Drivers running red lights due to impatience or distraction cause more than 1,000 fatalities each year, endangering their lives and other road users as well. Many red-light runners have reported “accidentally” blowing through these traffic lights due to a distraction. Red-light running often results from distracted or aggressive driving and is 100% preventable.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that 1,149 people were killed and more than 100,000 injured in crashes that involved red-light running in 2022. At least half of those killed were the driver’s passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, or people in other vehicles.
Among drivers involved in fatal, red-light-running, multiple-vehicle crashes in 2022, the red-light runners were more likely than other drivers to be male, to be younger, and to have prior crashes or alcohol-impaired driving convictions, according to IIHS. They were also more likely to be speeding or alcohol-impaired at the time of the crash and less likely to have a valid driver’s license.
Red-light running in Kentucky
Kentucky State Police data compiled from collision reports submitted by Kentucky law enforcement agencies across the commonwealth show that in 2023, 3,914 crashes occurred due to drivers’ disregard for traffic control, resulting in 46 fatalities and 2,194 injuries.
Reducing risks from red-light runners
With the number of red-light running crashes continuing to climb, AAA offers these tips for avoiding crashes caused by running red lights:
• Limit distractions. AAA Foundation research finds that distraction from activities, such as hands-free texting or dialing while sitting at a red light, can linger with a driver for up to 27 seconds afterward.
• Drive defensively. Before you advance through an intersection after the light has turned green, take a moment to look both ways and then proceed. Don’t assume all cross traffic has obeyed the red light.
• Prepare to stop. When preparing to enter an intersection, lift your foot off the accelerator and “cover the brake” by positioning your right foot just above the brake pedal without touching it.
• Use good judgment. Monitor “stale” green lights―those that have been green a long time―as you approach the intersection. They are more likely to turn yellow when you arrive at the intersection, so anticipate the need to make a safe stop.
• Tap the brake. Tap your brakes a couple of times before fully applying them to slow down. This will help catch the attention of drivers behind you who may be inattentive or distracted.
When a driver runs a red light, it is more likely to cause a significant injury than many other types of accidents due to the high speed involved and the unprepared drivers crossing traffic that have a green light. “T-bone” or “angular” collisions often result in severe injuries and fatalities for the occupants on the side of the car that is hit. Small gaps separate the driver and passenger from a side impact, increasing the chances of catastrophic injuries.
If you’ve been involved in an accident with a negligent driver who ran a red light, you need Queener Law to fight for you! Don’t wait to get help. Queener Law will get you set up with medical attention, even if you do not have health insurance. Call Queener Law today or use ouronline consultation form to schedule a free consultation and discuss the circumstances of your accident and how we can help you.
Personal injury attorneys understand the risks associated with medical releases and how they can impact your car accident injury claim. Do you? Sharing all your medical records with your insurance company can jeopardize your case. It’s crucial to only provide the medical records from the hospital and the treating physician who saw you after your accident.
Giving all your medical records to an insurance adjuster can negatively affect your car wreck case for several reasons:
1.Loss of Control Over Your Information: When you provide complete access to your medical records, you lose control over which information the insurance company can see. They may access unrelated medical history that doesn’t pertain to your injury, which could be used against you.
2. Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance adjusters may scrutinize your entire medical history to find pre-existing conditions or past injuries that could be presented as contributing factors to your current pain or disability. This could reduce the perceived severity of your current injuries and weaken your claim.
3.Exaggeration of Claims: Insurance companies may use your medical history to argue that your injuries are exaggerated or that you have a history of similar complaints, undermining your credibility.
4.Settlement Negotiations: If the insurance company sees information in your records that they can capitalize on, they might offer a lower settlement amount than you deserve, believing that your case is weaker based on the additional medical information.
5. Privacy Issues: Sharing all your medical records raises privacy concerns. There’s a risk that sensitive information could be misused or improperly disclosed, impacting your reputation or personal life.
6. Strategic Disadvantages: The more information the insurance adjuster has, the easier it is for them to develop strategies to minimize liability. It can ultimately give them an upper hand in negotiations.
In short, being cautious about what medical information you share with an insurance adjuster is crucial. It’s wise to consult a personal injury attorney like Henry Queener to navigate this process.
When a pedestrian is hit by a car, the driver is typically considered at fault, especially if the pedestrian was in a crosswalk or not on the road. However, in some instances, pedestrians can be found partially responsible for the accident if they were not following road rules.
How Fault is Determined?
The person responsible for covering the expenses related to a crash is the one whose careless actions led to the accident. Negligence involves four main elements that can help determine the party at fault:
1. Duty of care: What are the expectations for both parties to ensure each other’s safety?
2. Breach of duty: Which party acted thoughtlessly or recklessly?
3. Causation: Did that thoughtless or reckless action cause injury?
4. Damages: If so, the negligent party can be held responsible.
Using these criteria, our pedestrian accident lawyers assess each case to identify the negligent act that initiated the chain of events. Sometimes, it may be the driver’s negligence, but pedestrians can also behave recklessly.
When a Driver is at Fault?
Any number of negligent behaviors can lead to a collision between a car and a pedestrian, such as:
These behaviors may result in the driver being considered at fault. According to the elements of negligence, many of the above behaviors represent a breach of duty of care. Someone who turned on red without checking a crosswalk, striking a person, was not exercising proper care.
Rideshares increasingly pose risks to pedestrians, especially at pick-up and drop-off locations. Distracted driving plays a particular role in rideshare-pedestrian accidents; drivers are focused on the GPS, rideshare app, or texting, leaving them at fault.
When the Pedestrian is at Fault?
Pedestrians can be responsible for their own negligence, such as:
– Being under the influence
– Being distracted, like texting while walking
– Crossing outside a crosswalk
– Darting into traffic unexpectedly
For instance, if a drunk pedestrian suddenly stumbles into the street, it doesn’t give a driver enough time to stop. Even though the pedestrian was injured, their reckless action caused the accident. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the pedestrian was intoxicated in 33 percent of fatal pedestrian accidents studied.
We Can Help Make Sense of Your Pedestrian Accident
When you contact the team at Queener Law, you will receive a free consultation to ask questions about your pedestrian accident.
During this consultation, we can help you better understand who may be at fault after a car hits a pedestrian and provide advice on pursuing damages. Please feel free to contact our office today for more information.
Después de sufrir un accidente, sabemos que lo último que desea hacer es informarlo a la aseguranza por temor a que aumenten sus tarifas. Quizás esté pensando en el estrés financiero que le espera en el futuro cercano, pero gracias al estatuto de Colorado C.R.S. §10-4-628 las tarifas de su seguro NO PUEDEN aumentar si usted no tiene la culpa.
CRS §10-4-628 estados:
(1) Ningún asegurador cancelará; no renovar; negarse a escribir; reclasificar a un asegurado bajo; reducir la cobertura, a menos que la reducción sea parte de una reducción general en la cobertura presentada ante el comisionado; o aumentar la prima, a menos que el aumento sea parte de un aumento general en las primas presentado ante el comisionado, cualquier póliza que cumpla el solicitante, asegurado, usuario permisivo o cualquier residente del hogar del solicitante o asegurado tiene:
(a) Ha tenido un accidente o accidentes que no son culpa del solicitante asegurado, miembro del hogar o usuario permisivo nombrado.
Supongamos que tuvo un accidente que no fue su culpa y que luego le dejó con más de $100,000 en billes médicos y la parte que lo golpeó tenía límites de lesiones corporales de solo $25,000. Sabemos que $25,000 no son suficientes para pagar sus billes médicos ni para tratar de compensarlo por su trauma, salarios perdidos, facturas, etc. Ahí es donde entrará en acción su cobertura UIM. La protección contra conductores con seguro insuficiente se aplicará si la otra parte no tiene cobertura suficiente para sus pérdidas, por lo que su seguro intervendrá y proporcionará límites adicionales.
¿Qué pasa si la parte que te golpeó no tiene cobertura de seguro? ¿Cómo pagará sus billes médicos? Ahí es donde interviene la cobertura UM. La protección contra conductores sin seguro ofrece cobertura si el conductor culpable no tiene la cobertura de seguro requerida. De esta manera todavía estás protegido.
En Colorado, por ley se requiere tener cobertura UIM/UM en su póliza con límites mínimos de $25,000 por persona, $50,000 por accidente. Sin embargo, si uno decide no participar en esto, puede hacerlo rechazando la cobertura por escrito. Esto es algo que NO recomendamos enfáticamente, ya que es mejor prevenir que lamentar y pagar más para tener una capa adicional de protección por si acaso. Tener cobertura adicional puede parecer una sin chiste ya que uno siempre piensa que estas cosas nunca les pueden pasar a uno, pero agradecerás tenerla si alguna vez te encuentras en la desafortunada situación en la que se tenia que ulitizar los límites de UIM/UM.
After being in an accident, we know the last thing you want to do is report it to the insurance company fearing they will raise your rates. You may be thinking how much of a financial stress is ahead of you in the near future, but thanks to Colorado statute C.R.S. §10-4-628, your insurance rates CANNOT increase if you are not at fault.
C.R.S. 10-4-628 states:
(1) No insurer shall cancel; fail to renew; refuse to write; reclassify an insured under; reduce coverage under, unless the reduction is part of a general reduction in coverage filed with the commissioner; or increase the premium for, unless the increase is part of a general increase in premiums filed with the commissioner, any complying policy because the applicant, insured, permissive user, or any resident of the household of the applicant or insured has:
(a) Had an accident or accidents that are not the fault of such named applicant, insured, household member, or permissive user.
Suppose you were in an accident that was not your fault which then left you with over $100,000 in medical bills, and the party that hit you had bodily injury limits of only $25,000. We know that $25,000 is not enough to pay off your medical bills, nor is it enough to try and compensate you for your trauma, lost wages, bills, etc. That is where your UIM coverage will kick in. Underinsured motorist protection is triggered if the other party does not have sufficient coverage for your losses. Then your insurance will step in and provide the additional coverage.
What if the party that hit you does not have insurance coverage? How will you pay for your medical bills? That is where UM coverage steps in. Uninsured motorist protection offers coverage if the at fault driver does not have the required insurance coverage. This way you are still protected.
In Colorado, by law it is required to have UIM/UM coverage on your auto insurance policy with minimum limits of $25,000 per person, $50,000 per accident. However, if one chooses to opt out of this, they may do so by rejecting the coverage in writing. This is something we strongly DO NOT recommend, as it is better to be safe than sorry and pay more to have the extra layer of protection you need just in case. Having the extra coverage can seem silly as we always think these things can never happen to us, but you will be thankful for having it if you ever find yourself in the unfortunate situation where UIM/UM is necessary.
In honor of National Tire Safety Week, take a moment to ensure your tires are good to go! Summer travel in extreme temperatures can affect tire safety and wear. Taking care of tires is important for several reasons. First, well-maintained tires are essential for safe driving, as they provide traction and control. Proper tire care also improves fuel efficiency and ensures a smoother ride. Lastly, regular tire maintenance can extend the lifespan of your tires, saving you money in the long run.
When traveling on the road during the summer, it’s essential to ensure safe travels by taking care of various aspects, including tire safety. Here are some tips to have safe travels on the road in the summer:
1. Check Tire Safety: Before hitting the road, make sure to check your tires. Extreme temperatures during summer can affect tire safety and wear. Check tire pressure, tread wear, and overall condition regularly.
2. Proper Maintenance: Properly maintain your tires by checking tire pressure monthly, checking your alignment, rotating your tires, and inspecting your tire tread. This will help ensure your tires are in good condition for safe travels.
3. Stay Informed: Stay informed about tire safety tips and best practices. For valuable information, visit websites like NHTSA.gov/TireWise.
4. Be Prepared: Pack an emergency roadside kit with essential items such as a spare tire, jack, lug wrench, and a tire pressure gauge.
By following these tips and staying proactive about tire safety, you can contribute to safe travel during the summer.
