Unfortunately, some of the most serious vehicle accidents that can happen in San Francisco and around California are related to people who run yellow or red lights. These intersection collisions frequently occur when one driver speeds up to try to get through the light or when a driver anticipates a stop from oncoming traffic and makes a left turn.
According to research completed by the Federal Highway Administration, even though only 10% of all intersections across the country are controlled by traffic lights, intersections that do have these signals are the sight of fatal vehicle crashes one third of the time.
The state of California says that a driver facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal is warned that the related green movement is ending and that a red light will be shown immediately thereafter. The most common moving violations that can lead to red and yellow signal crashes include:
- Not slowing down or even getting faster when facing a yellow light.
- Rear end collisions by anticipating that the vehicle in front of you will go through the light.
- Failing to come to a complete and full stop at a red light before entering an intersection.
- Left turn smashes.
These violations of California Vehicle Code could be classified as negligence per se under California law. This means that you could raise this information in your car accident lawsuit such that you can consult with an experienced and dedicated personal injury lawyer as soon as possible.
If you have grounds to believe that another party’s negligent or reckless behavior caused substantial injuries to you, you need to share this information with a personal injury lawyer who will fight hard on your behalf. Don’t hesitate to get help as the statute of limitations means that you have a limited period of time in which to recover compensation.
Our San Francisco personal injury law office is here to help guide you through the process of getting the support you need post-accident.