Are Red Light Runners Always at Fault for a Car Crash?

Red light crashes happen every day in Chicago, IL. Many drivers assume the person who ran the red light is always responsible. However, fault in these accidents is not always clear-cut, and multiple parties can share blame.

At Cooney & Conway, we help injured drivers understand their rights after a red light crash — or any type of crash — in Chicago, IL.

Our highly qualified legal team knows how insurance companies try to shift blame onto victims. We work aggressively to protect your ability to recover fair compensation after someone else’s negligence causes you harm.

If you were hurt in a red light crash, don’t wait to get help.
Call Cooney & Conway to discuss your case today. (800) 322-5573

Are Red Light Runners Automatically Assumed at Fault if a Crash Occurs?

Running a red light violates Illinois traffic law, which creates a strong presumption of fault. However, this does not mean the red light runner bears 100 percent responsibility in every case. Other factors can affect how blame is assigned.

Insurance adjusters and investigators examine all circumstances surrounding the crash. They look at driver behavior, road conditions, and whether other parties contributed to the collision. Even when one driver clearly ran a red light, the other driver may share some responsibility if their actions also played a role.

In Chicago, IL, courts recognize that multiple drivers can contribute to a single accident. This means you could be partially at fault and still recover compensation. The key is proving how much each party’s negligence contributed to your injuries.

How Is Liability for a Red-Light Crash in Chicago Determined?

Proving who ran a red light requires concrete evidence showing the signal status at the exact moment each vehicle entered the intersection. Unlike other crash types, red light cases hinge on precise timing and light cycle documentation that establishes which driver had the legal right of way.

Investigators focus on evidence specific to traffic signal violations:

• Red Light Camera Data: Automated systems capture photos at many Chicago traffic lights showing each vehicle’s position relative to the stop line when the light was red, with timestamps proving signal status.
• Traffic Signal Timing Records: Engineers provide reports showing how long each phase lasted, when the yellow appeared, and exactly when the red illuminated.
• Intersection Approach Videos: Footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras shows which direction had the green light and how each driver approached.
• Point of Impact Analysis: Where vehicles collided within the intersection reveals which car was already there versus which one entered against the signal.
• Yellow Light Duration Calculations: Engineers determine if the yellow phase gave adequate warning time based on the intersection’s size and posted speed limit.
• Vehicle Event Data Recorders: Black box data shows each car’s speed and braking pattern in the seconds before impact, revealing who tried to stop.
• Eyewitness Accounts of Signal Colors: People waiting at the light or crossing the intersection can testify which signal each driver faced.

This evidence gets analyzed together to establish the light sequence and each driver’s position when they entered the intersection. In Chicago, IL, this technical proof determines which driver violated the law and caused the collision.

When Another Driver May Be Partly to Blame for a Red-Light Crash

Even if someone ran a red light and hit you, your own actions before the crash matter. Illinois law requires all drivers to operate their vehicles safely and follow traffic rules. Failing to do so can reduce your ability to recover full compensation.

Speeding Through an Intersection

Driving well above the speed limit reduces your reaction time. Even if your light was green, excessive speed can prevent you from avoiding a collision. Insurance adjusters will argue you could have stopped or slowed down if you were traveling at a safe speed.

Distracted Driving

Looking at your phone, eating, or adjusting controls takes your attention off the road. If you were distracted as you entered the intersection, you may have missed warning signs that another driver was about to run the light. This distraction can make you partially liable even though the other driver broke the law.

Running a Yellow or Stale Green Light

Entering an intersection as the light turns yellow — or racing through when it has been green for a long time — increases crash risk. You might technically have the right of way, but rushing through shows poor judgment. Other drivers may have already started moving based on their light change.

Failing to Yield After a Red Light Changes

When your light turns green in Chicago, IL, you must still check that the intersection is clear before proceeding. Immediately hitting the gas without looking can cause a crash if someone is still clearing the intersection. Courts may assign you partial fault for failing to ensure it was safe to go.

Driving While Impaired

Alcohol or drugs slow your reflexes and impair your judgment. Even if the other driver ran a red light, being impaired becomes a factor. Illinois law prohibits driving under the influence, and doing so makes an impaired driver partially responsible for any resulting crash.

Can Victims Who Share Fault for a Red-Light Crash Still Seek Compensation?

Yes. In Illinois, the modified comparative negligence rule applies. This mean that you may still have a claim for compensation, even if you contributed to the crash in some way. Under state law, you can seek compensation as long as you are less than 50 percent at fault for the accident.

Your recovery amount gets reduced by your percentage of fault. For example, if your total damages equal $100,000 and you are found 20 percent responsible, you can recover $80,000. If you are 50 percent or more at fault, you cannot recover anything under Illinois law.

This system recognizes that most accidents involve mistakes by multiple parties. Insurance companies in Chicago, IL will try to inflate your share of blame to reduce their payout. That is why documenting everything and getting legal help quickly protects your financial recovery.

Do I Need Legal Help for an Injury Claim Resulting From a Red Light Crash?

Red light crashes often result in serious injuries that require immediate medical care and long recovery periods. Insurance companies know injured victims feel overwhelmed and vulnerable. They use this to pressure you into accepting low settlement offers before you understand your full damages.

Having knowledgeable legal representation levels the playing field. We investigate your crash thoroughly, gather evidence the insurance company hopes you will miss, and calculate your true losses. This includes medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and future costs related to your injuries.

Insurance adjusters will look for any reason to deny or reduce your claim. They review your statements, medical records, and social media posts searching for inconsistencies. Without experienced guidance, you might accidentally say something that damages your case. When Cooney & Conway represent you, our experienced car accident lawyers in Chicago manage all communication with insurers while you focus on healing.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Red Light Crashes

Who has the most fault when someone runs a red light and it leads to a car accident?

The driver who ran the red light typically bears primary responsibility because they violated traffic law. However, Illinois courts examine all factors that contributed to the crash. The other driver could share fault if they were speeding, distracted, or failed to ensure the intersection was clear before proceeding. Fault percentages depend on the specific circumstances of each collision in Chicago, IL.

What is the red light rule in Illinois?

Illinois law requires drivers to stop at red traffic signals and remain stopped until the light turns green. Drivers must not enter an intersection against a red signal. The law also requires drivers with a green light to make sure the intersection is clear before proceeding. Violating these rules can result in traffic tickets and liability for any crashes that occur.

Can I recover any compensation if I ran a red light and caused a car accident in Chicago?

Can I recover any compensation if I ran a red light and caused a car accident in Chicago?

Not if you are the primary at-fault party and assessed with 50 percent or more liability for the collision. Illinois modified comparative negligence law prevents you from seeking any compensation if 50 percent or more of the fault is assed against you for the crash. Running a red light typically makes you primarily responsible for the resulting crash. In that situation, you would almost certainly exceed the 50 percent fault threshold and lose your ability to seek compensation from other drivers.

Injured in a Red Light Crash in Chicago? Call Cooney & Conway Today

Red light crashes cause devastating injuries that change lives in seconds. You deserve compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and pain. Insurance companies will try to minimize your claim or blame you for the accident.

At Cooney & Conway, we fight for injured drivers throughout Chicago, IL. We investigate every detail of your crash and build strong cases that hold negligent drivers accountable. Our team aggressively negotiates with the insurance company, and we always seek the maximum possible compensation on your behalf.

Worried about how much it costs to hire a lawyer in Chicago? Don’t be. Our law firm takes injury cases on contingency, which means you don’t pay anything up front. We only get paid for our services if we secure compensation for you.

Call Cooney & Conway at (800) 322-5573 now for a consultation about your red light car accident case.