Wilmington auto accident attorneyWilmington drivers are obliged to obey traffic signals. However, some drivers are in a hurry and fail to slow down when they see the traffic light turn yellow. Others speed straight through red lights.

Drunk driving, distracted driving, and speeding are common factors when drivers fail to stop at a red light. Their negligence puts other road users at risk of suffering severe, sometimes life-threatening, injuries.

A recent Wilmington accident, caused by a speeding driver who ran a red light, left two law enforcement officers injured. The accident happened at the intersection of Third and Davis Streets when a 21-year-old driver T-boned an unmarked police vehicle. The vehicle then collided with another vehicle driven by a police officer. The negligent driver was charged with a red-light violation and speeding.

The upsurge of red-light runners in Wilmington

A 17 percent rise in fatal red-light accidents between 2012 and 2016, nationwide, has prompted safety advocacy groups to act. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the American Automobile Association (AAA), Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and the National Safety Council are all calling for the increased use of red-light cameras.

In 2012, 696 people lost their lives because of red-light runners. This accounted for one of three years since 2000 to have less than 700 traffic fatalities caused by drivers who run red lights. That number has spiked to 811 deaths in 2016 – the highest since 2007 (which had 914 deaths).

According to IIHS, a 21 percent decrease in red light camera programs nationwide is a factor in the rise of fatal accidents. In 2012, there were a total of 533 red-light cameras in use across the nation. That number has dropped to 421 in 2018.

Holding red light runners accountable

North Carolina has state and city ordinances permitting the use of red-light cameras in specified jurisdictions, according to IIHS. In 2013, Wilmington saw a decrease in traffic accidents at the intersections of Market and 23rd streets and Market Street and New Centre Drive – where red-light cameras were installed.

If you’re injured in a crash caused by a red-light runner, camera footage can be beneficial to your claim. However, not all intersections have red-light cameras installed. Proving that the other driver acted negligently may require other clues such as witness testimony, photos, and a detailed police report.

In the event that you or a loved one is injured in a crash caused by a red-light runner, it’s crucial that you hire an experienced Wilmington auto accident attorney who knows how to handle these complex claims. At the Law Offices of Richard Flexner, we’ll leave no stone unturned when it comes to seeking justice for you and your family.