In 2021 alone, Naperville, IL, saw nearly 900 car accidents at traffic lights. Car accidents happen for many reasons, but a common reason for these crashes was a failure to obey a red or yellow light.
Side-impact collisions that result from running a red or yellow light can cause severe injuries. For Naperville residents, it is critical to understand more about red and yellow light crashes and how a seasoned attorney can help if you do suffer an accident.
The Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid is here to help if you’ve been injured in a car accident in the area. We offer a free initial consultation to provide legal advice and review your case. Contact our trusted Naperville red and yellow light accident lawyers today at (630) 428-4040.
How the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid Can Help After a Red and Yellow Light Car Accident in Naperville, IL
The Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid was founded in 2005 to represent accident victims in Naperville, Illinois, and the surrounding vicinity against at-fault parties and their insurers. Our Naperville car accident lawyers have over 75 years of combined experience helping injured clients recover compensation. To date, we’ve secured over $150 million for our clients.
When you get injured in an accident, we can help by:
- Launching a comprehensive internal investigation into your accident to collect evidence, identify the liable parties, and determine your best course of action
- Handling all the paperwork, communications, and negotiations with the opposing party on your behalf
- File a lawsuit against the at-fault driver and take your case to court if necessary
A car accident can cause severe mental and physical trauma. Contact the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid for a free consultation to learn how we can help you begin putting your life back together today.
How Common Are Red and Yellow Light Car Accidents?
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, Naperville had 879 accidents in 2021 that happened at an intersection controlled by a traffic light. These collisions included car accidents, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents. Overall, intersection crashes killed or injured over 270 people in Naperville that year.
Intersection crashes happen when someone fails to yield the right of way. This does not necessarily mean the driver ran a red or yellow light. Some collisions happen even though both parties had a “go” signal. For example, a driver could turn right on a green signal and hit a pedestrian in the crosswalk who had a “walk” signal.
Illinois does not release statistics about running red lights. But nationally, statistics show that one in three drivers admit to running a red light in the past 30 days. Sadly, the crashes that result from some of these violations kill or injure someone besides the red light runner about half the time, including passengers and innocent road users.
Illinois Law Regarding Red and Yellow Light Accidents
Every child learns about traffic signals long before they take a driver’s education course. Red, yellow, and green lights are used everywhere, from coloring books to games. But some adults disregard that knowledge when they get behind the wheel.
Illinois law works to prevent this negligence and protect victims when it does happen.
Understanding Illinois Traffic Law
Illinois has a traffic law that describes what you can and cannot do at each colored signal. For example, drivers facing a green light can:
- Proceed straight through the intersection
- Turn right or left as long as no sign at the intersection prohibits it
- Turn right or left after yielding to vehicles and pedestrians proceeding straight
On the other hand, a solid yellow light warns drivers that their right of way is about to end. Illinois law does not require drivers to stop at a yellow light.
Drivers facing a solid red light must stop at a stop line or before entering the crosswalk. The law prohibits drivers from entering the intersection until the red light ends, except to make a right turn or a left turn onto a one-way street. In those situations, the driver must stop, then proceed cautiously through the intersection after traffic has cleared.
Proving Negligence for Red and Yellow Light Crashes
In Illinois, you can pursue compensation for injuries from a red or yellow light accident if the other driver acted intentionally or negligently.
An intentional crash is relatively rare. Even if the driver purposefully drove through a red light, you must prove they intended to either make harmful contact with you or place you in imminent fear of harmful contact. For example, you might be able to prove intent if someone deliberately bumped your car to move you out of the way.
Negligence lies at the heart of most car accident claims. A Naperville red and yellow light accident lawyer proves negligence by showing the driver failed to exercise reasonable care and injured you as a result.
The lawyer does not need to show the driver violated Illinois traffic laws. Instead, the lawyer only needs to show the driver knew or should have known that running the light could harm someone.
This is where the “staleness” of the light could come into play. If the light is yellow for a long time, a driver knows or should know that it will turn red before they clear the intersection.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Naperville Car Accident Lawyers
Red and yellow light crashes can cause incapacitating injuries that disable you from working or even meeting your daily needs. If you are injured in one of these accidents, you need a compassionate advocate ready to fight aggressively to secure the compensation you deserve.
Contact the Law Offices of Mathys & Schneid for a free consultation with a top-rated Naperville red and yellow light accident attorney today.
