drivers attempting to “beat” a yellow light
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Intentionally running a red light
- Fatigued driving
- Making an unsafe or illegal right turn at a red light
- Attempting a U-turn at a signalized intersection
Accidents in intersections cause injuries that range in severity from painful whiplash caused by a rear-end collision to catastrophic or fatal red light accidents.
Washington’s Comparative Negligence Insurance Laws May Impact a Red Light Accident Claim
Under Washington’s fault-based injury laws, an injury victim seeking compensation for damages like medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering must file a claim against the at-fault party’s insurance. While it would seem clear that a driver who runs through a red light is always 100% at fault, insurance companies sometimes dispute claims or assign a percentage of fault to the injury victim.
Washington’s pure comparative negligence law allows an injury victim to recover a portion of their total damages even if they were partly at fault for an accident, but the insurance company subtracts the injury victim’s percentage of fault from the payout on their claim. Unfortunately, this incentivizes the insurance industry to protect profits by assigning undue fault to accident victims. For example, the insurance adjuster could assign 20% fault to the driver who had the right of way if the driver was speeding or they didn’t have their lights on at dusk, reducing a $100,000 claim to an $80,000 payout.
How Can a Washington Red Light Accident Attorney Help Me?
Without legal representation, a car accident victim leaves their financial recovery in the hands of an insurance company with profits as their primary purpose. Contact Wells Trumbull’s experienced car accident lawyers for experienced legal representation by an Arlington personal injury attorney dedicated to your best interests.