When driving, few things are as simple as a traffic light. If it is green, traffic can proceed without issue. If the light turns yellow, drivers should be careful and begin slowing down. Once it turns red, they are supposed to stop and wait for cross traffic.
However, the reality is that many drivers fail to do this correctly. People run red lights all the time, and it leads to a significant number of car accidents that are very difficult for other drivers to avoid.
There are many potential reasons
There is not just one cause of red-light running, but many. For instance, some drivers are in a hurry, so they try to rush through a yellow light and inadvertently run the red light. Other drivers will intentionally treat a red light like a four-way stop, initially stopping and then intentionally running the light if they think it is safe to do so.
On top of that, distracted driving plays a significant role. Many drivers run red lights because they are so distracted that they do not see the light change or they do not see the traffic signal at all.
A similar issue is impaired driving. Impairment can come from alcohol, illegal drugs, marijuana, prescription drugs and many other sources. If the driver is impaired, there is a higher chance that they will run the red light because they will have inhibited reaction times or because they will not see the light change.
Seeking financial compensation
Even if you do everything perfectly behind the wheel, you could be hit by another driver who runs a red light. This may lead to serious injuries, so you need to know how to seek appropriate financial compensation.