By Stephen Hudson. Last Updated 25th August 2023. If you’re injured in a car accident caused by faulty traffic lights, you may ask yourself if you’re eligible to claim compensation.
Whether you were injured as a driver, cyclist or pedestrian, if it happened because of a traffic light malfunction, or a driver running a red light and causing an accident, you might be owed compensation for your injuries.
Faulty traffic light car accident claims guide
If you have been injured due to a faulty traffic light car accident and are wondering “am I eligible to claim?” call Legal Expert today. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have and if you have legitimate reasons to claim compensation, a knowledgeable road traffic accident solicitor will start working on your claim right away.
To start your faulty traffic light claim, call Legal Expert today on 0800 073 8804 to speak to us directly. Alternatively, use our online compensation form to reach us.
Select A Section
- How Could A Faulty Traffic Light Cause A Car Accident?
- Who Is Responsible For An Accident At A Traffic Light?
- What To Do At The Scene Of A Faulty Traffic Light Accident
- How To Report A Faulty Traffic Light
- Time Limit For A Car Accident Claim
- Car Accident Compensation
- No Win No Fee Faulty Traffic Light Car Accident Claims
- Begin A Faulty Traffic Light Car Accident Claim
How Could A Faulty Traffic Light Cause A Car Accident?
If you’ve suffered an injury in a road traffic accident, you might be eligible for compensation. However, you would need to prove that you suffered your injuries due to another road user breaching their duty of care. A breach of duty of care that results in an injury is known as negligence.
The Road Traffic Act 1988 sets the duty of care that all road users owe to each other. Pedestrians, motorists and cyclists are considered as road users. They must navigate the roads in a way that prevents injury and damage to themselves and others. As part of this duty, road users are expected to adhere to the rules and regulations set out for them in the Highway Code. If you can prove negligence occurred, you might be eligible to make a personal injury claim.
Additionally, rules governing traffic lights are set out in the Highway Code. Traffic lights that are stuck on red could cause accidents. Light signals are used to control traffic. Should one fail, it could be considered a hazard. Red traffic lights signal motorists to stop and wait behind the line on the carriageway. Later in this guide, we look at how to report faulty traffic lights and who could be liable for an accident at a traffic light. If you were to suffer an injury due to a motorist running a red light, you might be eligible to make a claim.
Call our advisors to learn more about personal injury claims regarding motorists running a red light and causing an accident in the UK. They could also offer you free advice for your potential claim.
Who Is Responsible For An Accident At A Traffic Light?
If a road traffic accident occurs, it isn’t always straightforward to identify who was responsible. If two vehicles collide together, the fault may lie with the driver that acted negligently and caused the accident.
If a driver hits and injures a pedestrian because of reckless or dangerous driving, the driver could be held liable for any injuries caused.
In a smaller number of cases road traffic accidents can be caused by poor conditions on the road, so the party responsible for maintaining safe conditions on the road might be held responsible.
Local authorities are responsible for maintaining highways and crossings in their jurisdiction. Your relevant highways agency, such as Highways England, is responsible for maintaining motorways and some A roads. If a road traffic accident is caused because of poor conditions on the road, the relevant agency would be responsible for the accident and could be held liable for any injuries caused.
If a car accident caused by traffic lights has occurred, you may assume that the relevant Local Authority or highways agency is always to blame. This is not always the case.
First of all, a faulty traffic light may not have been reported to the relevant authorities. Secondly, even if the authorities are aware of the faulty traffic light, the road will still be in use for motorists until the traffic lights are fixed.
Therefore the Local Authority and agencies such as Highways England still rely on drivers to drive responsibly and use their best judgement when they approach a faulty traffic light. Therefore a driver could be held liable for any injuries if they drive negligently and cause a car accident.
In some cases, both a driver and a Local Authority or highways agency may share responsibility for a traffic-light accident.
If you have been injured in an accident, you may wish to make a faulty traffic light car accident claim for compensation against the party or parties who are responsible.
What To Do At The Scene Of A Faulty Traffic Light Accident
If you are involved in a vehicle accident or a traffic light accident what should you do?
There are some actions you can take to improve your chances of making a successful claim. Of course, if you or someone else is critically injured calling an ambulance should be your first priority. If injuries are minor, consider the following:
- Take photographs of your injuries, the injuries of any passengers in the vehicle and damage to your vehicle.
- If it is relevant, photograph the hazard that caused your accident, or film the faulty traffic lights to show lights aren’t changing properly.
- Speak to the other driver and exchange contact details. If you are in a car accident and no details are exchanged this will make it more difficult to contact the other driver’s insurer
- Take down the registration number, make, model and colour of the other car.
- Speak to eyewitnesses and collect their names and contact details. They may be able to testify on your behalf in the future.
- Report your car accident to the police if serious enough. The police records will provide evidence of your injuries.
We recommend that you seek the appropriate medical treatment for your injuries, firstly so that you can return to a state of wellness. Secondly, visiting a doctor’s surgery or hospital will make sure that you receive a diagnosis of your injuries. Your medical notes can be used as evidence when putting together your claim.
How To Report A Faulty Traffic Light
As soon as it is safe to do so, report the broken traffic light to your local authority. Car accidents caused by faulty traffic lights can result in severe injuries, even death. So faulty traffic light reporting is essential.
How do you report a faulty traffic light in the UK? If you encounter a faulty or malfunctioning traffic light on a local road, you can report it to your local authority. You can find the contact details for faulty traffic light reporting for your local council here.
What happens if you see a faulty traffic light on a major road or motorway? This will be the responsibility of a highways authority to fix. You can find out how you report a faulty traffic light in different parts of the UK below.
How do you report a faulty traffic light in Northern Ireland? You should report the faulty traffic light to the Department for Infrastructure.
If you encounter a faulty traffic light on foot please do not touch it or try to repair it yourself. Faulty pieces of electrical equipment are dangerous and you could be electrocuted.
Time Limit For A Car Accident Claim
If you are eligible to claim for injuries you’ve suffered because a traffic light was not working, you should be aware of the relevant time limit to start proceedings. Due to the Limitation Act 1980, there is normally a three-year time limit for starting a personal injury claim. This time limit usually applies from the date your accident occurred.
The time limit can work differently under certain circumstances. For instance, if a child has been injured in a car accident, then the three-year time limit is paused until the day of their 18th birthday. A court-appointed litigation friend could make a claim on the child’s behalf before they turn 18. If this does not happen, the injured party will have three years to start their own claim from the day they turn 18.
If the injured party lacks sufficient mental capacity to make a car accident claim, then the time limit is suspended indefinitely. A litigation friend could make a claim on the person’s behalf. However, if this doesn’t happen and the injured party later regains sufficient mental capacity, then the three-year time limit will start from the date of recovery.
If you would like to learn more about your eligibility to claim for a car accident caused by faulty traffic lights, contact our advisors for free online or on the phone today.
Car Accident Compensation
Car accident payouts can be made up of general damages and special damages. General damages is the head of claim that addresses the pain and suffering caused by your injuries. When this head of claim is being valued, solicitors use the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), which offers guideline compensation brackets for different types of injuries.
| Type Of Injury | Compensation Bracket | Information |
|---|---|---|
| Very Severe Brain Damage (a) | £282,010 to £403,990 | Cases that fall in this bracket will show little to no response to surroundings and have little to no language function, though there may still be some ability to follow basic commands. |
| Less Severe Brain Injury (d) | £15,320 to £43,060 | The person will make a good recovery, and will be able to return to work and have a normal social life, despite the fact that some functions may not be fully restored. |
| Chest Injuries (b) | £65,740 to £100,670 | Impairment of function and physical disability due to permanent damage caused by traumatic injury to the heart, chest, or lungs. |
| Digestive System Injuries (a) (iii) | £6,610 to £12,590 | This bracket includes serious seatbelt pressure injuries, as well as penetrating stab wounds or industrial laceration injuries. |
| Moderate Neck Injuries (b) (i) | £24,990 to £38,490 | This bracket covers severe and immediate symptoms caused by fractures or dislocations that may also require spinal fusion. |
| Fracture of Clavicle (e) | £5,150 to £12,240 | Consideration is given to residual disabilities, the extent of the fracture, and the level of remaining disability. |
| One Or Multiple Whiplash Injuries | £4,215 | In this bracket, symptoms will last for 18 – 24 months. |
| One or Multiple Whiplash Injuries With One Or Multiple Minor Psychological Injuries | £4,345 | In this bracket, symptoms will last for 15 – 18 months. |
Your car accident compensation could also include special damages, which allows you to claim back any financial losses you suffer because of your injuries. For example, this could include the cost of prescriptions, medical bills, or home adjustments.
Please note that the way some car accident compensation claims are made changed on May 31st 2021 with the introduction of the Whiplash Reform Programme. Now, if you are a driver or passenger over the age of 18 with injuries valued at £5,000 or less, your claim will be made a different way, and your whiplash injuries will be valued in line with the tariff set out by the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021.
You may not need to make your claim this way if you have sustained additional injuries that take the total value of your claim over £5,000. In this instance, you would claim the traditional way. However, your whiplash injuries will still be valued according to the whiplash tariff. Any other injuries not covered by the tariff will be valued in the traditional way.
Whilst the figures from the JCG included in the table above are to be used as a guide only, the last two entries are taken from the tariff in the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 and are fixed amounts.
Contact our advisors today to learn more about making a faulty traffic light car accident claim.
How Special Damages Could Compensate You
If your claim has been successful you may also receive special damages for your injuries. Special damages will compensate you for any costs you have incurred due to your traffic light accident.
Your expenses could include the following:
- Travel expenses.
- Medical costs including prescription costs, rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
- Loss of earnings and future earnings.
- Household assistance.
- Home or car adaptation.
- Costs of vehicle repairs.
If you wish to make a faulty traffic light car accident claim and want to ask, “Am I eligible to claim?” call Legal Expert today.
No Win No Fee Faulty Traffic Light Car Accident Claims
If you wish to make a faulty traffic light car accident claim, Legal Expert can handle your claim on a No Win No Fee basis. This means that if the case fails, you won’t have to pay any of your lawyers fees. You won’t have to pay an upfront fee either, nor any ongoing fees.
Instead, you will be charged a small success fee if they win your claim, which would be deducted from the compensation award. This means that there is less financial risk involved on your part.
For many of our clients, opting for a No Win No Fee claim is the more secure and affordable way to have their road traffic accident claim handled.
Begin A Faulty Traffic Light Car Accident Claim
If you have suffered an injury in a faulty traffic light car accident, you may be eligible to claim compensation. You can get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable team 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
- Call Legal Expert today on 0800 073 8804 to begin your claim.
- Alternatively use this online claims form to reach us today.
- Or send us a message using our live chat feature.
Further Resources
Report A Problem With A Traffic Light
Contact Transport For London About Streets And Road Issues
Thank you for reading our guide on road accidents caused by faulty traffic lights.
