Were you injured in an accident involving a red or yellow light in Tifton, Georgia? The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can help you understand your rights and pursue compensation from those responsible. Contact (229) 386-1376 today to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Tifton red and yellow light accident lawyer.
Intersection accidents can happen when drivers run red lights, accelerate through yellow lights, turn without yielding, or fail to notice a changing traffic signal. Determining who had the right of way can be especially important when drivers disagree about what the traffic light showed before the collision.
How Can The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers Help After a Traffic Light Accident in Tifton, GA?
Determining fault in a red or yellow light accident may require more than relying on each driver’s version of events. Evidence from the intersection and surrounding area can help establish what happened.
Our Tifton car accident lawyers can:
- Investigate the accident and determine how it occurred
- Gather photographs and available surveillance or traffic camera footage
- Interview witnesses
- Review vehicle damage and other physical evidence
- Obtain relevant electronic vehicle data
- Handle communications with insurance companies
- Negotiate for a fair settlement
- Take your case to court when necessary
The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers has 17 years of combined experience and has recovered tens of millions of dollars for clients. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Tifton personal injury lawyer.
What Does Georgia Law Say About Red and Yellow Traffic Lights?
Under O.C.G.A. § 40-6-21, drivers facing a steady red signal generally must stop and remain stopped until permitted to proceed. A steady yellow signal warns drivers that the related green movement is ending and a red signal will follow.
A yellow light does not automatically give a driver permission to speed through an intersection. Drivers still have a responsibility to operate their vehicles safely and obey applicable traffic laws.
Whether a traffic violation contributed to a crash can be an important part of determining liability for an accident.
What Causes Red and Yellow Light Accidents?
Traffic signal accidents often occur because a driver misjudges an intersection or fails to pay attention to changing traffic conditions.
Common causes include:
- Running a red light
- Accelerating to beat a yellow light
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Driving while impaired
- Following too closely
- Failing to yield while turning
- Misjudging the speed of approaching traffic
- Aggressive driving
- Entering an intersection without sufficient space to clear it
Several factors can contribute to the same collision. Investigating the accident can help determine why it happened and who may be responsible.
What Types of Accidents Happen at Traffic Lights?
Traffic light accidents can include:
- T-bone accidents: A driver who enters an intersection against a red light may strike the side of another vehicle.
- Rear-end collisions: A driver may fail to stop when traffic ahead slows for a changing signal.
- Head-on accidents: Improper turns can put vehicles traveling in opposite directions into each other’s paths.
- Pedestrian accidents: Drivers turning or entering intersections may fail to notice pedestrians in crosswalks.
- Motorcycle accidents: Riders can suffer severe injuries when motorists fail to yield at intersections.
- Multi-vehicle accidents: An initial intersection collision can cause additional vehicles to crash.
The type of accident and location of vehicle damage may provide useful evidence when determining how a collision occurred.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Traffic Light Accident?
If another driver’s negligence caused your accident, you may be able to seek compensation for your resulting financial and personal losses.
Potential damages include:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Disability
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Loss of enjoyment of life
The value of a case can depend on the severity of the injuries, strength of the evidence, disputed fault, available insurance coverage, and other circumstances.
What If I Am Partly Responsible for the Accident?
Georgia uses a modified comparative negligence system. Your compensation can be reduced based on your percentage of fault, and a plaintiff who is assigned 50% or more of the fault cannot recover damages.
For example, another driver might have entered the intersection against a red light but argue that you were speeding or otherwise contributed to the collision. Evidence can help determine how fault should be allocated.
How Long Do I Have to File a Car Accident Lawsuit in Georgia?
In Georgia, you generally have two years to file a lawsuit for personal injuries arising from a car accident. Exceptions can affect the deadline in certain circumstances. Acting promptly can also help preserve video footage, witness testimony, vehicle data, and other important evidence.
A Tifton car accident attorney can determine the deadline that applies to your claim and help you take action before it expires.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Tifton Red and Yellow Light Accident Lawyer?
Our law firm handles personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis. This generally means you do not pay attorney’s fees upfront. Instead, attorneys’ fees are tied to the financial recovery obtained in your case, subject to your fee agreement.
The firm also offers free consultations, allowing you to discuss your accident and legal options without paying an upfront consultation fee.
Contact a Tifton Red and Yellow Light Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
If you were injured because another driver ran a red light, failed to yield, or otherwise caused an intersection accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and losses.
The King Firm Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers can investigate the collision, preserve evidence from the intersection, and pursue a claim against the responsible party. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Tifton red and yellow light accident attorney.
