Traffic lights are installed at intersections to create efficient and safe travel for vehicles and pedestrians alike. Without these signals, chaos and confusion would ensue at every major intersection across the country, leading to an increase in accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Because these lights are so important, any malfunctioning can be dangerous and cause uncertainty. When car accidents happen as a result of faulty traffic lights, determining liability can become complicated. Contact a Memphis auto accident lawyer today to secure experienced representation and legal advice during your personal injury case.
What Are Faulty Traffic Lights?
Traffic lights were designed to ensure all drivers can cross intersections safely and avoid collisions. The red, yellow, and green lights are universal indicators of whether or not it is safe to proceed. However, when these signals do not light up at all, skip over one or more sides, behave erratically, or simply do not perform as intended, the traffic light is faulty.
Faulty traffic lights can arise as a result of many different conditions or issues. Some of the most common reasons are listed below.
- Deterioration: Because traffic lights are exposed to the elements, over time they will experience normal wear and tear. Old age and exposure to harsh conditions can cause malfunctions.
- Lack of maintenance: Inadequate inspections and servicing of traffic lights can result in operational issues like burnt-out bulbs, faulty wiring, and more.
- Power issues: Interruptions in the light’s power supply like power outages in the surrounding areas can cause the signals to stop working.
- Weather: Adverse weather conditions can cause traffic lights to malfunction if they experience excessive moisture, extreme temperatures, corrosion, short circuits, etc.
- Vandalism: People may cause traffic signals to stop working through intentional actions like graffiti, physically damaging the lights, tampering with the power source, etc.
How Does Liability Work in Car Accidents Caused By Faulty Traffic Lights?
In a car crash where one driver ran a stop sign or was behaving erratically, determining liability is fairly straightforward and simple. However, when accidents happen as a result of faulty traffic lights, determining the responsible party can become more complex. Establishing liability is essential to ensure that any victims can be properly compensated for their injuries and associated expenses.
The following individuals and entities can be held responsible for an accident caused by malfunctioning traffic signals.
- Either driver if they were reckless or negligent in their actions
- The local government if they failed to properly maintain the traffic signals
- A third-party contractor if they were negligent in their installation, maintenance, or repairs
- The manufacturer if a design or manufacturing defect caused the malfunctioning of the lights
Keep in mind that Tennessee operates under a modified comparative negligence rule, meaning that more than one party can be held liable for an accident. One or more of the above entities could share the blame for the crash.
Contact an attorney at Ballin, Ballin & Fishman to discuss your case and obtain skilled representation today.
