Philadelphia Red Light Accident Lawyers

Motor vehicle accidents are one of the leading causes of fatalities across the United States. Unfortunately, many of these accidents can be avoided if drivers choose to use proper care and caution while driving. A major contributor to car accident fatalities is drivers running red lights. Drivers running red lights cause hundreds of fatalities every year and cause thousands of car crashes. In 2012, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, nearly 700 people and another 133,000 people suffered injuries as a result of drivers running red lights. Many of these victims are innocent bystanders. More than half of the victims killed were pedestrians, cyclists, or passengers in other vehicles

According to a survey from the NHTSA, approximately 97% of drivers believe that running red lights is a major safety threat.

Even though drivers recognize this as a problem, many drivers still run red lights, which pose a safety threat to other drivers and can cause serious injuries and fatalities.
Common causes of red light accidents include distracted driving (such as talking or texting on the cell phone) and speeding to beat the light. While it is impossible to entirely eliminate the threat from red-light runners, it is at least possible to minimize the risk. In this regard, it is recommended that drivers use caution at intersections, including looking in all directions for red-light runners before proceeding after a light turns green, whether driving, cycling or walking.

What Is The Definition of Running a Red Light?

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, has legally defined red-light running depending on whether the law in effect allows “permissive yellow”or “restrictive yellow.” If the “permissible yellow” rule applies then a driver can legally enter the intersection during the entire yellow interval. A violation occurs only if the driver enters the intersection after the onset of the red light.

Conversely, under the “restrictive yellow” rule, a driver may neither enter nor be in the intersection during a red light. Notably, a driver commits a violation if the driver does not clear the intersection after the onset of the red. Importantly, drivers who are in the intersection waiting to turn when the light changes red are not considered red light runners under the law.

Injured in a Car Accident? Contact Our Philadelphia Accident Attorneys

If you have been involved in a red light accident, it is important to have an experienced car accident attorney who can help you understand your legal rights. The Philadelphia car accident attorneys at The Pearce Law Firm can help you investigate the facts and circumstances surrounding the accident to determine who caused the accident and who is legally liable. At The Pearce Law Firm, our Philadelphia car accident attorneys have extensive experience prosecuting a variety of different types of car accidents.

Contact a car accident lawyer in Philadelphia at The Pearce Law Firm for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. You can call us at (215) 557-8686 or visit our office at 14th Floor, 1429 Walnut Street in Philadelphia.