West Palm Beach Traffic Signal Violation Accidents

Traffic signals and signs are strategically placed in ways to ensure that motorists, pedestrians, and other road users remain safe. Unfortunately, not all drivers obey these signals, and they may run through red lights or make unauthorized turns, putting others in harm’s way. The West Palm Beach lawyers at Donaldson & Weston represent victims injured by another driver’s reckless or careless actions. Injuries sustained in traffic signal violation accidents can be permanent and life-altering, requiring ongoing medical treatment and leading to exponential costs associated with that treatment. At Donaldson & Weston, we understand the pressure that these injuries put on victims and their families, and we are committed to making sure that drivers responsible for causing injuries are held legally accountable. If you have been hurt as a result of a driver failing to obey a traffic signal, contact our office today to find out more about how we can help.

When drivers speed through a yellow light or run a just-turned red light, they do not take the time to consider the potential consequences. These actions can cause a serious accident, especially if a driver hits another vehicle where it is most vulnerable, like what occurs during a side-impact collision or T-bone crash. Many traffic signal violations take place at West Palm Beach’s most dangerous intersections, which include certain stretches of Okeechobee Boulevard, especially at Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard and North Jog Road.

According to the Palm Beach Post, meanwhile, 45th Street and North Military Trail is the intersection where the greatest number of serious collisions occurs, with 80 crashes reported in 2014. Many accidents caused by drivers’ failures to obey traffic signals lead to injuries ranging from broken bones to spinal cord injuries and permanent brain damage. Even temporary injuries can mean that a victim needs to take time off from work, visit doctors, and engage in physical therapy to heal. Often, expenses for treatment related to car accident injuries exceed an insurance policy’s limit, making pursuing legal action necessary.

A driver who violates a traffic signal, leading to a collision with another driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, may be held liable in a personal injury claim. These lawsuits are based on the legal theory of negligence, which applies when a defendant breaches the duty of care owed to another person, causing that victim to sustain injuries and resulting in damages. All drivers owe a duty to other road users to act reasonably under the circumstances. It is reasonable, as well as required by law, to obey traffic signals and yield the right of way to oncoming traffic when turning at an intersection. Failing to adhere to these regulations and causing injuries to a victim would strongly indicate that a driver was acting negligently and therefore should be liable for causing the crash.

More than one party can be found negligent in causing a traffic signal violation accident. Under Florida law, the amount of a victim’s damages is determined in proportion to each party’s degree of fault, taking into account a victim’s own negligent actions (if any). This means that if a victim is found 25 percent responsible, they can still be compensated by another negligent party for 75 percent of the damages.