Stop Light Intersection Accidents

Car Crash Attorneys Asserting the Rights of Albuquerque Residents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, intersection collisions lead to about 165,000 car accident fatalities each year. They may be the result of texting while driving, tailgating, speeding, or inexperience. Sometimes they are the result of a distracted or aggressive driver running a red light or a yellow light as it is about to turn red. At the Fine Law Firm, our Albuquerque car accident lawyers help people inNew Mexico and the surrounding communities who have been harmed due to someone else’s negligence.

Seeking Compensation for a Stop Light Intersection Accident

Under New Mexico Statutes section 66-7-104, drivers must obey any official traffic-control device unless otherwise directed by a traffic or police officer. This does not apply if, at the time of the violation, the light or sign is not in the proper position and able to be seen by somebody who has ordinary abilities of observation.

Unfortunately, in many cases, drivers fail to obey the stop light rules. They run red lights. They accelerate when approaching a yellow light, hoping to beat the light as it changes. Sometimes a driver is trying to make a left turn and is stranded in the intersection, and when the light changes, the cars at the front of the line do not wait for the driver to make the left turn. Often, a driver traveling in a route that is perpendicular to that of the negligent driver is struck in a side-impact collision.

The damages may be significant in a stop light intersection accident because so many of them are side-impact collisions. Many cars do not have side airbags, and there are just a few inches of metal available to protect drivers and passengers from the force of the crash. Damages that may be recovered after a stop light intersection accident often include loss of enjoyment of life, pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical bills.

Negligence exists when a driver breaches his or her duty to drive safely under the conditions, and as a result of this breach, he or she causes harm to someone else. New Mexico follows the doctrine of comparative negligence. A defendant may allege a plaintiff’s comparative negligence as an affirmative defense against a personal injury lawsuit. In that case, the jury will evaluate the total damages and determine each party’s percentage of fault.

For example, if you start to make a right turn as soon as the light turns green without checking to make sure that a large, busy intersection is clear, and someone else accelerates through a yellow light and hits you, you may suffer serious injuries. You can potentially sue the other driver, who may claim that you were not paying sufficient attention. If the jury evaluates your damages at $500,000 but finds that you were 20% at fault, for example, you still may be able to recover up to $400,000 from the defendant.

Explore Your Options with an Albuquerque Lawyer after a Motor Vehicle Collision

If you are injured or a loved one is killed in an accident, you should retain a skilled Albuquerque wrongful death attorney before speaking to an at-fault driver’s insurer. At the Fine Law Firm, our experienced trial attorneys can negotiate with insurers or take your case to trial as necessary. Contact us via our online form or call us at (505) 243-454 to set up a free consultation. We also represent accident victims in Rio Rancho and elsewhere in New Mexico.