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When a car runs a red light, the driver is usually at fault for any accidents they cause. These accidents can be severe, especially if cross traffic was driving at highway speeds. The level of negligence that it takes to cause an accident by running a red light usually means that the at-fault driver can be held responsible for the vehicle damage and injuries involved in the crash.
Arlington red light car accident lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm represent injured car accident victims and fight to get them financial compensation after serious car accidents. For help with your case, contact our law offices today to schedule a free legal consultation. Our number is (817) 476-1797, and our lawyers are available to schedule a consultation to help you learn more about suing for car accident injuries in your case.
What to Do After a Car Accident at a Red Light in Arlington, TX
After a car accident, it is important to get information about the crash to help you later prove who was at fault and how the accident occurred. The first thing you should do is call the police and an ambulance, especially if you or anyone involved in the crash was seriously injured. An ambulance can get everyone the medical attention they need, and police can create an accident report for the crash and gather information about the parties involved.
If you are able to stay at the scene and do not need immediate medical attention, be sure to gather information about the cars and people involved in the crash. Write down the make, model, license place numbers, and other identifying information about the cars. Also get vehicle registration info and insurance info for each car involved.
The name, address, and contact info for each driver, victim, and witness will be indispensable when issuing court summonses or requests for witness statements in your case. You should also record information about where the traffic signals were located, where the nearest lights were, what the weather and lighting were like at the time of the accident, and other information about the crash. These facts and photos of the accident scene, damage, and injuries are important for showing the court how the accident happened.
If you are too injured and need to go to the hospital – or if you are unconscious following the crash – focus on getting better first. Getting the medical care you need is a vital step in the recovery process. If you think you may have suffered injuries, go to the hospital. Some injuries such as head trauma or whiplash may not be immediately apparent and you will only notice the injuries later that day or the following morning. It is not too late to get medical treatment at that time and you should still go to the hospital.
Suing for a Red Light Car Crash
Running a red light is a clear example of negligence behind the wheel. Drivers who cause car accidents while violating traffic laws can typically be held liable for the injuries and vehicle damage they cause, and running a red light is a clear violation of the traffic code. If you can prove the damages you suffered, a court can order the at-fault driver to pay all damages related to the crash.
In many accidents, the at-fault driver will try to reverse the blame by claiming that you were in fact liable for the crash. In an accident where the driver ran a red light, it is clear that they were in the wrong if you had a green light. The driver may try to claim that your speeding or looking down to adjust the radio could have contributed the crash, but these arguments should not block your ability to recover financial compensation in light of their greater fault. Even if the court does find you partly at fault because of something like speeding, you should still be able to recover most of the compensation you are entitled to, since your share of the blame does not negate the serious fault of running a red light.
The damages you can recover in a red light accident case typically include any physical and financial harms you suffered during the crash. Compensation for the pain and suffering you face is paid separately from the damages for the medical expenses these injuries required and you should be able to claim 100% of the damages for both of these areas of harm. In addition, any wages you missed or other expenses you faced for child care, transportation, or other effects of the crash should all be reimbursed at their full value.
Your insurance or the other driver’s insurance may try to convince you to file your case through their system, but the damages paid through insurance may not be sufficient to cover your injuries and may not include pain and suffering damages. Talk to an Arlington car accident lawyer before accepting any money for your case.
Call Our Arlington Red Light Accident Lawyers for Help with Your Case
If you were injured in an accident because the other driver ran a red light, or if someone in your family was injured or killed in a red light accident, contact The Queenan Law Firm today. Our Arlington red light accident lawyers represent the victims of car accidents and their families and work to get them the compensation they need after a serious car crash. To schedule a free consultation on your case today, call (817) 476-1797.