red light running

What You Need to Know About Red Light Running Accidents

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When you’re coming up to a yellow light that’s due to turn red at any second, it’s tempting to take your chances and floor it, hoping you’ll make it through before it changes. But that’s just one of the many ways that people cause red light accidents every single day, leading to serious and fatal injuries.

If you’ve been injured in a car accident due to someone running a red light, don’t wait any longer to talk to a Biloxi personal injury attorney. The team at Reeves & Mestayer can help you figure out the compensation you’re owed. Call us at 228-374-5151 to set up a consultation now.

They Are Very Common

Red-light running crashes are, sadly, very common. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that nearly 900 people died in red light accidents in 2019. People who cause these accidents are more likely to be young male drivers, and the likelihood of a crash is higher if the liable driver is speeding or under the influence of alcohol. In a phone survey, 31% of adults reported running a red light in the previous 30 days. That’s a lot of chances for serious or fatal accidents.

Liability is a Huge Concern

Figuring out liability is a key part of any personal injury claim. It’s not as easy as it may seem, though. If someone runs a red light and causes a crash, it may seem obvious that they are liable for the accident and all subsequent injuries. Remember, though, that insurance companies will do nearly anything to avoid paying out a full and fair settlement.

They may try to pin some liability on the other driver, claiming that the other driver could have stopped the crash if they had been more attentive or been more wary of reckless drivers. They may dispute the claim that the light was red at the time of the crash. You’ll need a determined attorney who is committed to helping you get the compensation you deserve.

Serious Injuries Are Likely

Victims of a red-light crash are at high risk of serious or even fatal injuries. Much depends on what type of red-light accident you’re in. Consider an accident where the other driver’s light has been red for some time, so traffic is flowing through the intersection at a regular pace. If a distracted driver plows through the intersection at full speed because they were looking at their phone, they are crashing into another car that is also traveling at regular speed.

In this type of crash, you’re likely looking at a totaled car and severe injuries. If the light just turned red at one of the many intersections along Beach Boulevard when the other driver runs it, they are more likely to clip someone on the front end of the car. While injuries and property damage are still likely, they may not be as severe.

You May Be Entitled to Compensation

If you’ve been hit by someone running a red light, it’s likely that you’re entitled to some compensation. A personal injury claim can help you recover what you lost in the accident. A full and fair settlement may offer money to cover:

  • Medical expenses
  • Property damage
  • Lost income
  • Pain and suffering
  • Disability or disfigurement
  • Other related costs

Don’t assume, though, that it will be easy to get the money you deserve. The other party’s insurance company will fight you on a settlement, no matter how obvious it is that their driver is in the wrong.

They could downplay your injuries, try to pin liability on you, claim that the light wasn’t red, or call your evidence into question. You don’t want to go up against the insurance companies alone, especially since they have lots of experience cheating victims out of the money they deserve.

If you want to receive full and fair compensation for your red-light accident, it’s important to talk to an attorney. Whether you were hit at one of the on-ramps or offramps of Interstate 10 or 110, another urban road like Popp’s Ferry Road, or one of the quieter roads of Biloxi, your attorney will fight for you and give you space to recover.

Start Your Personal Injury Claim with Reeves & Mestayer

The sooner you talk to the team at Reeves & Mestayer, the more quickly we can start fighting for you. Take the first step now by calling us at 228-374-5151 or contacting us online.