Blinking Red Light and Right-of-Way Auto Accidents
The law says that blinking red light are to be treated the same as a stop sign. Drivers are required to come to a full stop before the light, check traffic in all directions, and wait until it’s their turn to continue through the intersection by following right-of-way laws. Any driver who fails to stop before a blinking red light is violating federal traffic laws and can be cited for failure to yield, fined and penalized.
Most of the time, if a driver runs a red blinking light, a fine is imposed. However, if the red light was in a school zone or construction area, the fine could be increased and the penalties more severe. If a driver causes a car crash by running the light, the legal penalties would be much harsher.
Right-of-way laws don’t really provide for who has the right to “go”, instead they explain who should stop. However, pedestrians, bicyclists, and moped riders must all follow the same right-of-way laws as motor vehicles.
Injuries Often Sustained When Someone Runs a Red Light
Side-impacts and rear-impacts are common when a driver fails to stop for a blinking red light. When a vehicle is t-boned or hit from the side, the damage to the vehicle can be severe and the injuries to the occupants can be deadly. *source
- Lacerations and abrasions
- Head and face fractures
- Traumatic brain injury
- Chest crush injuries
- Abdominal injury
- Pelvis and hip fractures
- Leg, foot, and ankle fractures
- Internal organ injury
Rear-end collisions are notorious for causing soft tissue injuries like whiplash, back injury, and seat belt and air bag injuries. Some of the most common injuries include:
- neck and back sprains
- spinal damage
- broken bones
- bruising and contusions
- face and head impact injuries
- Knee, leg, foot, and ankle injury
- Hand, wrist, and shoulder injuries
Blinking Red Lights Can be Deadly for Pedestrians, Cyclists, and Bikers
If you are a pedestrian or are riding a motorcycle or bicycle, the injuries sustained in these types of accidents are usually far worse than when passenger vehicles collide. Typically, when bikers or cyclists are hit from the side or rear, they are thrown from their bikes, possibly into oncoming traffic. Their injuries can be catastrophic if not fatal, and could take years to fully heal, if ever.
Nearly 5,000 pedestrians were killed in 2014 by motor vehicles, and about 19 percent of these fatal crashes occurred at intersections. Sadly, about 18 percent of these fatal accidents involve a hit and run. *source
Blinking red lights are meant to increase safety, yet they can be dangerous to drivers, riders, and pedestrians alike. If you come across this type of traffic signal, be extra cautious before you proceed through the intersection.
Have You Been Injured in a Blinking Red Light Accident? Call Us Today!
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