Stop Light Intersection Accidents

No matter how carefully you behave behind the wheel, you may find yourself the victim of another driver’s failure to do the same. Unfortunately, accidents are all too common at intersections, ranging from side impact crashes and head-on collisions to devastating pedestrian accidents and rear-end collisions. Despite the protections that stop lights are intended to provide, some drivers fail to pay attention to these signals. They may be unlawfully texting, drunk, drugged, drowsy, or simply in too much of a rush to pay attention. In many situations, there is not enough time to avoid a crash when someone else breaks the law and hurtles through a red light. Knoxville car accident attorney Mark Hartsoe can represent people who have been struck at intersections by drivers who run lights. He has the knowledge and dedication to help you pursue the compensation that you deserve. Hartsoe gets results.

After a car crash, the first step in pursuing damages from the person who caused your injuries is demonstrating that he or she failed to operate his or her vehicle with the requisite level of ordinary care. This standard is known as the duty of care, and a party who fails to act according to that standard likely will be deemed legally negligent. In an auto accident lawsuit, whether or not the defendant was negligent is determined in part by analyzing whether the defendant complied with any applicable traffic rules and regulations. These include the requirement that drivers comply with a traffic control device like a stop light, as provided by TCA 55-8-109.

Under Tennessee law, codified in TCA 55-8-110, a driver commits a red light violation when he or she drives into the intersection after the red light has engaged. In other words, the driver’s front tires were not across the stop line before the light turned red. Also, even if someone has a green light when approaching an intersection, he or she must ensure that the intersection is clear before entering and look for any hazards or obstructions. Under TCA 55-8-129, moreover, a driver making a left turn in an intersection must yield the right of way to oncoming traffic traveling straight through the intersection before executing the turn. A driver turning left who fails to ensure that it is safe to execute the turn may be held liable if someone else is hurt as a result.

After showing that the defendant failed to exercise due care, you must connect this failure with your injuries and damages. The plaintiff must show that the accident would not have happened if the defendant had not run the red light. In a stop light intersection case, collisions can happen very quickly, and the parties may not know exactly how the events unfolded. In many instances, it is critical to retain an accident reconstructionist expert, who can walk the jury through the accident and explain how the defendant was negligent.

Finally, the plaintiff must provide evidentiary support for the damages that he or she is claiming in the lawsuit, like medical bills, lost wages and earning capacity, property damage, and pain and suffering. According to Tennessee law, a plaintiff generally is entitled to recover any medical expenses incurred up until the date of a settlement or trial, in addition to any reasonable projected medical expenses.

If you or someone you love has been hurt as the result of a stop light intersection crash, you may be entitled to compensation. Knoxville car accident lawyer Mark Hartsoe takes pride in providing compassionate and diligent legal representation to victims in many areas of Tennessee. There is no need for you and your family to navigate the legal system on your own, especially when you are dealing with painful injuries and the financial burdens that often result from them. In this situation, enlisting a motor vehicle collision lawyer to handle the legal process can make a significant difference. Call us at 865-804-1011 or contact us online to set up a free consultation.