Who Is At Fault in a Yellow Light Accident in Arizona?

When a traffic light turns yellow, a driver should slow down and prepare to stop. A driver who accelerates instead puts themselves and other road users at risk of a deadly accident.

Motorists with a yellow light should slow down and stop rather than try to cross an intersection before oncoming traffic gets the green light. If they don’t, a driver with a yellow light will likely be at fault for an ensuing motor vehicle accident. However, various circumstances may affect the fault analysis for a yellow light accident. 

If you’ve been in a car crash at a yellow light, you need experienced legal counsel to help you determine fault and pursue your rights to compensation.

What Should a Motorist Do When the Traffic Light Turns Yellow?

When a traffic signal turns yellow, motorists should remember that the yellow light warns that the signal will soon turn red. Motorists should begin to slow down to give themselves time to stop. Unfortunately, many drivers misjudge the time needed to make it through yellow lights, resulting in collisions. A motorist making a left turn at a yellow light should remember that oncoming traffic has the right-of-way and should not try to turn on a yellow light if it impedes oncoming traffic.

What If the Yellow Light Is Flashing?

Drivers may encounter traffic signals with a flashing yellow light, which can occur when the traffic light loses power or malfunctions. Motorists should treat a flashing yellow light like a yield sign, which means drivers must slow down and yield to traffic in the intersection before proceeding. Motorists who drive through a flashing yellow light without caution may bear fault in a collision.

What Types of Accidents Can Occur from Speeding Through a Yellow Light?

Drivers who speed through yellow lights that turn red or fail to yield to oncoming traffic can cause various accidents. Some of the most common kinds of yellow light car accidents include:

• Head-on collisions – Drivers who fail to yield to oncoming traffic when turning left at a yellow light may cause a head-on collision with a vehicle traveling straight in the opposite lanes.
• Side-impact/T-bone collisions – A motorist who misjudges the time before a yellow light turns red may T-bone a vehicle or get T-boned when cross-traffic gets the green light.
• Rear-end collisions – A driver may rear-end another vehicle when the driver tries to speed through a yellow light but the motorist in the car ahead brakes.

What Should I Do If I Have Been in a Yellow Light Accident?

If you’ve gotten into an accident at a yellow light, you can take steps to protect your right to seek compensation from the party responsible for the crash. Things to do after a yellow light accident include:

• Report the accident to your car insurance company and check whether you have coverage under your policy that may provide you with compensation.
• Follow your doctor’s treatment recommendations and recovery instructions, and keep all follow-up appointments.
• Request copies of medical records of your injury treatment and rehabilitation.
• Obtain a copy of the police accident report if an officer came to the crash scene.
• Save all bills, invoices, and receipts for expenses you incur due to the accident, including medical care and vehicle repairs.
• Gather copies of your pay stubs or income statements to calculate your lost income if you miss time from work or suffer a reduced earning ability.
• Talk to a car accident injuries attorney promptly after a yellow light accident to discuss your rights to compensation for your injuries and losses.

What Evidence Can Be Used to Prove the Other Driver Was Responsible for the Accident?

After a yellow light accident, it may not be immediately apparent who bears responsibility for causing the crash. Attorneys often use various pieces of evidence to determine who is liable for injuries from a car accident, such as:

• Accident scene photos and videos
• Surveillance, traffic, and red-light camera footage
• Dashcam footage
• Traffic light timing records
• Vehicle event data recorder (“black box”) logs
• Eyewitness testimony
• Cell phone records, which might prove that the crash occurred due to distracted driving
• Accident reconstruction expert reports and testimony

What Damages Can I Receive from a Yellow Light Car Accident Claim?

In a yellow light car accident claim, you may pursue compensation for various financial and personal losses you suffer due to your injuries. Your financial recovery might include money for your:

• Medical treatment and rehabilitation for your accident injuries
• Long-term care or support for disabilities that result from your injuries
• Lost wages or income when you need to take time off work to recover from your injuries or you earn less in a restricted-duty role because of medical restrictions from your injuries
• Loss of future earning potential and job benefits after becoming permanently disabled from work
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• Car repair bills or reimbursement of the value of your car if totaled in the crash

Do I Have a Limited Amount of Time to File My Car Accident Lawsuit?

Under Arizona’s statute of limitations, injury victims typically have two years to file a lawsuit after getting into a yellow light accident. However, you should talk to an Arizona car accident attorney as soon as possible after the crash to ensure you file your claims on time. Filing a lawsuit after the deadline may lead to the court dismissing your case, which means you might lose the opportunity to seek financial compensation from liable parties in civil court.

Contact an Arizona Car Accident Lawyer

If you’ve suffered injuries in a yellow light accident in Arizona, you need experienced legal representation to pursue financial recovery and accountability. The attorneys with Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C. can help you seek the compensation you need for medical bills, lost wages, and other crash-related losses. Contact our office today to speak with one of our Arizona car accident lawyers during an initial consultation.

Visit Our Arizona Car Accident Law Offices

About the Author

Zachary Mushkatel

Zachary Mushkatel discovered his affinity for the law by chance. As a political science major at the University of Arizona, he first aspired to become a professor. But an unexpected invitation to participate on a mock trial team at the university encouraged him to turn his competitive spirit and drive…