If you were injured because another driver ran a red light, entered an intersection unsafely as a signal changed, or failed to yield, an Austin red and yellow light accident lawyer can help you determine your legal options. Anderson Injury Lawyers represents accident victims throughout Austin, Texas, and can investigate how the crash occurred, deal with insurance companies, and pursue compensation for your losses.
Contact us today at (512) 399-5000 to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.
How Can Anderson Injury Lawyers Help After a Red and Yellow Light Accident in Austin, TX?
Intersection crashes can lead to disputes about which driver had the right-of-way and what color the traffic signal displayed at the time of the collision. An experienced Austin personal injury lawyer at Anderson Injury Lawyers can investigate the evidence and determine who may be legally responsible.
Our legal team can:
- Obtain crash reports, photographs, and available video footage
- Interview witnesses who saw the collision
- Review vehicle damage and physical evidence
- Obtain relevant medical records and document your injuries
- Determine whether traffic violations contributed to the crash
- Identify potentially liable parties and insurance coverage
- Calculate your accident-related losses
- Negotiate with insurers on your behalf
- Prepare your case for trial when necessary
Founder Mark Anderson has more than 30 years of experience representing injury victims, and the firm has recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements.
An Austin car accident lawyer can also respond when an insurer disputes which driver entered the intersection first or argues that both motorists share responsibility.
What Does Texas Law Say About Red and Yellow Traffic Lights?
Texas Transportation Code § 544.007 establishes rules for drivers approaching traffic-control signals.
A driver facing a steady red signal must stop at the marked stop line or, if none exists, before entering the crosswalk. After stopping and yielding to lawful traffic, pedestrians, and sidewalk users, a driver may generally turn right unless a sign prohibits it. A left turn on red may also be permitted when both intersecting streets are one-way, and the turn is otherwise lawful.
A yellow light has a different meaning. Under Texas law, a steady yellow signal warns drivers that movement authorized by the green light is ending or that a red signal is about to appear.
Therefore, simply being in an intersection while the light is yellow does not automatically establish negligence. Liability depends on the circumstances surrounding the crash, including each driver’s speed, position, right-of-way, and actions as the signal changed.
How Do Red and Yellow Light Accidents Happen?
Traffic-signal accidents often occur when drivers misjudge the time available to cross an intersection or disregard another road user’s right-of-way.
Common causes include:
- Running a red light
- Accelerating to beat a changing signal
- Entering an intersection without sufficient time or space
- Making an unsafe turn
- Failing to yield while turning on red
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Following another vehicle too closely
- Driving while impaired
- Misjudging approaching traffic
These crashes may involve side-impact, head-on, rear-end, pedestrian, bicycle, and multi-vehicle collisions.
How Is Fault Determined After an Intersection Accident?
Determining fault may require more than identifying which driver received a citation. Investigators may examine traffic-camera footage, nearby surveillance recordings, dashcam video, witness statements, vehicle damage, skid marks, electronic data, and the timing or sequence of traffic signals.
An Austin personal injury attorney can gather this evidence before recordings are overwritten or witnesses become difficult to locate.
Texas also follows a proportionate responsibility system, meaning an injured claimant cannot recover damages if found more than 50% responsible. If the claimant is 50% or less responsible, their recovery is generally reduced by their percentage of responsibility.
For example, an insurer might argue that one driver entered on a late yellow signal while another made an unsafe turn. Evidence may be necessary to determine how much responsibility should be assigned to each driver.
What Compensation Can I Recover After a Traffic Light Accident?
Depending on the facts of the case, an injured person may pursue compensation for losses such as:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical treatment
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Physical impairment
- Disfigurement
The amount available depends on factors such as the severity of the injuries, medical treatment required, lost income, available insurance coverage, and each party’s percentage of responsibility.
An Austin car accident attorney can evaluate these losses and work to document the full impact of the collision.
What Should I Do After a Red or Yellow Light Accident?
After an intersection crash, seek medical attention and report the collision to law enforcement when appropriate. If you can safely do so, photograph the vehicles, intersection, traffic signals, road conditions, and visible injuries. Obtain contact information from witnesses and keep records of your medical treatment and accident-related expenses.
It can also be important to act promptly because evidence such as surveillance footage may not be preserved indefinitely.
Texas generally gives injured people two years from the date of an accident to file a lawsuit, although exceptions can affect the deadline.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Austin Red and Yellow Light Accident Lawyers Today
A crash at a traffic signal can leave you facing serious injuries, medical expenses, time away from work, and disputes with insurance companies. Anderson Injury Lawyers can investigate what happened, determine who may be responsible, and pursue the compensation available under Texas law.
Contact an experienced Austin red and yellow light accident attorney from our firm today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case.