Study Finds Running Red Lights is a Major Source of Fatal Accidents

By Pendergast Law on June 26, 2012

Traffic lights and signs are put up to control the flow of traffic and warn drivers of the need to stop or slow down to avoid a crash. When a driver runs a red light or stop sign, however, serious injuries or motor vehicle accident deaths can result.

According to the Federal Highway Association (FHWA), about 2.3 million intersection crashes occur in the United States each year, resulting in over 7,700 deaths. About 10 percent of these deaths, or 768 of them in 2008, occur when a driver intentionally or negligently runs a red light. Deaths nationwide in red-light-running accidents have decreased since 2008, but for most of the past decade have held steady at rates between 900 and 1,000 deaths per year.

Another 165,000 people each year are injured when a driver runs a red light. According to a 1999 study, one in three people know someone who was killed or seriously injured when another driver ran a red light or a stop sign. It’s not surprising, then, that 97 percent of U.S. drivers polled in one 2004 study said that running red lights was a serious safety issue. Drivers have a duty to pay attention to their surroundings and to obey traffic signals. When they fail to do so, serious injuries can result.

At Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S., we know that finding out what caused an accident can be overwhelming when you’re also struggling to recover from your injuries. That’s why our experienced Seattle intersection accident attorneys are dedicated to helping you get the compensation you need, so you can focus on healing. For a free consultation, call us today at (888) 228-3860.