Traffic Light Defects and Car Accidents
Posted on Jan 28, 2014 2:53pm PST
A teenager in Arizona is currently suing the city of Gilbert after she claims that a defective traffic signal resulted in her collision with a pick-up truck. The teenager was driving in Gilbert in her family's minivan. She claims that she moved into an intersection on a green light when a pick-up truck sped into the intersection coming the other way. The two cars collided.
The pick-up truck driver says that he entered the intersection on a green light as well. Witnesses of the accident say that the traffic signal was green going both directions. This allowed the cars to travel into the intersection. Neither driver was cited. The teen was rushed to Benner Gateway Medical Center for minor injuries from the shattered glass. She had a cut on her face and suffered pain in her right knee after the accident.
She filed her lawsuit seeking compensation for her injuries as well as the emotional trauma of the accident which she claims lead to anxiety, depression, and "acute stress." She filed a notice claim that declared that the town was negligent in allowing the intersection to remain in a dangerous and defective condition. The teenager driver now wants $250,000 in damages for the medical bills, lost wages, and mental health injuries.
Traffic engineers say that it is rare for traffic signals to give conflicting signals, as they are outfitted with a safety net to protect this from happening. One traffic engineer says that when a traffic signal produces conflicting signals, this will automatically switch to turn all the signals to red or to flash. This way, there will not be intersection crashes as a result of this incident.
Traffic engineers say that in order for traffic signals to defect, a series of systems would have to fail. While traffic signal failure is rare, it is not impossible. With the current cold front sweeping the Midwestern states, there is a possibility that you may encounter a broken or defective traffic light. The icy temperatures may be too much for these traffic signals, causing them to break. If you want more information about traffic light defects, you may want to talk with a skilled car accident attorney.
If you have been involved in an accident due to a defective traffic signal, you may have the right to sue the city or town where the traffic light was located. Don't hesitate to contact a lawyer using this directory today if you believe that you have a case of this nature. Also, if other warning signs are concealed on the road, or if the road conditions are dangerous due to potholes that were not repaired or dangerous fallen trees and items that were not removed, you may also have a case. It is essential that cities keep their roadways safe by maintaining traffic signals, street lighting, any warning signs, and more.