Can You Sue Someone for Running a Red Light and Hitting You?

Yes. You can generally sue a driver for running a red light and hitting you if the driver’s negligence caused the crash and you suffered injuries or other losses as a result. A red-light violation can provide strong evidence of fault, but you still need to show how the driver’s conduct caused your injuries and damages.

These cases often involve medical expenses, lost income, vehicle damage, and disputes over who entered the intersection legally. A lawyer can investigate the collision, preserve evidence, and explain your options for seeking compensation.

If you were injured in this type of crash, a West Hollywood car accident lawyer can review your situation.

Can You Sue a Driver Who Ran a Red Light?

Yes. If another driver entered an intersection against a red signal and caused a collision, you may be able to pursue an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit.

California law generally requires a driver facing a steady red traffic signal to stop before entering the intersection and remain stopped until permitted to proceed. Evidence that a driver violated that rule can support a negligence claim.

However, the fact that someone received a citation does not automatically resolve every issue in an injury case. You still need evidence showing that the driver’s conduct caused the collision and that you suffered compensable losses.

What Do You Have to Prove in a Red-Light Accident Claim?

To recover compensation in a negligence case, you generally need to establish that the other driver owed you a duty of reasonable care, breached that duty, caused the collision, and caused your injuries or losses.

Evidence that the driver ran a red light may help show a breach of the duty to drive safely. You must also connect the collision to the harm you are claiming.

Documentation may include:

• Medical records showing your injuries and treatment.
• Wage records showing income you lost while recovering.
• Repair estimates or vehicle valuation records.
• Photos or videos showing the collision and resulting damage.
• Other records showing how the accident affected you financially or physically.

The strength of a claim depends on the facts and the available evidence.

Can You Recover Compensation If You Were Partly at Fault?

California follows a pure comparative negligence system. That means you can still recover compensation even if you were partly responsible for the collision, although your recovery can be reduced by your percentage of fault.

For example, if you were found 20% at fault in a crash and the other driver was 80% at fault, your recoverable damages would generally be reduced by 20%.

This rule can become relevant when an insurer argues that you contributed to the accident by speeding, entering the intersection unsafely, driving distracted, or failing to react in time.

What Compensation Can You Seek After a Red-Light Crash?

If another driver’s negligence caused your injuries, you may be able to seek compensation for economic and non-economic losses allowed under California law.

Depending on your injuries and circumstances, damages may include:

• Emergency room, hospital, physician, and rehabilitation expenses.
• Future medical treatment related to your injuries.
• Lost wages.
• Reduced future earning capacity.
• Vehicle repair or replacement costs.
• Other accident-related out-of-pocket expenses.
• Physical pain.
• Emotional distress.
• Loss of enjoyment of life.

The value of a claim depends on the severity of your injuries, your recovery, the effect on your work and daily activities, available insurance coverage, and the evidence supporting your losses.

How Long Do You Have to Sue After a Red-Light Accident?

In California, the general statute of limitations for a personal injury lawsuit is two years from the date of the injury.

That does not mean you should wait two years to address your claim. Evidence can be lost, witnesses can become difficult to locate, and insurers may require information well before a lawsuit deadline approaches.

Different deadlines can also apply in some situations. For example, claims involving a California public entity may be subject to government-claim procedures with much shorter presentation deadlines. A lawyer can determine which deadlines apply based on the facts of your accident.

What Should You Do After Being Hit by a Driver Who Ran a Red Light?

The steps you take immediately following your accident will play a role in your ability to successfully sue someone for running a red light and hitting you.

Start by getting medical care if you are injured. Some collision-related conditions, including concussions and soft-tissue injuries, may not be fully apparent immediately after an accident.

You should also consider taking the following steps when possible:

• Call law enforcement and report the collision.
• Photograph the vehicles, intersection, traffic signals, damage, and visible injuries.
• Exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver.
• Collect contact information from witnesses.
• Follow your medical treatment recommendations.
• Keep medical bills, receipts, repair records, and employment documentation.
• Avoid admitting fault or guessing about how the collision occurred.
• Use caution when giving recorded statements to an insurer.

Keeping accurate records can make it easier to document both liability and the losses caused by the crash.

Do You Need a Lawyer After a Red-Light Collision?

You are not legally required to hire an attorney for every accident claim. However, legal representation may be useful when liability is disputed, your injuries are significant, or the insurer challenges the amount of compensation you are seeking.

A lawyer can investigate the collision, request available video or signal records, communicate with insurance companies, document your damages, and evaluate settlement offers.

Legal help can also be useful when more than one driver may share fault or when additional parties or insurance policies may be involved.

Talk to Omega Law Group About a Red-Light Accident

If you were injured because another driver ran a red light, Omega Law Group Accident & Injury Attorneys can review the collision and explain your options under California law. We represent injured clients on a contingency-fee basis and offer free consultations.

Omega Law Group has more than 20 experienced attorneys serving personal injury clients. We focus on individualized attention and direct communication, and we are available 24/7 to receive calls from prospective clients.

Contact us to discuss whether you can sue someone for running a red light and hitting you, the evidence available in your case, and the steps you can take to pursue compensation.