If another driver runs a red light and hits your vehicle, you may face injuries, repair costs, and conflicting accounts of the collision. Disputes over which driver had the right of way can complicate your claim. At Sweet James, a red light accident lawyer in Los Angeles can help you understand your options after an intersection crash.
Our firm has earned more than 600 five-star reviews across Google and Yelp, reflecting the trust clients place in us and the service they have received from our team. We can review the available evidence, assess potential liability, and explain possible sources of recovery. Contact our Los Angeles car accident lawyer to discuss your situation in a free consultation.
How Red Light Collisions Happen in Los Angeles
Red light crashes occur when drivers enter intersections against signals, often causing serious side-impact injuries. Pedestrians and cyclists may also be at risk. A California car accident lawyer at Sweet James can help determine fault and potential liability for your injuries.
Under California Vehicle Code section 21453, drivers facing a steady red light must stop before the limit line, crosswalk, or intersection. Right turns on red are generally allowed after stopping and yielding, unless prohibited. A red arrow prohibits the indicated movement unless another signal permits it.
Not every collision near a changing signal means a driver entered unlawfully. One vehicle may have entered the intersection legally before the light changed, while another driver failed to yield. Vehicle movements, signal timing, and right-of-way rules all matter when determining how the crash occurred.
What to Do After an Intersection Crash
Your priorities are safety and medical care. Stop at the scene, provide reasonable assistance to anyone injured, and call 911 when necessary. Seek medical attention promptly if you have symptoms, as some injuries may become apparent hours or days later. A car accident lawyer at Sweet James can help you understand your options after the crash.
If it is safe, photograph vehicle damage, traffic signals, lane markings, and the intersection layout. Exchange required driver and insurance details, and ask witnesses for their contact information. Do not enter traffic or put yourself at risk to collect photographs or other evidence.
Notify your insurer as required and keep records of medical expenses, treatment, and missed work. California generally requires an SR-1 report to the DMV within 10 days if a crash causes injury, death, or over $1,000 in property damage. Injury or fatal crashes may also require a police or CHP report within 24 hours.
How California Law Determines Fault
To recover damages in a negligence claim, you generally must show that another party owed you a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused your injuries and losses. Evidence that a driver violated a traffic law may support your claim, and California’s negligence per se rules may apply when their legal requirements are met. A citation alone does not ensure recovery.
California follows pure comparative negligence, so you may still recover damages if you share responsibility for the collision. Your recovery is generally reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if you are found 20% responsible, your recoverable damages would generally be reduced by 20%.
An insurer may allege that you were speeding, distracted, or failed to yield, even if the other driver appears to have run a red light. Those claims should be assessed against the available evidence. Depending on the circumstances, an employer or another party may also be liable if there is a legal basis for the claim.
Compensation Available After a Red Light Collision in Los Angeles
You may seek economic damages for reasonable crash-related medical expenses, lost income, and vehicle repair or replacement costs. Future treatment and reduced earning capacity may also be recoverable when supported by evidence. The amount depends on your losses, their connection to the collision, and applicable legal limits.
You may also seek non-economic damages for physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced enjoyment of life. Medical records and examples of how your injuries affect work, sleep, mobility, or daily activities can help document these losses. California law restricts non-economic recovery for certain uninsured vehicle owners and drivers, subject to exceptions.
There is no standard settlement amount for a red light accident. Your injuries, treatment needs, share of fault, and available insurance affect your claim’s value. Our Los Angeles personal injury lawyers can assess your options, including wrongful death or survival claims if the collision was fatal.
Deadlines That Can Affect Your Claim
California generally allows two years from the date of injury to file a personal injury lawsuit arising from a collision. A property damage lawsuit generally has a three-year limitations period. Exceptions and case-specific circumstances can change the deadline, so these general periods should not replace an assessment of your situation.
Claims against a public entity generally require an administrative claim within six months of accrual when seeking damages for personal injury, death, or damage to personal property. This may be relevant if a government vehicle was involved or a dangerous roadway condition contributed to the crash. Neither circumstance automatically establishes government liability.
Insurance negotiations do not, by themselves, extend a filing deadline. Delays may also make it harder to obtain footage, physical evidence, or witness accounts. Our Los Angeles red light accident attorneys at Sweet James can review potential deadlines and help you understand the steps that may apply to your claim.
Our Commitment to Helping Injury Victims
Our attorneys bring over 25 years of experience helping injured people pursue compensation. Sweet James has recovered more than $1 billion for clients and has taken over 500 cases to trial.
Our founding attorney, James Bergener, previously represented insurance companies in personal injury cases. This experience gives our team insight into how insurers assess claims and defend against them.
Discuss Your Accident With Our Los Angeles Red Light Accident Lawyers
You can seek legal guidance even if there is disagreement about which driver had the right of way. Details such as the crash location, date, photographs, medical records, and insurance documents can help establish what happened.
A Los Angeles red light accident lawyer from our firm can examine the available evidence, review your injuries and financial losses, and explain your options for seeking compensation. We can also assess disputed fault and any insurance coverage that may apply.
Contact our team at Sweet James for a free consultation about your red light accident. Bring any relevant records you have so we can review your circumstances and discuss the next steps.
