Have you suffered an injury due to someone running a red light? You aren’t alone. Every day, people suffer injury or death when drivers don’t obey traffic lights. According to AAA Newsroom, more than two people are killed daily by drivers running through red lights in the U.S.
If you survived a crash, or a loved one lost their life, you may be considering a lawsuit or settlement with the insurance company. An Arlington Heights running red light accident lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you seek compensation and hold the responsible party accountable. Rest assured, you pay nothing out of pocket up front, and if we don’t win, you don’t pay. Call our team at (800) 223-5115.
Red Lights and Illinois Law
Drivers that blow through red lights put other drivers and pedestrians in peril. They are also breaking the law. When drivers break these rules, they might receive a ticket from law enforcement, but you can pursue civil justice.
Some traffic violations do not impact others, but running red lights can cause serious injury, damage, or death. If you cannot come to a settlement with the auto insurance company, you can seek a lawsuit. However, you must do so within the two-year timeframe established by 735 ILCS 5/13-202.
Consequences of Running a Red Light
Running a red light usually involves a careless choice, flawed calculation, and human error. However, the reason behind running a red light doesn’t free the driver from consequences.
Damages
There are many potential negative consequences of running a red light. Some of those consequences include:
- Damages to the vehicle and property inside
- Pain and suffering
- Mental and emotional trauma
- Lost wages
- Injuries
People running a red-light car run the risk of causing a T-bone collision. When a vehicle is T-boned, there is a minimal barrier between the passenger and the impact of the 2,000-pound vehicle. Higher speeds of drivers also contribute to the reasons why these accidents can be so lethal.
Injuries from a driver running a red can result in serious physical trauma including:
- Head injuries: These injuries can cause coma, seizures, and brain damage.
- Broken bones: A broken bone can cause temporary or permanent disability. Some severe breaks may require surgery.
- Cuts and gashes: Glass from the windshield and windows can cause lacerations all over the body. Deeper cuts may require stitches.
- Bruises: Many accident victims suffer bruises from seatbelts and other objects within the car.
- Whiplash: This injury occurs when the neck is whipped back and forth during an accident.
- Internal bleeding and organ damage: Major trauma can cause internal bleeding in places like the chest and head.
- Lifelong injuries: Serious car accidents can also result in permanent disability.
After your accident, you may need to deal with physical therapy, multiple visits to physicians, and emotional trauma—these can cost a significant amount of money, and the physical and psychological damage you may suffer can impact your livelihood and your relationships.
Why People Run Red Lights
Even with the severe consequences, people still run red lights in Arlington Heights, Illinois. People continue to run red lights due to:
- Poor timing: Some drivers attempt to sail through a yellow light, but it turns red while they are driving through an intersection.
- Running late: If a person is running late to an appointment, work, or other commitment, it is tempting to get there as soon as possible.
- Impatience: A driver may feel impatient to wait through yet another red.
- Speed: If a driver was traveling at a high rate of speed, perhaps they couldn’t stop in time.
- Distraction: There are many distractions on the road like the radio, GPS, phone, or other passengers.
- Falling asleep: If a driver is drowsy, it’s possible to fall asleep at the wheel and run a red light.
- Impaired: When a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it slows their reaction time and impairs their ability to make clear decisions.
All of these reasons can explain why someone could have acted negligently and run a red light, but it does not change the fact that their actions contributed to the accident. You should not have to deal with the effects without some sort of compensation. An Arlington Heights running red light accident lawyer at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help.
For a free legal consultation with a Running Red Light Accidents Lawyer serving Arlington Heights, call (800) 223-5115
Reasons to Consider Pursuing a Personal Injury Claim or Lawsuit
Personal injury cases help to recover damages suffered by the mistakes of someone else. If a driver ran a red light, collided with your vehicle, and you endured injuries, property damages, lost wages, and pain, the defendant should be held responsible.
You have the right to seek a payout a person that has caused harm due to negligence or recklessness. Even if the collision was not purposeful, the fault falls upon the person who ran the red light. When you file a lawsuit or settle with the driver’s insurance company, you may get justice for what happened.
If you move forward with your case, our team can negotiate with the other side’s insurance company or represent you in your lawsuit. Our lawyers will work to get you money to cover your economic and non-economic damages. With this financial support, you can begin to rebuild your life.
Tough Cases
The lawyers at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm could help you seek compensation. Even if you believe your case is too complicated, call our offices to set up an appointment. Our firm is not afraid of challenging circumstances.
Additionally, it can be difficult to determine if you have enough evidence for a successful lawsuit by yourself. For that reason, you can consult our law firm for more information.
Arlington Heights Running Red Light Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 223-5115
How an Arlington Heights Running Red Light Accident Lawyer Can Help
The first step is to gather any of the information and documentation of the running red light accident that you may have. This includes:
- Receipts
- Medical bills
- Pictures
- Video
- Police reports
- Notes
The burden of proving your case is on your lawyers, which allows you to focus on your health after the tragic event. Your lawyers will use the information you provide to prove fault and damages to the court and gather additional evidence as necessary.
Having an accident lawyer in your corner will help you navigate your personal injury case. It can be helpful to have someone on fighting on your side. For your red light accident in Arlington Heights, Illinois, and surrounding areas, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at (800) 223-5115.
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