Have you ever been slowing down to stop at a red light when the car next to you goes flying by and runs the red light? I see it all the time. In fact I saw it happen to me this morning on Bardstown Road and it was a TARC bus to boot. Not only had the light turned yellow, but it was red when the bus entered the intersection. Thankfully, the cars coming from the other direction were not timing the lights or there could have been a horrible accident. Maybe I am more observant of this because of my line of work or because I have a daughter who will be turning 16 soon and will be let loose on Kentucky roads. The simple truth is that this is very dangerous and causes accidents. Many times these are car accidents, but often they will involve pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles because they are less visible. These accidents can also involve more serious injuries. There will be the element of increased speed and the element of surprise.

If you have been in a red light accident you will also have additional problems determining whose fault the accident is. I often see accident reports where the police officer writes that there is no determination of fault due to conflicting stories. Both drivers swear that they had the green light and that the accident was not their fault. These swearing contests are difficult to prove unless you have a witness who stops and is willing to give a statement to the police. Without an independent witness your accident case will have a lower value. It will be difficult to convince the insurance  company to settle or a jury to award you damages at trial.

My point is being careful out there. Traffic lights are there for a reason. Whether it is a traffic light, a crosswalk sighn or some other road sign you should pay attention to them. Stop when you are suppose to and you can avoid being in an accident. Drivers are in a hurry, talking on phones and just plain rude sometimes. Following the rules of the road and obeying traffic lights will prevent accidents.

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