Who is at Fault for a Yellow Light Car Accident in Michigan
Legally Reviewed and Edited by: Terry Cochran
Determining who is at fault in a yellow light car accident in Michigan can be complex and depend on the specific circumstances of the case. Generally, drivers have a duty to exercise reasonable care and follow traffic laws, including stopping at a yellow light when it is safe to do so.
However, liability may be shared or attributed differently depending on various factors, such as the timing of the light change, the speed of the vehicles involved, and other relevant evidence.
More than one person might share the blame following a yellow light accident. To determine fault and get help with your car accident claim, Michigan car accident lawyer experienced in Michigan traffic laws.
What is a Yellow Light Car Accident?
Yellow light car accidents occur when a driver fails to respond appropriately to a yellow traffic signal. A yellow light signalizes a transition between a green and red light, indicating that drivers should prepare to stop.
However, some drivers accelerate and rush through the intersection at a yellow light before the light turns red. This misjudgment can lead to dangerous situations when other vehicles have entered the intersection or stopped. As a result, more than 50% of fatal crashes take place at or near intersections.
Common accidents involving yellow lights include:
- Left turn accidents occur when a driver fails to give way to oncoming traffic as they attempt a left turn.
- Rear-end crashes resulting from a driver stopping or slowing down for a yellow signal and the other driver behind them doesn’t stop in time.
Does Michigan Have Specific Traffic Laws Regarding Yellow Lights?
Michigan law requires drivers to stop before a crosswalk at intersections with steady yellow lights. If the intersection isn’t safe to make a sudden stop, drivers can proceed cautiously.
An exception to this law is when you are already within the intersection and preparing to make a left turn. You can then complete a left turn once oncoming traffic has stopped, even when the light transitions to red.
To make a left turn at a red light, you must come to a complete stop. The left turn should be onto a one-way street where traffic flows toward the left turn. This law applies whether you are turning from a one-way or two-way street. You must yield the right of way to pedestrians, bicyclists in adjacent crosswalks, and other vehicles, ensuring their safety.
Determining Fault in a Yellow Light Car Accident
Michigan operates under a no-fault insurance system, where each party’s insurance covers their medical expenses, lost wages, household replacement, and attendant care services, regardless of fault. However, severe injuries can cause you pain and suffering and incur more medical expenses beyond the limits of your auto insurance policy.
Several parties might have contributed to the accident. Identifying potential at-fault parties becomes important to determine who is at fault for the yellow car accident and for you to file a third-party claim against them.
These parties include:
- Driver who failed to stop or yield: If a driver ignores the yellow light, accelerating or not stopping when it was safe to do so, they may be considered at fault for the accident. Failure to adhere to traffic signals and exercise caution can result in a collision with another vehicle.
- Drivers running a red light: If the driver continued through the intersection after the light turned red, they would be at fault for any resulting accidents. Running a red light clearly violates traffic rules and can lead to severe consequences.
- Distracted drivers: A distracted driver poses a risk to all road users as they might not pay attention to the road or remove their hands from the wheel. As a result, they disregard the yellow light, potentially causing an accident.
Establishing fault in a yellow light accident relies on a thorough evaluation of your case’s facts and the circumstances of your accident. An experienced car accident lawyer to A Michigan car accident lawyer at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. can help you protect your legal rights.
Key Factors in a Yellow Light Car Accident Case
After your crash, your lawyer can assist you in determining who is at fault in a yellow light accident. They will gather evidence and assess who had the right of way and liability in the collision under Michigan law.
They will consider the following factors as they investigate your case:
1. Establishing the Correct Traffic Signal Timing
The yellow change interval in Michigan should last around 3 to 6 seconds.Your lawyer will review traffic engineering standards and surveillance footage to determine if the correct timing was implemented at the intersection. They can analyze this data and compare it to the signal timing to determine if the yellow light duration contributed to the accident.
2. The Driver’s Duty to Exercise Reasonable Care
All Michigan drivers must operate their vehicles safely and adhere to the rules of the road. Your lawyer will prove that the driver didn’t fulfill this duty of care by demonstrating they violated Michigan’s road laws or operated their vehicle unsafely. For instance, your lawyer will examine the police report, photos, and videos of the accident to prove that the driver failed to yield at a yellow light.
3. Reliance on Traffic Laws and Statutes
Your lawyer will thoroughly investigate all the drivers’ actions during the accident. They will review Michigan’s traffic laws, focusing on drivers’ need to stop before a crosswalk at intersections with steady yellow lights unless unsafe.
Your lawyer will examine factors like the timing of the yellow light, the positions of vehicles, and any relevant evidence to determine whether it was safe for you to stop suddenly at the intersection.
For instance, the police report could indicate the tailgating driver was at fault for a yellow light crash. However, Michigan doesn’t mandate a set distance to avoid tailgating. Drivers are only required to maintain a reasonable and prudent distance. Due to this factor, your lawyer may have some discretion in determining who is responsible for a rear-end collision caused by a yellow light.
4. The Right of Way and Traffic Control Devices
Your lawyer can determine if the other driver’s left turn was onto a one-way street toward the left turn. They will examine the road layout, traffic patterns, and any relevant signage or road markings to establish whether the turn was made appropriately onto a one-way street.
Your lawyer will analyze the events of the accident by reviewing any available surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts. Drivers may be liable if pedestrians and bicyclists are endangered by failing to yield as required. This evidence may also impact the determination of fault in the yellow light car accident.
5. Eyewitness Testimony and Surveillance Footage
Eyewitness testimonies and surveillance footage can support your yellow light car accident case. Your lawyer can learn about the drivers’ actions leading up to the collision by interviewing witnesses. For example, one of the drivers may have been speeding or failed to stop at a yellow light. These statements serve as valuable evidence in determining who had the right of way and establishing fault.
How Comparative Negligence Applies to Yellow Light Car Accidents in Michigan
Modified comparative negligence is a legal principle that can impact a yellow light accident case in Michigan. Under this doctrine, each party involved in the accident is held responsible for a percentage of the damages based on their degree of fault.
The degree of fault assigned to each party can directly impact the amount of compensation you receive. If your degree of fault exceeds that of the other party, your damages may be reduced proportionally. For example, if you are 50% or more at fault for the accident, you can’t claim non-economic damages like pain, suffering, and emotional distress.
Our car accident attorneys at Cochran, Kroll & Associates, P.C. will use the evidence from the accident to establish the other driver’s liability. If you sustained severe injuries that impacted your daily activities, our nurse attorney, Eileen Kroll, can use your medical records to show the accident’s impact on your quality of life.
If we are unable to negotiate a fair settlement, we can represent you in court to advocate for your right to compensation before a judge or jury.
Contact a Michigan Car Accident Lawyer
A yellow light accident in Michigan requires an in-depth investigation of its circumstances and a thorough understanding of the applicable traffic laws. Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C.’s car accident attorneys, can help you determine who is at fault in a yellow light accident in Michigan.
Our contingency fee basis means we only get paid if we win your case, so there is no financial risk to you to get started. Call our law firm today at 1-866-MICH-LAW and schedule your no-obligation, free case evaluation.
Disclaimer : The information provided is general and not for legal advice. The blogs are not intended to provide legal counsel and no attorney-client relationship is created nor intended.
