Car accidents can happen for many reasons, and most of them are due to human error. People make mistakes behind the wheel every day, and sometimes, these can result in devastating or even fatal consequences. A recent study revealed that running through red lights is a serious safety concern and a growing problem.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, more people are running through red lights, and this is leading to more car accidents. Unfortunately, it is often passengers and other innocent victims who suffer the consequences of this type of dangerous behavior. If you are the victim of an accident that took place at a San Antonio intersection, or you lost a loved one when someone plowed through a red light, you are not alone.
Understanding the problem
There are many factors that may affect why a person would run through a red light. Perhaps he or she was in a hurry to get to work, or maybe he or she was driving too fast to come to a stop when the light changed. There is no excuse for this action, even if it was not intentional, as every person has ample time to stop when they are being attentive and driving at appropriate speeds.
Statistics estimate that two people die every day because someone ran through a stoplight. Overall, the study revealed that 939 people died in these types of accidents in 2017, which represents an increase of 31% since 2009. Overall, accidents involving a vehicle that ran a red light are at a 10-year high.
The cause of the problem
People believe that one of the main reasons for this sharp increase is the fact that drivers tend to be more distracted now than they were in the past. Texting and driving remains one of the leading causes of accidents, but any type of distraction is dangerous and increases the chance of a collision. When a person is not attentive to the road, he or she may not see a light change or stop in enough time.
Solution to the problem
There is no one-size-fits-all solution to red light accidents. However, educating drivers about the need for attentive driving and the importance of driving at safe speeds can help. Ultimately, each person is responsible for the choices he or she makes behind the wheel.
It is possible to hold liable parties accountable for the choices they made behind the wheel that ultimately caused you harm. If someone ran through a red light and you suffered injuries or lost a loved one, it may be appropriate for you to pursue financial compensation through a personal injury claim.