Intersections are dangerous locations, and though traffic signs and signals are meant to help control the safe flow of traffic through them, drivers still disobey such devices. In doing so, they disrupt the expectations of the other drivers who follow the rules, and the car accidents that often ensue as a result can cause serious injuries or even fatalities.
Following a red and yellow light accident in St. Louis, Missouri law provides many victims the right to pursue compensation. A local car accident attorney from Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers can help you understand your legal options and gather evidence to prove the other driver’s liability. Contact us today at (636) 519-0085 to schedule a free consultation.
How Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After a Red and Yellow Light Accident In St. Louis, MO
The attorneys at Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers have over 30 years of combined legal experience helping those injured in St. Louis, Missouri, pursue financial compensation from those who have harmed them. We have successfully recovered over $100 million in necessary resources for accident victims throughout the area.
We’ll assist you in the following ways after an accident injures you:
- Learning about your injuries and explaining what we can do to help pursue compensation
- Gathering records and other relevant evidence to prove the other party’s liability
- Filing an insurance claim and discussing a settlement with an insurer
- Taking your case to court if the insurer refuses to fairly resolve your case
Intersection collisions often have catastrophic consequences to victims’ health and finances. Contact Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers for a free consultation with a St. Louis red and yellow light accident lawyer to discuss your legal options for financial compensation.
How Common Are Red and Yellow Light Accidents in Missouri?
According to the Missouri Traffic Safety Compendium, the state saw 6,236 total crashes that resulted from traffic sign or signal violations in a recent year. These accidents caused 76 deaths and 4,643 injuries.
The state does not release traffic sign and signal crash statistics for St. Louis, specifically. However, it is fair to assume that much of the overall total happened in the state’s second-most populous city.
Red and Yellow Light Rules in Missouri
Missouri’s traffic signal law provides the following instructions to drivers:
Green Signal
With a solid green signal, drivers can proceed unless another sign indicates otherwise. For example, if an intersection is under construction, drivers must follow any temporary signage.
They must also yield to any vehicles or pedestrians lawfully in the intersection when the signal changes. For example, if a pedestrian starts crossing before the light changes, drivers must wait for them to reach the opposite corner before proceeding so as to minimize the risk of a pedestrian accident.
Red Light
Drivers facing a solid red light must stop before entering the intersection. If the location has a stop line or crosswalk, the driver must stop behind the line and cannot proceed until the light changes.
Yellow Light
Contrary to common belief, a yellow light does not mean “yield.” Instead, it serves as a warning that the light will soon change to red. While pedestrians are prohibited from entering intersections when facing a yellow light, vehicles have no such prohibition.
Injuries From Intersection Collisions
Intersection collisions can cause serious or fatal injuries because drivers are often traveling at full speed during the crash. Specifically, a driver who runs a red or yellow light might accelerate to make the light.
When they strike the other vehicle, they often hit it at an angle, throwing its occupants sideways. Their frontal airbags might not deploy because they are designed for front or rear-end impacts. Moreover, seat belts are not intended to prevent the body from sliding to the side.
As a result, the driver’s head may whip to the side, resulting in head or neck injuries, and the jolt may cause a brain or spinal cord injury. The body may impact the side door or center console, resulting in abdominal and thoracic injuries as well.
Liability for Intersection Accidents in St. Louis
The liability for a red light accident is typically clear: The driver who ran the red light committed a traffic violation and failed to drive with reasonable care.
Yellow light accidents are not as clear-cut, as drivers are allowed to enter an intersection on a yellow light without receiving a ticket. The issue of liability depends on whether it was unreasonably dangerous to do so.
If the driver sped up to make the yellow light or entered the intersection on a “stale” yellow light, they might be liable for the resulting crash. Conversely, if the light barely changed to yellow when the driver entered the intersection, the focus might shift to the other driver to determine why they were in the intersection when the other driver had the right of way.
Contact a Car Wreck Lawyer in St. Louis For A Free Consultation
An intersection accident can result in serious injuries that require expensive medical care and keep you from earning a living. In Missouri, you generally only have five years from the date of the accident to sue the negligent driver. Do not hesitate to get legal help.
Contact Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your accident and how we can assist in seeking fair financial compensation with a St. Louis red and yellow accident lawyer.
