Although red and yellow light accidents in Birmingham, Alabama, are not exceedingly common, they are a significant source of injuries. These car accidents are almost always preventable, most often resulting from the recklessness of other road users.
The silver lining is that Alabama law allows victims to seek compensation for personal injuries suffered after a traffic signal crash. At Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers, we can fight for the financial compensation you need and deserve.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Birmingham car accident lawyer. Call us at (205) 973-6417.
How Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Red or Yellow Light Accident in Birmingham, AL
At Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers, our attorneys have over 90 years of combined experience. We pride ourselves on a record of successfully resolved cases, with hundreds of millions of dollars recovered in settlements and court awards for our clients.
If you were injured in a car accident caused by someone else’s negligence, our Birmingham personal injury lawyers are ready to help you by:
- Reviewing the accident with you to explain what rights and options you have
- Investigating and gathering evidence of the other driver’s liability
- Preparing and filing an insurance claim
- Negotiating to settle the claim quickly and fairly
- Litigating the case if the insurer refuses to offer a fair settlement
Call us today to speak with a Birmingham car accident lawyer to learn more about how we may be able to help you pursue compensation.
Alabama Red and Yellow Light Crash Statistics
Alabama does not provide red and yellow light crash statistics for Birmingham. However, it does provide statewide statistics that detail the number of crashes caused by disobeying traffic signs and signals.
Alabama’s 2023 Crash Facts book stated that 5,909 car accidents resulted from a failure to heed signs, signals, or police officers. Disobeying signs, signals, and officers directing traffic was the seventh most frequent crash cause.
Of the 5,909 reported crashes, 23 were fatal accidents. These accounted for less than 1% of all deadly crashes, making disobeying traffic signals only the ninth most common cause of fatal traffic accidents.
The state’s crash statistics do not list the number of people injured in crashes caused by signs and signal violations. Out of the 5,000+ crashes resulting from such risky behaviors, hundreds likely suffered injuries ranging from concussions to crushing injuries and chest trauma.
Causes of Red and Yellow Light Accidents in Birmingham
Drivers can disobey traffic signs and signals for a variety of reasons. A driver might run a red light because they are distracted by a non-driving activity, such as texting, or because they are dealing with fatigue, negative emotions, or other mental distractions.
However, the most dangerous behaviors that cause traffic signal accidents are linked to impatient, aggressive drivers. An impatient driver might deliberately accelerate upon seeing a red or yellow light instead of slowing down and stopping. This often reduces their ability to avoid hitting a vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist that has the right of way and may be in the roadway.
When drivers accelerate to make it through an intersection before the light changes, they can cause severe or even fatal injuries. Those who speed up into an intersection to beat a changing light may be found liable for any resulting accident.
To discuss the specific circumstances of your case and understand how Alabama law applies, contact our experienced Birmingham personal injury attorneys today.
Liability for Traffic Light Crashes in Alabama
In Alabama, determining liability in crashes involving red or yellow lights hinges on several factors, primarily focusing on whether a driver violated traffic laws or acted negligently. When a crash involves a traffic light violation, the at-fault driver’s insurance is usually responsible for covering the damages.
However, proving fault and securing compensation often requires understanding the nuances of Alabama’s traffic laws and how they apply to specific accident scenarios.
Responsibilities of Drivers at Red Lights
Under Alabama law, drivers must stop before entering an intersection when a steady red light is indicated. This means that any driver who is proceeding into an intersection, and not already safely on the other side of the intersection by the time the light turns red, may be liable for any crash they cause.
Once the vehicle is stopped at a steady red light, it must remain stopped until that light turns green and all road users are clear of the intersection. Drivers who disregard a red light face a more straightforward path to liability. A driver who runs a red light is likely at fault for any resulting collision because red lights serve as definitive commands to stop.
This includes failing to come to a complete stop at the red light, entering the intersection after the light has turned red, or making a right turn on red where prohibited or without yielding.
Responsibilities of Drivers at Yellow Lights
Yellow lights, on the other hand, are a warning to drivers that a red light is imminent. Contrary to common belief, drivers can lawfully enter the intersection as long as it is safe to do so. If a driver enters an intersection while the light is yellow, they are generally required to clear the intersection before the light turns red.
However, even with a yellow light, liability can still fall upon that driver if their actions are deemed reckless or illegal, such as speeding through the intersection or failing to yield to oncoming traffic that had the right-of-way. This principle underscores that a yellow light is a warning to prepare to stop, not an invitation to speed up.
Contact Our Birmingham Car Accident Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation
Birmingham intersection collisions can leave you with serious head, chest, and limb injuries. If you’ve been hurt in a wreck at a red or yellow light, the team at Belt, Bruner & Barnett Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to help you fight for your rights.
To learn more about how we can help you pursue financial compensation for your injury-related costs and losses, call us today to schedule a free consultation with our Birmingham car accident lawyers.