The Dangers of ‘Right On Red’: How It Increases Madisonville Pedestrian Accident Risks

It can happen in a matter of seconds. A driver pulls up to a red light, hurriedly glances left for oncoming traffic, and makes a legal ’right on red’ without ever checking the crosswalk directly in front of them. It’s an unfortunately common cause of pedestrian accidents in Madisonville, and the consequences can be devastating.

Right-turn-on-red crashes can cause life-threatening injuries to pedestrians. Our Madisonville pedestrian accident lawyer explains why these crashes happen and your rights in filing a Kentucky injury claim.

How Making a Right Turn on Red Can Prove Dangerous for Kentucky Pedestrians

The ability to make a right turn on red is a convenience for drivers, but it creates a genuine hazard for people on foot. When a driver’s attention is fixed on finding a gap in oncoming traffic to their left, pedestrians crossing legally from the right are directly in their path and often completely out of their line of sight.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that pedestrians account for nearly 20 percent of all traffic-related fatalities, and intersections are one of the places they often occur. Common reasons why drivers fail to see pedestrians during right turns on red include:

• Racing to avoid having to stop at intersections.
• Failing to look right for pedestrians in crosswalks and making rolling stops.
• Being distracted by their phone, passengers, or in-vehicle technology.
• Misjudging pedestrian speed, particularly with elderly walkers, children, or people using mobility aids.
• Impatience and the pressure of traffic behind them push drivers to turn before it is truly safe.

Pedestrians are vulnerable on the road, and collisions can leave them with severe, potentially life-threatening injuries. When reckless drivers are to blame, you have the right to hold them accountable.

Your Rights After a Right on Red Pedestrian Crash in Kentucky

Under Kentucky Law, reckless and negligent drivers can be held liable for pedestrian injuries, either through their insurer or by taking them to court. Compensation you may be entitled to in a claim includes:

• Payment for any property damages and all your medical costs due to the crash, including current and future care.
• Reimbursement for lost income while you recover and projected future losses in earnings due to long-term impairments.
• Additional amounts for the pain you experience, suffering, mental anguish, and lost enjoyment in life.
• Punitive damages, when the driver was grossly negligent.

To protect your rights through the claims process and prevent getting less than you deserve, contact an experienced Kentucky pedestrian accident lawyer before making statements to insurers.

Consult Our Experienced Madisonville Pedestrian Accident Lawyer Today

Pedestrian accidents in Kentucky are common in intersections, and drivers racing to make red lights are often to blame. Our Madisonville pedestrian accident lawyer has the experience and skill needed to handle these cases. To get the compensation you need to recover, get Whitfield Crosby & Flynn on your side.

We represent victims and their families in Madisonville, Kentucky; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Indianapolis, Indiana and Marion, Illinois. Contact our office to request a consultation today.

Sources:

nhtsa.gov/book/countermeasures-that-work/pedestrian-safety

apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=19654