When a Motorist Rushing to Beat a Red Light Hits Your Car: How to Take Legal Action

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Drivers are sometimes frustrated when they are stuck at a red light. In some cases, red lights can seem to last forever and are frustrating when a driver is in a hurry to get somewhere. However, some drivers will speed or change lanes abruptly in an effort to beat a light and find themselves smashing into your vehicle.

Car Accidents Are Common at Intersections

A large percentage of motor vehicle accidents occur at intersections where drivers are sometimes confused over who has the right-of-way and are most likely to collide with each other. Red lights are meant to reduce the risk of accidents by controlling which drivers are allowed to cross the intersection at a given moment. 

Even though it might be clear that the other driver was trying to beat a light, you will still need to prove that the other driver was at fault for the accident. Otherwise, it will be your word against theirs.

How to Gather Evidence

Usually, the officer who responds to the accident will not determine who is at fault for the accident. Instead, they will determine who is at fault based on the evidence that can be found at the scene of the accident and by interviewing witnesses. For example, the officer may be able to find evidence of speeding.

Even more useful is if you are able to obtain video evidence of the accident. Many intersections have cameras meant to capture those who have run a red light and this might capture telling footage of the other driver and indicate that they were trying to beat the red light.

Why You Need to Act Now

Unfortunately, the more time that passes, the more evidence that disappears related to the car accident. The sooner you contact a car accident lawyer, the more that they will be able to preserve evidence that can be used to make a strong case for why you deserve compensation for your injuries. Also, It's important to act quickly so the statute of limitations does not run out. Otherwise, you won't be able to sue the relevant parties.

Reckless drivers can cause a lot of damage when they crash into other motorists. Even if you believe that you're not injured as a result of the accident, you should seek medical attention as soon as you can. This will increase the odds that you will make a full recovery and the medical evidence is essential when seeking compensation.

For more about what a car accident lawyer can do for you, contact a local firm. 

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6 January 2022

Talking About Car Accident Cases

Hello everyone, my name is Nina Zoulon. On this site, I am going to share information about hiring a personal injury attorney. I will also talk about my journey to procuring those services for myself. When I was a beginning driver, I was on the road constantly. During one of those excursions, a driver going the opposite direction crossed the centerline and plowed straight into my vehicle. I was trapped by the dashboard for hours while firefighters helped me escape. After the accident, the other driver tried to blame my inexperience on the accident. I hired a lawyer to help me fight the case and I won. I would like to discuss personal injury attorney services in more detail to help other people win their cases in court. Thanks.