Red lights exist to control the flow of traffic and to prevent accidents. If you have been in an accident involving someone running a red light, you have the option to take legal action against the party you believe to have instigated the accident. An Aurora running red light accident lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can help you determine what course of legal action may suit you best.
For a free case consultation, call (800) 223-5115 now.
Taking Legal Action After a Red Light Accident
Illinois has statutes in place designed to let drivers know how they can and cannot behave when faced with a red light. 625 ILCS 5/11-305 notes that when faced with a red light that is not blinking or otherwise changing, drivers must come to a complete stop and not enter the intersection until the traffic signal instructs them to proceed. Failure to follow these traffic laws can result in a ticket.
You also have the option to take legal action against another party if that party blatantly violates the aforementioned statute and instead runs a red light. That kind of behavior can result in T-bone accidents as well as head-on collisions.
Understanding What Caused Your Accident
When you move to pursue compensation for your losses after a red light accident, you can work with a lawyer to help you determine what, specifically, caused the accident to occur. This can become simpler if you have already filed a claim with your insurance provider. Your provider can give you a definitive answer on whether or not the other party involved in your accident can be deemed at fault for your losses – Illinois, after all, is an at-fault state.
Some of the most common causes behind red light accidents include but are not limited to:
Driving While Intoxicated
In the state of Illinois, as in other states, it is illegal to get behind the wheel of a car if you have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher. Unfortunately, some drivers still choose to get into their cars and try to get home or to a second location after they have had several alcoholic drinks.
This sort of behavior can result in a red light accident. However, it can also complicate what kind of legal action you can take in the aftermath of such an accident.
You have the option of working with a lawyer to help determine to what degree a driver’s intoxication may influence what compensation you may fight for.
Driving While Distracted
Distracted driving does not just involve cellphone use behind the wheel. The state of Illinois has a law in place, 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2, designed to prohibit the use of handheld devices while a driver is behind the wheel of a car. However, there are other distractions that can result in running red light accidents. These may include but are not limited to:
- The presence of other passengers in a car
- Eating or drinking while behind the wheel of a car
- Changing the radio station
- Turning the air conditioning on or off
Of course, you are allowed to take all of the above actions while in your car. However, both you and the other drivers on the road are expected to uphold your duty of care to one another to the point where you may have to be more diligent while engaging in the aforementioned activities.
Deliberate Recklessness
It is always possible for a driver to deliberately ignore the duty of care to which other drivers on the road in Illinois are entitled. In doing so, that driver can choose to ignore a red light or try to run a yellow light as it starts to turn to red.
Purposeful roadway negligence can result in both a ticket for the responsible party and significant financial expenses, depending on the losses you or a loved one may have endured as a result of that driver’s speeding through a red light.
Common Roadway Mistakes
It is also possible for other factors to cause a car accident at a red light intersection. These can include but are not limited to:
- Mechanical failure on the part of one of the involved vehicles
- Mechanical failure on the part of the red light
- Pedestrian interference at a stoplight
Again, you can discuss the details of your case with a lawyer to determine how the cause of your accident may contribute to your potential compensation.
For a free legal consultation with a Running Red Light Accidents Lawyer serving Aurora, call (800) 223-5115
An Aurora Running Red Light Accident Lawyer Can Help You Fight For Compensation
If you decide to take legal action against the party you believe to be liable for your losses, you can file a personal injury lawsuit. Make sure you do it within Illinois’s two-year statute of limitations, according to 735 ILCS 5/13-201.
The party liable for your losses may also choose to approach you with a settlement offer before you have the opportunity to take legal action. In all of these circumstances, you can hire an Aurora running red light accident lawyer and work to determine what your potential compensation might look like.
Get in touch with Pintas & Mullins Law Firm to learn more about meeting the statute of limitations in Illinois.
Aurora Running Red Light Accidents Lawyer Near Me (800) 223-5115
You Can Work With Pintas & Mullins Law Firm
You do not have to try to recover from a run red light accident on your own. A lawyer from Pintas & Mullins Law Firm can outline your legal options for you and help you pursue justice.
Call us now at (800) 223-5115 to learn more about our legal services.
Call or text (800) 223-5115 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
