How often have you been driving when you see someone who has run a red light? Most of the time, they're either talking on the phone, distracted, or are purposefully trying to run it so that they can get to their final destination on time. Notwithstanding these dangerous driving habits, what these drivers fail to realize is that running a red light can lead to serious accidents that result in injury and sometimes even death.
Take, for example, the Smith family in Lexington, Kentucky. The Smith family was driving in their SUV, and as they entered the roadway to make a left turn, their car was sideswiped by a truck, causing the vehicle to overturn. The father died at the scene, the mother was paralyzed, and the children suffered serious internal injuries. The cause of the accident stemmed from a negligent truck driver who rushed through a red light. Even though all of the passengers of the car were wearing safety restraints, the lives of the Smith family was forever changed. This scenario is typical of the families that we see at Goeing Goeing & McQuinn PLLC. Undoubtedly, the impact of this type of accident leaves a permanent mark on our clients' lives.
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, approximately 2 million crashes occur each year across the United States at intersections. In 2009 alone, red-light running resulted in 676 fatalities and over 100,000 injuries. In light of these statistics, there has been a movement by some advocate groups that supports the use of automated red light photo cameras. These cameras are programmed and generally placed at busy intersections to try to dissuade drivers from speeding and running red lights. Overall, the purpose of these cameras is to reduce the number of red light violations and avoid the crashes that they trigger, thereby reducing the number of deaths and injuries that they cause.
Of the fifty states, 21 of them, as well as the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands, have enacted laws allowing some form of automated red light photo cameras. Kentucky is one of the 20 states that have no state laws concerning red light camera enforcement.
According to a traffic study conducted of a Maryland county's red light program, the use of red light cameras resulted in a substantial overall reduction in crashes, with total accident reductions of over 10%. In addition to Maryland, California is another state that has also implemented a red light program. A California audit of same concluded that that these programs were also effective in reducing red light running crashes. Perhaps if Kentucky were to implement such a program, it may reduce the number of crashes that result from drivers who run red lights. However, until this happens, the statistics will likely remain the same or continue to worsen over time.
If you have been injured as a result of someone running a red light, our experienced Kentucky personal injury attorneys will fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve. Please contact us to schedule a FREE consultation toll free or visit our website for additional information.