If you suffered injuries in a car accident in Indianapolis, Indiana, that was caused by a driver who failed to obey a traffic signal, you may have the right to hold that driver responsible for your resulting injuries and damages. Let personal injury attorney Randall Sevenish and the team at Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., help you possibly seek and secure a payout you may be entitled to based on the facts of your accident case.
Call us to see how an Indianapolis failure to obey traffic signals lawyer can help you. We may represent you on a contingency fee basis.
Failure to Obey Traffic Signals May Cause Intersection Accidents
In 2018, Indiana drivers disregarding traffic signals led to 4,109 accidents according to the Indiana University Public Policy Institute. This comprised nearly two percent of all traffic accidents in the state.
If a driver fails to obey a traffic signal, it may result in a dangerous situation because motorists rely on traffic signals to know when it is safe to go straight, turn, or take other actions. Consider the following types of traffic signals:
- Traffic lights
- Flashing caution lights
- Left turn arrows
- Railroad crossing lights
Failure to obey a red light, for example, may result in a serious side-impact collision that may cause serious injuries to those involved. A driver of any type of vehicle may ignore a traffic signal and cause an accident, and failure to obey a traffic signal may involve a wide range of accidents including:
- Commercial vehicle accidents
- Drunk or impaired driving accidents
- Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare accidents
- Truck accidents
If another driver ignored traffic signals and caused your Indianapolis car accident, Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., may be able to help. Learn more about how an Indianapolis failure to obey traffic signals lawyer can help you during a free consultation.
Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., May Be Able to Prove a Failure to Obey Traffic Signals Car Accident Case in Indianapolis
At Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., Randy Sevenish and his personal injury team serving Indianapolis know how to prove an insurance claim and build a strong court case. Because car accidents and other personal injury cases are the only thing we handle, we may be able to help you recover the compensation you are entitled to. Randy has assisted accident victims in getting the payouts they have been entitled to since 1985.
Some car accident victims think they may be able to handle the insurance claims process on their own or think that hiring a discount law firm may be “good enough” for recovering compensation in their Indianapolis failure to obey traffic signals car accident claim. However, “good enough” may mean leaving your rights unprotected, facing immense stress, and possibly losing thousands of dollars. Pro se representation or a jack-of-all-trades discount firm is rarely a bargain.
Recoverable Damages in an Indianapolis Failure to Obey Traffic Signals Accident Case
At Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., we can investigate the accident to determine what happened and collect evidence to document your current and future expenses, losses, and other damages. This may allow us to demand a fair settlement agreement from the insurance company based on the evidence we collect and projections.
The value of recoverable damages in an Indianapolis failure to obey traffic signals accident case may vary widely depending on the documented damages, but may include current and future damages stemming from:
- Medical treatment, care, and related expenses
- Lost income and lost job benefits
- Diminished earning capacity if you cannot return to work
- Property damages to your vehicle and other personal property
- Related miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses related to the accident
- Pain and suffering and other non-economic damages
- Wrongful death damages if your family member passed away in this type of accident
The Indiana Statute of Limitations May Put a Deadline on Your Car Accident Case
Based on Indiana Code § 34-11-2, car accident victims may have only two years from the day their injuries occurred to file a lawsuit against the at-fault driver who caused the accident.
While this deadline technically applies to personal injury lawsuits, running out of time may also make it difficult to recover a fair payout through an insurance claim. Therefore, you should work on your case as soon as possible to ensure you do not lose the right to potentially take legal action.
Handling your claim pro se while undergoing treatment for your injuries, or trusting your case to a discount firm, is rarely a good idea. Reach out to Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., to learn more.
Proving Fault When Someone Fails to Yield the Right-of-Way
Drivers must follow yield traffic laws because observing the right-of-way keeps all road users, including pedestrians and bicyclists, safe. Right-of-way rules establish who must yield while others navigate intersections and other areas. It ensures that everyone can get to where they are going without incident.
Anyone who disregard these rules puts themselves and everyone around them in danger. Indianapolis drivers who fail to obey traffic signals can be held liable for a crash, but other parties not at the scene can also be responsible. These include:
- Municipalities responsible for maintaining roads and signage that direct motorists or warn of conditions on the road. Signage can include those indicating one-way roads or traffic, stop signs or red lights, speed limit signs, construction signs, and others
- Vehicle or vehicle parts manufacturers of products that that failed, such as brakes that failed.
- Companies responsible for maintaining conditions of a road, such as keeping it clear of snow, debris, or pooling rainwater that can make the roads slick. Certain weather conditions could make it challenging for motorists to observe the traffic signals.
Four Elements of Negligence
Accidents can happen for any reason, so we must first learn what happened to cause yours. Once we determine who caused the accident, we can set out to prove how their carelessness or recklessness caused your accident. We must satisfy the four elements of negligence, which are:
- Duty of care. The liable party had a responsibility to operate their vehicle reasonably and safely.
- Breach of duty. Their actions or inaction violated their duty.
- Causation. This violation caused your accident and injuries in Indianapolis.
- Damages. As a result, you have compensatory damages from the accident, such as your lost income and pain and suffering, among others.
Once we have established how your case demonstrates each of these, we likely can move forward with a case to seek your fair compensation from each party that played a role in the crash.
Get Help from an Indianapolis Failure to Obey Traffic Signals Lawyer
At Sevenish Law Firm, P.C., we represent victims of personal injury accidents. If you were the victim of a driver who failed to obey a traffic signal and caused an accident in Indianapolis, we may be able to assist you. Let us take care of your legal case while you focus on healing from your injuries.
We may be able to gather evidence and pursue a negotiated agreement or prepare for trial at no upfront cost to you or your family. We only accept attorney fees if we help secure a payout in your Indianapolis car accident case. You do not have to pay any out-of-pocket costs for our services or representation.
Call us for a free case review with a member of our team.
