Red-light running crashes are all too common in New York City. Nationwide, 939 people died in such crashes in 2017, and according to AAA, this is the highest the number has ever reached in a decade. Many drivers will run a red light because they are distracted or inattentive in some other way while others will do so by intentionally speeding.
The risk-taking attitude of many drivers was clearly seen in a 2019 AAA survey. Eighty-five percent of respondents agreed that to pass through a red light is dangerous, yet one-third admitted to doing it in the 30 days prior to the survey. Asked if they were worried that the police would ever catch them, two in five said no.
Clearly, then, some deterrent is needed. This is where some experts bring up red-light cameras, which take photographs of red-light runners and other traffic violators so that the police can ticket them later. A study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety asserts that these devices reduce red-light-related violations by 40%.
In spite of this increase in red-light running crash deaths, it turns out that traffic deaths in general have gone down. The National Safety Council reported a 1% decline from 2017 to 2018. Nevertheless, the number, which came to around 40,000 deaths, is still too high.
Car accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents: Every type of accident can occur at an intersection. In those cases where victims suffer serious injuries or disabilities through little or no fault of their own, it’s possible to file a third-party insurance claim. It may be a good idea for victims to request a legal evaluation, though, and to hire a lawyer for each step of the filing and negotiating process. With a lawyer, they may achieve a fair out-of-court settlement.