The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) documented over 30,000 instances of drivers running red lights and causing accidents across the state in 2019. Over one-third of these accidents resulted in injuries or death to at least one of the parties involved. If you or a loved one were injured in this type of accident, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries. A Sarasota red light accident lawyer can help you learn more about your legal options.
Knowing what to do following a car accident in which you have suffered injuries can be challenging. If a driver who ran a red light caused the accident that led to your injuries, you might be able legally to pursue that driver for your injury-related losses. The attorneys at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine can assist you with all aspects of your personal injury claim following a red light accident. Call our offices at 1-800-747-3733 to get started today.
Proving Driver Negligence in Accident Claims
Regardless of why drivers run red lights, they are violating traffic rules when they do so. Under Florida Statutes § 316.075(1)(c)(2.a), drivers who approach a steady red traffic signal must stop before entering the crosswalk or, on streets in which there is no crosswalk, before entering the intersection. The driver must remain stopped until the traffic signal turns green. Even when they do not cause an accident, these drivers still could receive a ticket if police witness them running a red light.
Since running a red light violates the law, it is also indicative of driver negligence or the careless disregard for others’ safety. Proving negligence is an essential part of most personal injury claims that stem from car accidents. Drivers have a legal duty to drive reasonably safely to protect others from harm. When they violate this duty, such as by breaking a traffic law and causing injuries to others, they can be liable or financially responsible for the costs of those injuries.
Compensation in Red Light Accident Claims
The compensation that you may be eligible to receive in a red light accident claim will differ according to the circumstances surrounding the accident, your injuries, and other relevant factors. As a result, the amount of compensation that one injury victim receives from a car accident claim can be substantially different from the amount that another injury victim receives after a separate car accident.
The type of compensation that an injury victim receives from a red light accident claim also can vary widely from one situation to the next. For instance, if you lose a loved one in a red-light accident, then you might be able to file a claim for the loss of your loved one, including loss of consortium. Individuals who lose their spouses or parents may be able to claim the loss of consortium, or the loss of the spousal or parental affection and relationship, following a fatal car accident.
In non-fatal accidents, injury victims may have a claim for various damages, including:
- Injury-related medical bills and costs of ongoing medical care
- Property damage to your vehicle or valuable items damaged in the crash
- Loss of current and future income if impairments prevent you from working
- Compensation for permanent disabilities resulting from your injuries
Injuries can result in expenses that go far beyond medical bills, which can be overwhelming on their own. If you suffer a permanent impairment due to an accident, your entire life may change. A Sarasota red light accident lawyer can work to help you obtain the full range of compensation that may be available to you through a car accident claim.
How an Attorney Can Help Following a Red Light Accident
Dealing with insurance companies, medical providers, and creditors following a severe car accident can be confusing and challenging. When you are already struggling to recover from your injuries and perhaps adjusting to life with a permanent disability, you may feel pressure to quickly settle your insurance claim simply so you can pay your bills.
Insurance companies, however, do not have your best interests at heart. They are for-profit entities that want to minimize your payout to the greatest degree possible. As a result, even if their insured is clearly at fault for causing the accident, they may quickly approach you with a low offer of settlement to try and resolve the case as soon as possible.
If you are in this situation, you should never agree to the first settlement offer you receive from an insurance company. Instead, you should get legal advice about all your options and determine the actual value of your claim before you agree to any settlement. By getting a clear understanding of your situation from legal counsel, you can place yourself in a better position to get the maximum compensation for your claim. Getting legal advice right away following an accident can be critical to ensuring that you hold the at-fault driver fully responsible for your injuries.
Our Attorneys Are Here to Help
The period following a red light accident that has led to injuries can be extremely frustrating and stressful. You have a lot to deal with, and you may not have the time, energy, or expertise to handle insurance and legal matters. This situation is a good reason to enlist the help of a Sarasota red light accident lawyer.
Fortunately, the attorneys and staff at the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine are here to help injury victims just like you make their way through what is often a never-ending maze of insurance and legal claims. Our team will go the extra mile to seek full and fair compensation for your injuries and accident-related losses. Call 1-800-747-3733 to get more information about your rights following a red light accident.
We Can Help.
