Pittsburgh Red Light Accident Lawyer

Running a red light puts others at an extreme risk of danger and could be the direct cause of a serious accident. If you or a loved one were struck by a driver who ran a red light, then you may be suffering from serious injuries and other losses related to your accident. A Pittsburgh red light accident lawyer will lead your case for compensation and may obtain coverage for your accident-related losses. Our car accident lawyers have decades of experience dealing with these types of accidents and the problems that come from them.

Talk with a personal injury lawyer at Berger and Green today to learn how we can help you with an insurance claim, personal injury lawsuit, or wrongful death lawsuit after a red light accident.

The Rules of the Road Matter

The rules of the road have a purpose—to prevent accidents. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) details the many signs and signals that are meant to provide drivers warnings and instruction, with their purposes ranging from informational to instructional.

Those who do not obey the signs and signals of the road run the risk of causing a serious accident, injury, and death. Some signs that may be of particular importance in terms of safety are:

• Traffic lights
• Stop signs
• Yield signs
• No U-turn signs
• Speed limit signs
• Signs related to merging and lane endings

These signs and signals generally impact the flow of traffic, which play a critical role in preventing confusion and danger. When one or more drivers disregard such safety-related signals, they may put themselves and others at risk of harm.

The Danger of Running Red Lights

Drivers may be generally aware that a red light means stop, but this does not mean that drivers always stop at a red light. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) states that these accidents are unfortunately common.

It may be difficult for motorists to explain away the act of running a red light, as the notion that a red light means “stop” is ingrained in American culture. Those who run a red light, therefore, may knowingly engage in the dangerous act or may do so for other reasons. Those reasons may include that:

• The driver is impaired by drugs, alcohol, or both
• The driver is in an emotionally compromised state that takes their attention away from the road
• The driver is overly tired and therefore inattentive
• The driver is visually impaired

None of these possible explanations for a motorist running a red light absolves the motorist of blame in the case that they cause an accident. A Pittsburgh red light accident lawyer will help you seek compensation from a motorist who ran a red light and any others who are at fault for your accident.

Call Berger and Green today for a no-cost consultation about how we can assist you after a red light accident.

Your Lawyer Will Help Assign Fault for Your Red Light Accident

Red light runners may include anybody who enters an intersection at any point after a light turns from yellow to red. Those who do not come to a complete stop when turning right while the light is red also violate the law. Anybody who runs a red light and subsequently causes an accident may be at fault if you were a victim of the accident.

In addition, parties that could be at fault for your collision and injuries include:

• A municipality, if a malfunction in traffic signals contributed to your collision
• An employer of a red-light-running driver (if they were operating their vehicle in a professional capacity)
• Any other party whose actions, failures to act, or strict liability puts them at fault for your losses

The team at Berger and Green will identify those who are responsible for your collision—and by extension the losses that you have suffered because of your accident.

Your Lawyer Will Complete Your Case for Compensation

A lawyer can do a lot for you, instead of having to do all of it by yourself. Once you choose a lawyer to take on your insurance claim or lawsuit, then:

• You may not have to stress over completing such tasks on your own
• You may not have to spend valuable time on your claim or lawsuit
• You may not have to wonder whether your claim or lawsuit will be completed

Your lawyer may explore whether insurance can adequately cover your accident-related losses. However—in the case of a motorist running a red light—you may aim for justice beyond an insurance settlement. If you choose to bring a lawsuit, then your lawyer can:

• Collect evidence—such as video of the collision, photographs of the accident’s aftermath, and witness accounts
• Obtain documentation of your injuries
• Retain experts to testify that you are the victim of negligence
• File your suit and all other necessary paperwork
• Represent you in court
• Complete your lawsuit by negotiating a settlement or completing a trial

Recoverable compensation from a red light accident may include many things. These could include:

• Lost income during your recovery
• Medical costs for your injuries
• Pain and suffering
• The cost to rehabilitate your injuries
• Property damage

If you have additional losses, then they may also be covered through an insurance claim, pre-trial settlement, or judgment.

Call Berger and Green Today to Learn More After a Red Light Accident

The team at Berger and Green will help you complete an insurance claim or lawsuit in pursuit of covered losses from a red light accident. 42 Pa. CSA § 5524 notes that you generally have two years from the date of your accident to bring a personal injury lawsuit, so you may not want to wait to call our team.

Call Berger and Green today for more information about how a Pittsburgh red light accident lawyer could serve your interests.