National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics show that Florida saw 2,398 fatalities from motor vehicle accidents in 2011. Some of the most dangerous crashes included right-angle crashes resulting from red-light running.
Over the course of the decade, this phenomenon has reached epidemic levels in Florida with 350 fatalities between 2007 and 2011, according to Marc Buoniconti, president of the leading research center, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. The hazardous nature of red-light running accidents often leaves victims with serious injuries, particularly spinal cord and brain injuries.
Signed into law by Florida’s Gov. Charlie Crist in May 2010, the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Act has legalized the use of red-light cameras or RLCs in Florida to crack down on red-light runners. These cameras are now in use in 70 communities across Florida in a bid to reduce the number of fatalities and injuries on the roads. A survey conducted last year by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles indicates that the number of red-light accidents is falling in more than half of these communities.
If you have suffered an injury in a motor vehicle accident, evidence such as witness statements are key in helping you establish liability. However, videos from traffic cameras are also a valuable tool to strengthen your case. Camera footage is admissible in Florida courts, provided that certain Florida Evidence Code prerequisites are met. If you have been involved in a car accident involving red-light running and are considering litigation, take the first step by calling a lawyer with extensive experience in this field.
Our experienced St. Petersburg car accident attorneys can help you determine the parties who might be liable for your injuries based on the circumstances, secure evidence to build a strong case and work toward the best outcome for you.
