If you see someone run a red light, it often feels shocking and surprising. It is clearly a very dangerous activity. Some drivers run red lights accidentally, perhaps because they are distracted and do not see the light change. But others will run a red light intentionally, focusing more on rushing to their destination than driving safely.
As much as this feels shocking when it occurs, it is actually fairly common. Some government studies have found that drivers run red lights on average once every 20 minutes. In other words, this is something that is constantly happening, and it is an inherent risk that you face whenever you drive, even if you approach intersections correctly.
Fatal accident totals
Red light accidents can often be very severe, especially when they happen at high speeds, as the opposing driver may have no way to avoid the crash. Reports from 2023 found that 1,086 people passed away in these accidents.
Notably, that statistic only applies to fatal accidents, which are always less common than injury crashes. So, even claiming that 1,000 people pass away annually due to red light runners does not fully explain the full scope of the problem. Thousands of people suffer injuries like broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, burn injuries and much more.
These types of injuries can be life-altering for drivers who did not do anything wrong. If you or a family member is in this position, it is important to understand all of your legal options to seek compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity and the like.
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