Many people find yellow light traffic signals confusing. In their confusion, they might make an error in judgment and cause a collision. When that happens, who is at fault in a yellow light accident?
These cases will turn on the facts of the situation. You can talk to a Chicago car accident attorney about whether you might be able to seek compensation if you got hurt in a yellow light accident that was someone else’s fault.
Illinois Law on Yellow Light Traffic Signals
The Illinois statutes specify the responsibilities of each party when there is a yellow light signal displayed at an intersection or at another location on the street. There are several different kinds of yellow traffic signals. These are the rules in our state about yellow lights:
- When there is a steady (solid) circular yellow light or a steady yellow arrow signal, all vehicles facing that traffic light are warned that the green light is about to end and that a red light is about to get displayed.
- Pedestrians facing a steady (solid) circular yellow light or a steady yellow arrow signal are on notice that there is not enough time to cross the road before the light changes to red, so walkers should not start to cross the road when they see a non-blinking circular yellow light or a non-blinking yellow arrow signal. Of course, if the pedestrian control signals indicate something different, the walker should follow the guidance of the pedestrian control signals.
- Drivers of vehicles should exercise caution when they face a flashing yellow arrow. The driver should only enter the intersection when it is safe to do so and only for the purpose of making the maneuver the arrow indicates. If another vehicle or a pedestrian is lawfully within the intersection or an adjacent crosswalk when the flashing yellow arrow gets exhibited, the car should yield right-of-way to those vehicles and pedestrians.
- When a pedestrian faces a flashing yellow arrow, they should yield right-of-way to vehicles that were already lawfully within the intersection at the time the yellow arrow signal started flashing. Pedestrians are allowed to cross the road inside any marked or unmarked crosswalk if it is safe to do so when there is a flashing yellow arrow. If there are pedestrian control signals governing the area, pedestrians should follow those traffic controls.
In general, if someone causes an accident because they violated one of these traffic signal rules, they are negligent and at fault.
What Money Damages Can You Recover from the At-Fault Party in a Yellow Light Accident?
If you got hurt in a yellow light accident that was someone else’s fault, you might be able to seek compensation from the negligent party. Some of the common types of money damages awarded in these situations include:
- The reasonable cost of the medical care you needed for your wounds.
- Lost wages for the paychecks you missed while unable to work because of your injuries.
- Pain and suffering for the physical discomfort and emotional distress you experienced as a result of the accident and your injuries.
- Other intangible losses like disfigurement from extensive scars and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
You might have additional losses, depending on your situation. Also, if you lost a loved one because of a yellow light accident, the legal beneficiaries might be eligible to receive additional compensation.
Contact Our Chicago Car Accident Attorneys
Hale & Monaco has experience representing accidents in the Chicago area. If you or a loved one has been injured, our Chicago personal injury attorney could help you with your personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit. Contact our law office today for legal help, we offer a free consultation.