car crash

There have been numerous studies done for the purpose of helping to understand the types of accidents that occur at stop signs in The United States and in Rhode Island. These stop sign accident research projects will help to institute some type of counter measures to help prevent these accidents.

Rhode Island Stop Sign Accident Attorney

Statistics show that nearly 700,000 motor vehicle crashes reported annually to police occurred at stop signs.  J Safety Res. 2003;34(5):485-9. Analysis of motor-vehicle crashes at stop signs in four US cities. Retting RA¹, Weinstein HB, Solomon MG. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14733981  It was found that approximately one-third of those accidents involved injuries and some serious injuries.  Id.

Stop sign accident in RI

There are several subtypes of stop sign violations to consider.  The central issue appears to be did the driver stop or not stop. Wet, slippery and slick road conditions such as snow, ice and rain can all factor into motor vehicle and car stop sign collisions. These stop sign accidents are among the most common kinds of accidents.

“A lot of the major causes overlap with each other. For example, it’s possible for someone to be driving drunk and high, in bad weather, in an SUV, at high speed, while tired, while being distracted or lost in thought. It’s also possible for that person to be not wearing their seatbelt while driving through a red light or a stop sign on the wrong side of the road in the face on coming traffic.” What are the most common causes of fatal car accidents?    Will Wister Quora

Texting while driving and distracted driving in recent times is also a major cause of intersection car and vehicular accidents.

Rhode Island stop sign intersection accident injury attorney

Driving though a stop sign is a moving violation and you can expect a ticket to be issued by a law enforcement officer. This means you will have a fine to pay and there may be other consequences that occur. These types of accidents can happen at two-way stops or four-way stops and in some instances there are errors in judgment

“Stop sign violations accounted for about 70% of all crashes. Typically these crashes were angular collisions. Among crashes not involving stop violations, rear-end crashes were most common, accounting for about 12% of all crashes. Stop sign violation crashes were classified into several sub types – driver stopped, driver did not stop, snow/wet/ice, and other/unknown. In about two-thirds of stop sign violation crashes, drivers said they had first come to a stop. In these cases, inability or failure to see approaching traffic often was cited as the cause of the crash. Drivers younger than 18 as well as drivers 65 and older were disproportionately found to be at fault in crashes at stop signs.”  Retting RA¹, Weinstein HB, Solomon MG. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14733981

Rhode Island law

§ 31-17-4  Vehicle entering stop or yield intersection. – (a) Preferential right-of-way at an intersection may be indicated by stop signs or yield signs.

   (b) Except when directed to proceed by a police officer or traffic-control signal, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop intersection indicated by a stop sign shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection. After having stopped, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian intending to cross the lane of traffic in a crosswalk or any vehicle which has entered the intersection from another highway or which is approaching so closely on the highway as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the driver is moving across or within the intersection.

   (c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign shall, in obedience to the sign, slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions and, if required for safety to stop, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway. After slowing or stopping, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian intending to cross the lane of traffic in a crosswalk or any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the driver is moving across or within the intersection. TITLE 31 Motor and Other vehicles CHAPTER 31-17 Right-of-Way  SECTION 31-17-4

Rear-end collisions at stop sign

These types of accidents ( stop sign accident)  often cause a rear-end collision where the driver behind you either does not see you stopped or he is distracted. You could also be hit from the side which is called a T-bone crash  or side impact collision and can end up with severe injuries to the driver and his or her passengers.  An automobile (auto) Running a stop sign can also be the cause of serious or even deadly results to pedestrians and bicyclists.

In approximately two-thirds of the stop sign accidents that occur the driver stated that they had come to a stop. The failure or inability to see the approaching traffic was cited as the cause. This could be form an obstruction such as foliage too close to the sign, a new sign that wasn’t there previously or also that the sign could not be seen from a distance.

Measures to prevent intersection stop sign crash

Types of counter measures that have been discussed include revamping intersection designs, changing the traffic control methods and increasing the sight distance. They have also discussed the pavement markings and means to improve them so they can be seen.

If you are involved in this type of accident and injured you should, if you are able to, take pictures of the crash. An injured victim will also want to hire the best stop sign accident personal injury attorney in Rhode Island. A RI car accident causing personal injury is a serious matter requiring the legal skills of one of the best Rhode Island car accident lawyers. A  top Providence car crash attorney will also have experience as a Rhode Island personal injury attorney.

Stop sign violation penalties in Rhode Island are not as significant as some other types of infractions and criminal offenses such as reckless driving, drunk driving death resulting and speeding but could still result in a fatality or serious personal injury such as a fracture, traumatic brain injury (TBI). Stop sign violations and infractions may have an impact on your driving record and insurance rates.

T-bone / side impact motor vehicle stop sign accident intersection wreck

In some instances a stop sign crash is fatal. Here is an example of a deadly t-bone intersection motor vehicle collision:

“The Wyoming Highway Patrol was called by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office to assist with the investigation of a fatal crash east of Cheyenne in Laramie County yesterday that resulted in the death of 32 year old Laramie County resident Joseph D. Redmond.  The crash occurred at 11:44 a.m at the intersection of Dell Range Blvd and Whitney Rd. Redmond was driving a 1985 Nissan pickup into Cheyenne traveling westbound on Dell Range Blvd prior to the crash. A second vehicle, a 2013 Ford Fusion, being driven by 65 year old Chugwater, Wyoming resident William Eric Rassmussen, was northbound on Whitney Rd at the time of the crash. Rassmussen failed to observe the stop sign at the intersection of Whitney and Dell Range and entered the intersection colliding with Redmond in a T-Bone type crash. Both drivers were in proper use of seat belts and were not ejected. Both drivers were transported by ground ambulance to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Cheyenne. Joseph D. Redmond succumb to his injuries at the hospital. Distracted driving is being investigated as the contributing factor in this crash and charges are pending. The crash marks the 55th highway fatality in Wyoming for 2016.” World Now

If a family member, spouse, son, daughter, husband or wife was killed in a fatal car, truck, motor vehicle or motorcycle accident, contact a Rhode Island wrongful death lawyer. A RI wrongful death attorney will fight to get you the justice you deserve for the fatal motor vehicle collision,

While speeding is not classified as a criminal act when a driver is cited, it can often result in being a material factor in over one-third of all auto crashes. Most people think of speeding in terms of traveling on the open highway in extremely excessive speed, but even driving five miles per hour over the speed limit can be dangerous in any given situation.

Speeding accidents as Negligence

In some cases, a motorist could be speeding despite the fact they are obeying  the speeding limit. This is often labeled as ‘conditions requiring reduced speeds’ and is set forth  in RI Law 31-14-1 set forth below. (§ 31-14-1 “Reasonable and prudent speeds. – No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. In every event, speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle, or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4”)

Speeding and pedestrian accidents in RI

This is especially true when car accidents in Rhode Island also involve pedestrians and motorcyclists. Individuals riding a bicycle could be severely injured when struck by a vehicle, car or pickup truck at any rate of speed. All states have taken extra precautions to make travel safer by setting a speed limit allowable for all stretches of roadway, including community streets, and those determinations are not recommendations. They are legal restrictions. The message is that excessive speed can kill, regardless of the amount of excess.

Liability for multi vehicle collision

Liability concerning all car accidents  involving multiple vehicles are adjudicated according to comparative negligence laws to determine what percentage fault each motorist has for the motor vehicle crash. Illegal activity involved in a RI car accident can enhance a negligent driver’s percentage of fault in any car accident, and especially in high-speed car accidents that result in personal injury.

Speeding violation in RI

Drivers who are traveling in excess of the speed limit in Providence could be found totally at fault in an accident even if their insurance carrier is attempting to deflect undue fault to an injured law-abiding driver. In addition, when excessive speed is a material case fact in an East Providence, Woonsocket or Pawtucket auto accident caused by a drunk driver, criminal charges could be more severe then drunk driving death resulting but could be manslaughter or murder.  Punitive damages are a possibility if speeds are extremely excessive and speeding caused serious injury or death. An experienced and aggressive Rhode Island car accident attorney is crucial to prove the egregious nature of a speeding car accident.

Multiple Car Accidents and Speeding

Many RI car accidents that occur on the open highways include multiple vehicles traveling at excessive speeds. Traveling on multiple lane highways is often a personal challenge in this regard, as the flow of the traffic regularly exceeds the actual designated speed limit. When every driver is traveling in excess of the speed limit, and especially when commercial vehicles are in close proximity, the dangers of speeding in congested traffic increase when drivers are not allowing a safe stopping distance between themselves and other drivers. The final result can be very serious and  even fatal.

Legal Notice per Rules of Professional Responsibility: The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers and attorneys in the general practice of law, but does not license or certify any lawyer / attorney as an expert or specialist in any field of practice. While this firm maintains joint responsibility, most cases of this type are referred to other attorneys for principle responsibility.

A January 2016 nor’easter is blanketing Rhode Island and Massachusetts with snow and a wintry mix of wind and bad weather. The safest option is parking your car and enjoying a movie and staying away from dangerous slick roads. Some are terming this snowstorm as the “blizzard of 2016”, while others are calling it “snowmageddon” or “Apocalypse plow.” The real name of this storm is “Jonas.” Jonas is definitely a whopper that some believe is equivalent to superstorm “Sandy.” We know one thing to be true, that such devastating storms are the cause of numerous car accidents in RI and MA.

Winter Snow accident in Rhode Island

Legally, Mother Nature cannot be at fault for a car crash in Rhode Island or Massachusetts. If your excuse for causing a rear end automobile crash in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (RI) or the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (MA) is that the accident was caused by a snow storm or by icy, slippery roads or highways then you are wrong in nearly every situation.

The need to be cautious during a snowstorm to avoid an accident

If you are the motorist and your vehicle collides into the bumper of another truck or auto then, in all likelihood, you should have been operating your vehicle more cautiously, been travelling slower or paying better attention to the street or highway in front of you.

Prudent under the conditions

Rhode Island general law 31-14-1 is the ‘conditions requiring reduced speeds’ statute. (§ 31-14-1 “Reasonable and prudent speeds. – No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing. In every event, speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle, or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care. Violations of this section are subject to fines enumerated in § 31-41.1-4.”) Cite

Motorists must also be cautious

When a snowstorm is historic, near historic or constitutes a blizzard and the media is terming the storm as “snowmageddon”, it is time to be very cautious on the roads and highways. Also motorist must be on the lookout during snowstorm “Jonas” for pedestrians and citizens shoveling their driveway or walkway so as to avoid pedestrian accidents in RI. Motorists must also be cautious to keep an eye out for people sledding, cross country skiers, children playing in the snow, snowboarders and others frollicking in the snow.

If a person ins injured in a Providence, Woonsocket, East Providence, Cranston, Warwick or Pawtucket automobile or vehicle accident then they need to contact a top Rhode Island personal injury lawyer. A Rhode Island personal injury attorney will help a seriously injured victim get the compensation that they are entitled to and that they deserve.

Blizzard conditions and whipping wind

Blizzard conditions and whipping wind are certainly a good reason for motorists to stay off the roads, stay home and avoid a motor vehicle accident. A storm may even shut down roads when the streets are impassable and completely covered with snow. Cars slipping, sliding and spinning out of control are also common occurrences in blizzards and storms. Cars and trucks flipping over on roads often lead to traffic related deaths as well as serious injuries.

Winter storm accident

In some cases a winter storm accident result from a combination of the slick and slippery road conditions/ lack of visibility as well as other factors. These factors can include: drunk driving, drugged driving, texting while driving, drowsy / sleepy / tired driving and distracted driving as well as mechanical failure.

Mechanical failure

Sometimes, slippery roads act in conjunction with bad / defective breaks, worn down brake pads worn down or defective tires getting stuck in the middle of the highway

When road conditions in Rhode Island and Providence Plantations and in Massachusetts are dicey and a stretch of highway is dangerous, people could get stranded on the highway. This could cause the highway to become a dangerous “parking lot.” People can get stranded and traffic could be backed up for many miles leaving hungry, tired and thirsty people pleading for help from the authorities and public safety officials.

Getting stuck on a highway

Getting stuck on a highway in cold weather especially with children in the motor vehicle can be a nightmare and can even be deadly. Hundreds of Stranded vehicles combined with the authorities having a lack of resources and inability to rescue people or get supplies to them can cause death. If people are stranded overnight and it is very cold, death could result. There could also be medical emergencies such as stokes, heart attacks or seizures. EMT and rescue personnel My not be able to respond.

Fatal accident

In the event of a fatal car accident in Rhode Island or a multi vehicle crash causing the death of multiple people than a RI wrongful death attorney should be engaged. A Providence wrongful death lawyer will be experienced in ligating fatal collisions on behalf of the executor of the estate of the deceased. If a pedestrian is killed than RI pedestrian accident lawyers should be retained to seek justice for the dead person’s loved ones and family members.

Chaotic travel during a storm

Travel can become complete chaos and people need to heed winter weather advisories and warnings from authorities to stay of roads. Snowdrift and strengthening winds, gusts and blowing snow can be especially problematic. Strong winds can blow over signs and objects causing those objects to be dangerous projectiles threatening pedestrians and others on foot. It is crucial that you never ignore a blizzard warning from state or federal authorities.

Special concerns regarding trucking during winter storms

Semi-truck, tractor trailers, big rigs and 18-wheelers are susceptible to jackknifing in winter weather icy highway conditions. Jackknife truck accidents in Rhode Island are a serious public safety concern. 2 wheel drive automobiles are also at a distinct disadvantage in snowy conditions compared to all wheel drive autos and 4 wheel drive motor vehicles.

Comparative fault and snowstorm accidents in RI and MA

The law of comparative negligence still applies in winter weather automobile accidents in RI. Rhode Island is a pure comparative negligence state in which a person who is more than 50 percent at fault for an automobile crash can still recover for their injuries, medical bills and pain and suffering. “§ 9-20-4 Comparative negligence. – In all actions hereafter brought for personal injuries, or where personal injuries have resulted in death, or for injury to property, the fact that the person injured, or the owner of the property or person having control over the property, may not have been in the exercise of due care shall not bar a recovery, but damages shall be diminished by the finder of fact in proportion to the amount of negligence attributable to the person injured, or the owner of the property or the person having control over the property.”  RILIN

This means that a person injured in a RI car accident who is 99.9 percent at fault for the winter weather car and truck wreck can recover .1 percent of their damages, medical bills as well as pain and suffering.

Modified pure comparative fault law

Massachusetts has adopted modified pure comparative fault law which means that if a trucker, bus driver or motorist is more than 50 percent negligent for a collision in MA then they receive no compensation for their injuries caused by a vehicular crash in Mass.

A jaunt on the road just for the fun of it or for personal pleasure could put emergency workers, police officers, firefighters and rescue personal at risk. In fact their health and wellbeing could be risked as a result of this reckless behavior. Slippery, wet and treacherous roads pose great dangers for spin-outs causing injury to officials responding to Rhode Island car accidents.

Sliding car which has lost control

In order to avoid a sliding car which has lost control which is bearing down on your SUV sometimes you must take drastic evasive action causing a crash with another motor vehicle.

Major and massive treacherous Snowstorms thankfully cause cancellations of concerts, hockey games, basketball games as well as other sporting events and shows. This keeps the general public off the highways to allow emergency personnel, snow plows, ambulances and sanders to do their job. Another danger after most of the snow is cleared is nearly invisible black ice which could lead to t bone accidents, head on collisions and rear end crashes. Sometimes, government officials need to shut down roads especially when they see cars flipping over and spinning out of control as a result of winter weather.

Passenger vehicle smashes into

When a passenger vehicle smashes into or strikes another auto in a snowstorm, there are hundreds of potential injuries that could result. These injuries include whiplash injury (soft tissue injury), fractured leg, broken arm, traumatic brain injury (tbi), shoulder, back or neck injuries. In some cases when a pickup truck rams into an automobile in a high speed impact this can force one of the vehicles to plummet down an embankment or to plunge into a snowbank

Officials often need to shut down roads when cars start flipping over and spinning out of control. It is best to stay off the roads and leave the roads to the plow trucks. This will State and local police to deal with medical emergencies and other necessary government functions. Despite warnings it is not uncommon for drivers and thrill seekers to hit the road.

Snow, ice, sleet, black ice or icy rain

Snow, ice, sleet, black ice or icy rain may have been a factor in the car crash in RI or Ma but the wintry weather is not at fault for the vehicular collision. Cars, pickup trucks and automobile collisions in bad weather conditions are always the fault of someone or a combination of motorists. If a snow storm dumps several feet of snow, and there are snow drifts causing a lack of motorist visibility then driving will certainly be treacherous, dangerous and ill-advised until the streets and roads are cleared up by plows. Wet and snow packed road conditions are a recipe for motor vehicle mishaps. There is always a risk of a car sliding into oncoming traffic causing head on motor vehicle collision. Everyone knows that a rear ender is the most common type of incident caused by slippery, wet and icy roads.

A road is steep and slippery covered by black ice

Another issue is when a road is steep and slippery covered by black ice and a car slides out of control into an oncoming truck, suv or even a tree on the side of the road. When a car slides into oncoming traffic the results could be fatal. Your best bet is to steer clear of notoriously steep roads and streets in MA or RI in the event of winter weather conditions.

Wrongful death attorney in Rhode Island

Deadly car accidents in Rhode Island require the skills of an experience Rhode Island wrongful death attorney or a Providence car accident lawyer. Lawyers who primarily handle bankruptcy, zoning or probate will be in way over their head in the case of a fatal RI car accident or MA motor vehicle collision causing multiple fatalities. Rhode Island car accident attorney or Massachusetts auto crash lawyers with experience in litigating wrongful death claims will be the best option for a family seeking justice as a result of the death of their loved one, spouse, father, husband or wife.

Toppled, fallen trees and power lines can create an addition hazard for motorists during a storm. A powerful snowstorm could cripple the City of Boston Mass. or Providence RI.

NTSB investigated a winter weather bus accident in Oregon

“On Sunday, December 30, 2012, about 10:30 a.m. Pacific standard time (PST), a 1998 Prevost motorcoach, operated by the Canadian motor carrier Mi Joo Tour & Travel, was traveling westbound on Interstate 84, near Pendleton, Oregon. The motorcoach was on a trip from Las Vegas, Nevada, to Vancouver, British Columbia; on the day of the crash, it had departed from Boise, Idaho. Snow and ice had accumulated along the route, which traverses a rural area of the Blue Mountains. The motorcoach, upon encountering ice, slid off the roadway, struck a W-beam roadside barrier, went down an embankment, overturned, and came to rest upright at the bottom of the slope. As a result of the crash, 9 of the vehicle’s 47 occupants died. The driver and an additional 37 passengers were injured.” Ntsb 

Findings of NTSB crash report

“Postcrash investigation by NTSB investigators and the Oregon State Police determined that the motorcoach had been traveling too fast for the weather and roadway conditions. In addition, the driver was unsafely operating the motorcoach with the transmission retarder engaged, and the motor coach was equipped with a tire not properly speed-rated for highway operations. The NTSB review of Mi Joo Tour & Travel and its driver determined that the driver was operating in violation of the 70-hour rule under federal HOS regulations for passenger-carrying commercial motor vehicles at the time of the crash. The NTSB did not determine a probable cause for this crash; however, based on the driver’s HOS violation, fatigue may have contributed to his operational errors of traveling too fast for the road conditions and of leaving the transmission retarder engaged.7 Mi Joo Tour & Travel had previously been cited twice for Part 395 HOS violations; one of those violations resulted in an out-of-service (OOS) order” Id. 

Slide-offs were also reported

NECN reported : “In Massachusetts, a jack-knifed tractor trailer closed all lanes on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Blandford, and two jack-knifed tractor trailers resulted in lane closures on the Mass Pike in Palmer. A disabled tractor trailer is also blocking the ramp from Interstate 95 south to Interstate 93 north in Reading. Numerous other accidents and, including one on Upper Road in Deerfield.” NECN

Legal Notice per Rules of Professional Responsibility: The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers and attorneys in the general practice of law, but does not license or certify any lawyer / attorney as an expert or specialist in any field of practice. While this firm maintains joint responsibility, most cases of this type are referred to other attorneys for principle responsibility.

Road construction contractors and maintenance companies along with state and city agencies are legally responsible to ensure the construction work sites in Rhode Island are safely designed.

Road Construction Zone Accident Lawyers

The law requires the government agencies and roadway cruise follow specific rules to channel or redirect vehicular traffic through the zone. When a construction zone has not been properly designed, motorists can become easily confused and cause accidents with injuries or deaths when colliding with concrete barriers, construction equipment, workers or other vehicle sharing the roadway.

Construction work zone accident

Unfortunately, construction works zone accidents and auto crashes happen far too often in Rhode island and Providence Plantations, causing serious injuries and fatalities to workers, drivers and passengers. Most of these accidents occur in construction zone areas with posted signage and warnings that provide a notification to motorists to travel at a slow speed while increasing their awareness. Even with signage, many motorists fail to adjust their driving habits to accommodate the hazardous zone, creating a dangerous situation to all workers and other sharing the roadway.

Injuries and Deaths in Rhode Island 

Out of the more than 80,000 accidents occurring in work zones every year, more than 100 workers lose their lives at roadway construction sites. According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), these accidents injure and kill highway maintenance workers, construction laborers, supervisors, construction equipment operators, commercial truckers and heavy equipment drivers along with motorists and passengers traveling the roads.

Statistics maintained by the Federal Highway Administration under the U.S. Department of Transportation claim that the majority of motor vehicle and truck accidents happen during business hours (8 AM to 5 PM) Monday through Friday. These accidents often involve rear end impacts, sideswipe collisions, crashes into fixed objects and others. However, not every work zone accident is a result of driver negligence. Some involve:

• Defective Paving – Many motorcycle, trucking and auto (car) accidents occur from the steep drop off that can cause the motorist to lose control of their vehicle on the shoulder or road surface.

• Improper Planning – A roadway crash can occur from an ineffective, negligent MOT (Maintenance of Traffic) plan developed by road architects and highway engineers designed to move traffic safely and effectively through the construction work zone.

• Ineffective Marking and Signage – Driving a car through a construction work zone can be challenging or impossible when negotiating the vehicle through improperly marked or signed sites.

• Failure of Regulatory Compliance – Construction project managers are required by law to meet every local, city, state and federal regulation. Any failure of a regulation that causes an accident with injuries or death can make those in noncompliance legally at fault for damages.

• Construction Defect – If the road contractor failed to construct the highway road project as designed in the approved plan, the company can be held legally responsible for any injury or death.

Filing an automobile crash Claim or Lawsuit 

While it might be obvious that the accident is a result of poor construction zone design or the negligence of other drivers, proving the case for compensation can be challenging. This is because determining liability or which parties are at fault for the accident can be difficult. Because of that, many victims will hire a personal injury attorney who specializes in construction work zone accidents.

City and town liability

Successful claims and lawsuits often involve identifying whether the contractor, municipality or other parties are responsible for the victim’s damages. An experienced RI car accident lawyer will carefully investigate the scene of the accident, identify companies and individuals whose negligence caused the injuries and file suit to pursue fair and adequate compensation to meet the financial needs of the injured victim.

Construction works zone site

In addition to motorist becoming injured at a construction works zone site, workers are also vulnerable to death and serious injury. Many work zone related deaths in Providence occur from an adequate protection or negligent driving of others.

Typically, these types of cases are handled on contingency, so the victim can avoid paying upfront fees. A reputable Rhode Island personal injury attorney will work to ensure adequate recompense is obtained to cover their client’s medical expenses, lost time away from work, pain, suffering and other damages.

Construction’s “Fatal Four”

Out of 4,251* worker fatalities in private industry in calendar year 2014, 874 or 20.5% were in construction―that is, one in five worker deaths last  year were in construction. The leading causes of worker deaths on construction sites were falls, followed by electrocution, struck by object, and caught-in/between. These “Fatal Four” were responsible for more than half (58.1%) the construction worker deaths in 2014*, BLS reports. Eliminating the Fatal Four would save 508 workers’ lives in America every year. Falls — 349 out of 874 total deaths in construction in CY 2014 (39.9%) Electrocutions — 74 (8.5%) Struck by Object — 73 (8.4%) Caught-in/between — 12 (1.4%)” OSHA

Not only does running a red light increase the potential of causing a vehicle accident, it is often more likely than not to end with catastrophic injuries or death. Sadly, most red light accident injuries and fatalities in Rhode Island are caused by the reckless or careless actions of those who intentionally or unintentionally run the light. The highest incident rate of red light running tends to occur during daylight hours.

Rhode Island traffic signal / red light car accident

Running a red light continues to be a major issue to roadway safety, especially at intersections and crosswalks. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that running a red light is a leading cause of city accidents, resulting in death of tens of thousands of individuals every year. Studies indicate that “being in a hurry” is the most popular excuse drivers give when cited for running a red light that caused an accident.

Why Red Light Accidents Occur in Scituate, Smithfield and Woonsocket Rhode Island

Many populated areas install intersection lights as a way to ease commuter congestion and increase traffic flow often bogged down by blinking lights and four-way stops. However, the installation of a light system is not always effective for drivers tackling traffic jams in a hurry. In many cases of red light accidents, the driver was rushing when approaching a yellow light instead of slowing down because the light was about to change to red.

Running a red light in Rhode Island

Many red light runners cause Rhode Island accidents because they were distracted or inattentive and not focusing on the roadway. Distracted drivers in RI are often busy doing a variety of other things inside the vehicle including:

• Speaking on cell phones or texting
• Reading emails on smart phones
• Adjusting radio settings
• Gathering information from the GPS navigation system
• Drinking beverages or consuming food
• Grooming or applying makeup
• Speaking to others in the vehicle
• Searching for objects out of reach
• Driving impaired by fatigue, alcohol, illegal drugs or prescription medication

There are some situations where no driver is actually at fault for a collision at an intersection. This can hypothetically occur when the traffic light system is operating improperly by simultaneously providing a green light to drivers traveling in both directions.

Filing a Claim for Compensation as a result of a Providence, East Providence, Woonsocket or Pawtucket Car accident In large metropolitan areas, many communities have equipped major intersections with cameras to record moving traffic as a way to control the system and ease congestion. However, these cameras also capture which drivers are fault at the time of a red light accident. The video record provides valuable evidence when seeking compensation for an injury caused by a driver running a red light. Because of that, many victims will hire a Rhode Island personal injury attorney who specializes in red light accidents to obtain compensation to pay for a variety of expenses including:

• Hospitalization, emergency services and medical care costs associated with the injury
• Financial compensation to recover funds lost from time away at work due to injury suffered in the accident
• Funds for intangible harm including pain, suffering, mental anxiety and emotional distress of dealing with injuries or death associated with the accident
• Compensation for property damage including car replacement or repair

Hiring a RI auto accident Attorney

Under the state’s tort law, red light accidents are often fact intensive, complex cases and often require the skills of a reputable Providence or Central Falls car accident lawyer with extensive experience. Personal injury law firms in RI accept these types of accident cases on contingency to avoid the need for the victim to pay upfront fees.

The RI law firm can recover damages and losses caused by the negligent action of a reckless driver traveling through a red light. All lawsuits and claims for compensation must be submitted to the court before the state’s statute of limitations concerning the case expires.

There are a wide variety of traffic laws across the entirety of the United States. It can sometimes be hard to keep track of all the violations that can be incurred from running a specific light, driving even a few miles over the speed limit, or turning from the wrong lane. These are all pretty basic driving infractions, of course, but some are not so black and white. Take, for example, the yellow light violation. In some areas, depending on how the ticketing police officer is feeling that particular day, you could technically receive a ticket for running a yellow light. The officer in question may argue that the yellow light means to stop.

Failing to obey a traffic control device

The technical identification for failing to obey a traffic control device is known as a 21450 in the state of California, for example. This will incur a penalty in the eyes of the law, so be warned. The code stands for:
• (1) A person commits the offense of driver failure to obey traffic control device if the person drives a vehicle and the person does any of the following:
• (a) Fails to obey the directions of any traffic control device.
• (b) Fails to obey any specific traffic control device describes in ORS 811.260 in the manner required by that section.
• (2) A person is not subject to this section if the person is doing any of the following:
• (a) Following the directions of a police officer.
• (b) Driving an emergency vehicle or ambulance in accordance with the privileges granted those vehicles.
• (c) Properly executing a turn on a red light as authorized under 811.360.
• (d) Driving in a funeral procession led by a funeral lead vehicle or under the direction of the driver of a funeral escort vehicle.
There are a few circumstances where driving through a “stale” yellow light, meaning a yellow light that is about to turn red, would be allowed. According to the folks at ExpertLaw, “Your testimony will have to include a VALID reason as to WHY it would have been unsafe for you to try to stop.” In this case, driving through the light safely and cautiously is allowed. This is okay when you are already in the intersection or during periods of wet roads due to weather.

Yellow light violation

A yellow light violation is a picky topic that truly varies district by district. If you’re unsure of your city’s traffic violations, speak with a local officer or sheriff’s department.

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