Michigan Red Light Car Accident Lawyer

Running a red light is a reckless behavior that causes thousands of injuries each year in the U.S. In 2021, 1,109 people died, and 127,000 were injured in a car crash that involved running a red light, including other drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

A 2021 survey found that 28% of drivers reported running a red light in the past 30 days. If you were injured in a Michigan car accident by a careless, reckless, or inattentive driver who ran a red light, you can seek financial support for your injuries.

At Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C., our Michigan Michigan car accident lawyer can help you prove negligence and get you fair compensation. We protect car accident victims’ rights in the Great Lakes State and can represent your interests after a red light crash.

Red Light Laws in Michigan

Michigan has several statutes that direct drivers on how to interact with red lights. Under Michigan’s red light laws, found in Statute 257.612, here are the rules drivers must follow:

• Under Michigan law, drivers must come to a full stop at the red light before the crosswalk, limit line, or intersection entrance.
• Drivers cannot proceed straight through the intersection or turn while the light is red, except when making permissible turns on red. For these turns, they must stop and proceed only when safe, after yielding to pedestrians and other traffic.
• Turning on red is prohibited where stop signs or traffic signals explicitly disallow it.
• When making allowed turns on red, drivers must yield to all pedestrians in crosswalks and traffic using the intersection, ensuring they do not interfere with their right of way.

Why Drivers Run Red Lights

Drivers run red lights for various reasons despite the risks involved. Here are some reasons why someone might run a red light:

• Ignoring or misjudging the signal. Some drivers misjudge the timing of the light changing from yellow to red and believe they can make it through the intersection in time. Others ignore the signal completely. In 2022, disregard for traffic control led to 10,500 crashes in Michigan.
• Distraction. Distractions, like using a cell phone or being preoccupied with passengers, can lead to missing the red light entirely. Distracted driving led to 15,441 crashes in Michigan in 2022.
• Recklessness. Disregarding traffic lights, driving under the influence, or excessively speeding can lead some drivers to intentionally ignore red lights. In 2022, 11,156 Michigan car accidents were due to careless driving, and another 2,491 were caused by reckless driving.

How to Prove Fault in a Red Light Accident Case

To win a fair settlement in a red light accident, you must prove that the other driver’s actions led to your injuries. Our car crash attorneys can help you find evidence to demonstrate liability and get a fair red light accident settlement. Here’s how:

• Gather eyewitness accounts. We interview and document statements from individuals who witnessed the event. Their firsthand observations can illustrate the other driver’s reckless or negligent behavior at the time of the accident.
• Analyze traffic camera footage. Our Michigan car accident attorneys secure and scrutinize video recordings from traffic cameras near the accident site. This footage can provide irrefutable evidence that the other driver violated the red light, leading to the collision.
• Collect police reports. We gather and review police reports from the accident, containing an officer’s objective assessment of the scene, notes on violations, and initial determinations of fault. This can bolster your claim by adding an authoritative perspective on the incident.
• Consult accident reconstruction experts. We engage with specialists in accident reconstruction to piece together the events leading up to the crash. Using scientific methods and analysis, these experts can demonstrate how the other driver’s actions were the primary cause of your injuries, reinforcing your case with technical evidence.

What We Can Do For You

When you choose a Michigan red light car accident lawyer from Cochran, Kroll, & Associates, P.C., you can trust that your rights are protected. This is what our motor vehicle accident attorneys near you can do to help with your claim and get you the recovery award you deserve:

• Assess your damages. We thoroughly review every detail of your case to identify all the damages you’ve suffered. This evaluation covers medical costs, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and potential long-term care requirements, ensuring we don’t miss any part of the impact on you.
• Handle insurance negotiations. Our experienced car accident lawyers in Michigan negotiate with insurance companies, skillfully handling your personal injury protection (PIP) insurance and third-party claims. We can help you file a claim for no-fault insurance benefits. This can include medical and lost wage coverage through your Michigan no-fault insurance or seeking full damages from the at-fault driver’s liability policy.
• Maximize compensation. Our Michigan red light car accident lawyers can maximize your settlement with the help of specialized legal experience and training. Eileen Kroll, a partner at our firm and a registered nurse, uses her medical background to interpret medical records and communicate the extent of your injuries, ensuring your settlement reflects the true extent of your damages.
• Represent you in court. If a fair settlement cannot be reached through negotiation, filing a lawsuit may be necessary. Our auto accident attorneys are seasoned litigators who can present a winning case to the court to secure the recovery award you deserve.

Speak With Our Michigan Red Light Car Accident Lawyers Today

Red light crashes are often serious, resulting in severe car accident injuries that change the course of your life. Our car accident lawyers near you understand these challenges and will work tirelessly to get you financial support that helps you get back on track. Contact our car accident lawyers today for a free consultation to learn your legal options.

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.