Running a red light is unlawful, yet it happens all the time. In Texas, settlements for a red or yellow light accident can range anywhere from $9,000 to over $100,000 and more.
But why are these figures all over the place?
The short answer: settlement amounts depend on the type of accident.
The long answer digs deeper into the severity of injuries, liability, insurance coverage—the list goes on—which we’ll go into in this article.
We’ll look at the typical settlement ranges for red light accidents, but keep in mind that the figures mentioned below may not directly apply to your accident. Every case is different, and settlement outcomes are tied to specific circumstances.
For a more personalized estimate of your potential compensation, schedule a free consultation with our car accident lawyers at No Bull Law.
It’s difficult to pin down the average compensation for red light accidents because each collision is as unique as a snowflake.
Before you check the averages, think about how the accident occurred — were you T-boned at the intersection or rear-ended?
The type of collision matters as it influences the extent of injuries and property damage, which impacts the final settlement amount.
Let’s review the figures for different kinds of red-light driving accidents:
Side-Impact Accidents
This type of auto accident happens quite often. Here, the at-fault driver would have skipped a red light and T-boned into a driver coming from another side at the intersection.
For side impact accidents, average settlements can range from $23,000 to $51,000 if the collision leads to moderate injuries like fractures or first-degree burns. The side of the vehicle that was struck also influences the settlement, as the driver’s injuries tend to be more severe when the impact occurs on their side.
Rear-End Accidents
The driver responsible would have crashed into the back of a vehicle that had slowed down or stopped at a traffic light. These driving accidents are less severe than other collisions, so they often result in lower settlement amounts.
The average settlement for a rear-end collision at a red light is around $9,000 to $40,000.
Front-End Accidents
Sometimes, the red light runner could have a head-on collision with a driver from an opposing lane at the intersection. These collisions lead to the highest settlements as they can result in severe injury.
The average compensation for front-end car accidents has been reported to be around $50,000 to $100,000.
As you can see, settlement amounts vary wildly even for the same category of accident. For a fair estimate of your red light accident claim, you should get advice from a personal injury lawyer — which you can easily do with a free consultation from No Bull Law.
Let’s explore the factors that can drive your settlement amount up or down in Texas:
1. Liability
If the other driver is completely at fault for the accident, you should be entitled to the full settlement amount. However, if you have contributed to the accident, your compensation will be reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, if the car accident settlement amount is $10,000 and the insurance adjuster determines you are 30% at fault, you can only collect $7,000.
Keep in mind that if your level of fault is more than 51%, you will not receive any compensation.
2. Extent of Injuries
Medical damages make up a large chunk of your settlement amount. So, the more severe the car accident injury, the higher the compensation you could receive.
Minor injuries like whiplash and bruises may result in a payout of around $10,000 - $25,000. Major injuries like fractures and burns have an average settlement amount of $50,000 - $175,000.
For a severe injury, such as spinal damage or paralysis, settlements can range from $100,000 to over $1 million, as these injuries often require costly long-term medical care and rehabilitation.
3. Insurance Coverage
Since your payout comes from the at-fault driver’s liability insurance, the amount you can recover is ultimately restricted by how much coverage they carry in their insurance policy.
According to Texas law, every driver should have at least the minimum liability coverage:
- Per person (bodily injury to one person): $30,000
- Per incident (bodily injury to multiple people): $60,000
- Property damage: $25,000
So if the at-fault driver has minimum coverage and your property damage costs are around $35,000 — you can only receive a maximum of $25,000.
4. Your Credibility
During the claims process, you’ll need to explain to the police, insurance company representatives, and adjusters how the accident happened.
If your account isn’t consistent throughout, the insurance company can poke holes in your story. This could reduce your credibility as a witness, potentially leading to a lower settlement amount.
Here’s where a lawyer’s guidance is invaluable. They can advise you on how to speak to the insurance company.
5. Quality of Legal Representation
Your attorney’s skill and experience can play a big role in determining your compensation amount.
A study by the Insurance Research Council has shown that having a knowledgeable car accident lawyer by your side can maximize your settlement by as much as 3 to 3.5 times.
A key factor is their ability to accurately calculate all the losses, or damages, you’ve suffered because of the accident. This way, they can ensure you pursue a fair settlement that fully covers your losses.
What Compensation Can You Recover from a Red Light Car Accident Claim?
Depending on your situation, your compensation may cover:
1. Economic Damages
This includes all the tangible losses you’ve incurred or will incur as a result of an accident, such as medical expenses, auto repair bills, and potential loss of wages (if you are unable to work because of injuries).
2. Non-Economic Damages
These damages refer to the emotional and physical suffering you experience as a result of the accident, such as emotional distress, physical pain, or loss of quality of life.
3. Punitive Damages
If your car accident case goes to trial and the jury finds that the at-fault driver acted with malice or gross negligence, they may award you punitive damages. This usually applies in the case of a drunk driving accident or speeding accidents. These damages are designed to hold the defendant accountable for their actions and help prevent similar behavior in the future.
Bear in mind that you can only claim damages once the insurance company deems you not at fault or assigns you a minimal level of fault.
But before a lawyer can prove to the insurer that you’re not responsible for the collision, you need to know why the auto accident happened in the first place.
What Are the Causes of Red Light Accidents?
Here are common reasons behind red light accidents, and some are entirely avoidable:
1. Speeding
In speeding accidents, drivers rushing to their destination might step on the gas pedal when they see a yellow light or fail to brake in time, leading to a T-bone crash at the intersection. In some instances, the speeding driver may end up in a rear-end collision with a lead car that slows for the yellow light.
2. Distracted Driving
Drivers may run a red light when distracted by texting, talking on the phone, eating, or other similar activities. A driver who isn't fully focused on the road could also rear-end the vehicle ahead of them at a red light, failing to notice that it had stopped.
3. Poor Weather Conditions
Heavy rain or snow makes driving more challenging and can also blur a driver’s view of the traffic signal. If the driver misjudges the light, they could end up in an accident at the intersection. If they slam on the brakes to stop for a red light, the slippery road could send them into a skid and a collision.
4. Mechanical Failure
If a car’s brakes fail, stopping the vehicle at a traffic signal could be nearly impossible. This can lead to the car crashing into other vehicles or obstacles, even if the driver desperately tries to avoid it.
5. Malfunctioning Traffic Signals
Although rare, traffic signal malfunctions can occur. If the lights are faulty and display a green light for drivers on opposing roads, both drivers will believe they have the right of way. They’ll likely go through the intersection simultaneously and end up in a crash.
A lawyer will investigate the cause of the intersection accident to assess who’s at fault for the incident.
How Is Fault Determined In a Red-Light Crash?
Proving negligence is key to establishing fault. The victim or injured party’s lawyer must show that the at-fault party was negligent and that their actions led to the motor vehicle accident.
So what’s negligence, and how do you prove it?
Proving Negligence Through Evidence
Negligence is the failure to exercise reasonable care, resulting in harm or injury to another person. Actions such as running a red light, speeding through a yellow light, or driving distracted can all be considered negligent behavior.
To prove negligence in motor vehicle accidents, you must have proof of the at-fault driver’s careless actions. Here are several types of evidence that can be used to support your case:
- Witness statements offer a neutral perspective and can be vital in determining which driver neglected to follow traffic signals.
- Police reports contain statements from all drivers and witnesses involved in the motor vehicle accident. The police report may also contain citations, which can help identify which driver(s) broke the law and may be held accountable for the accident.
- Video footage from dashcams and traffic cameras allows investigators to reconstruct the accident. This footage helps identify key factors that contributed to the collision — such as how the vehicles were being driven or malfunctioning traffic lights.
- Medical records serve as evidence of the injuries caused by the other driver and impact the final settlement amount.
However, evidence may reveal that you had contributed to the accident in some way.
Evidence may highlight that you were partially responsible for the intersection accident.
Texas has a modified comparative fault law, which means each driver can be assigned a percentage of fault.
What’s the consequence of this?
According to Texas law, your compensation will be reduced by the percentage of your fault. If your car accident settlement amount is $20,000, and you’re assigned 20% of the fault, you can only recoup $16,000.
And here’s the catch—this percentage is determined by the at-fault driver’s insurer company.
Since they’re the ones making the call, things can get tricky as their goal is to minimize their payout. They might try to unfairly inflate your level of fault, cutting into what you rightfully deserve.
This can make the process feel like an uphill battle, but it’s one you don’t have to face alone.
A personal injury attorney can tackle this aspect and ensure you aren’t unfairly blamed — and that isn’t the only thing a lawyer can do for your car accident case.
Why You Need a Lawyer After a Red Light Accident
Red light accidents can be complex, but an accident lawyer will help you manage the chaos that follows a crash. Here’s how they assist:
- Understanding legal rights: They explain your rights and identify all potential avenues for compensation.
- Avoiding Mistakes: They guide you through the legal process, preventing costly errors that could hurt your personal injury settlement.
- Collecting Evidence: From car crash reports and medical records to expert opinions, they gather critical documentation to strengthen your case.
- Determining Damages: They assess all damages, including those that might not be immediately apparent, such as long-term medical care or emotional distress.
- Determining Fault: They establish fault by reviewing evidence, such as traffic camera footage, witness testimony, and the police report.
- Filing Timely Claims: Texas has specific deadlines for filing claims, and a lawyer ensures these are met to protect your rights.
- Negotiating with Insurers: Your lawyer handles negotiations on your behalf, ensuring your personal injury settlement covers all your damages.
- Litigation Support: If your case goes to court, your lawyer represents your interests, handles all paperwork, and provides expert advocacy.
If you need a Houston car accident lawyer who can do all this and more, No Bull Law is your go-to firm.
Get the Green Light to a Fair Settlement with No Bull Law
At No Bull Law, we believe in cutting through the red tape and charging forward to get the compensation you deserve.
Our process is straightforward:
- Start your claim: Consult us for free personalized advice, and we will help you understand your legal options.
- We get to work: We’ll start investigating your claim and analyzing the evidence you provide.
- We fight for you: Once we take your case, we don’t back down. We’re relentless in our pursuit of fair compensation, and we’ll fight to get every last cent you are entitled to.
And remember, you don’t owe us anything upfront. We’ll only charge you once we win your case.
Ready to grab your red light accident case by the horns?
3 FAQs About Red Light Accident Settlements
Want more information about intersection accidents before you make the call?
Here are a few more things you should know:
1. Are You Automatically Liable for an Accident if You Run a Red Light?
No, but it significantly increases the likelihood that you will be held responsible. In most cases, if you run a red light and cause a collision, you are presumed to be at fault because you violated traffic laws.
That said, it’s not always black and white. The other driver could share the blame if they weren’t paying attention, ignored the traffic signal, or drove aggressively.
2. What Are the Laws Governing Red Light Accidents?
For Texas, here’s a summary of Section 544 of the Texas Transportation Code:
- Traffic lights assign the right of way to traffic and pedestrians.
- A steady red light means stop.
- A flashing red light also means stop and should be treated like a stop sign. This means you should yield to traffic or pedestrians, and proceed when safe. If you’re already in the intersection or too close to stop safely, you should clear the intersection immediately.
- A green light means you should proceed through the intersection but stop for vehicles and pedestrians still in it.
Let’s take a look at some scenarios to demonstrate the rules in action:
- If a vehicle enters an intersection at a red light, it’s typically considered responsible for any resulting accident.
- If a vehicle enters an intersection while the light is yellow and causes a collision, the fault may be shared.
- If a vehicle doesn’t come to a complete stop at a flashing red light, it will generally be considered at fault in the event of a car crash since flashing red lights are treated like stop signs.
- If a vehicle fails to yield to traffic or pedestrians during a green light and causes an accident, the driver can be found at fault.
3. What Are Common Injuries in Red Light Accidents?
Injuries from red light accidents can range from minor bruises to serious, life-altering conditions.
Here are some common injuries:
- Whiplash and neck Injuries from rear-end car accidents
- Fractures from side impacts
- Head and brain injuries such as concussions and spinal injuries
- Burns and lacerations from contact with hot surfaces or glass
