Collisions at Right Turn on Red Intersections

In Ontario, drivers are usually permitted to make a right-hand turn on a red light after coming to a complete stop. However, every year, many accidents occur when vehicles make such turns under dangerous circumstances. These types of accidents are so common that there are intersections where making a right-hand turn on a red is not permitted. Some municipalities are also moving to ban right-hand turns on a red, particularly where this maneuver puts pedestrians or cyclists at risk.

If you are injured in an accident after making a right turn on a red light, or you are injured in an accident involving another vehicle that made a right turn on a red, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer to fully understand how fault is going to be determined in the accident.

Who Is Liable in a ‘Right Turn on Red’ Crash?

Accidents involving a right-hand turn on a red light are not straightforward. Who is responsible for the accident will depend on the specific facts of each case.

An experienced lawyer can determine how your specific situation will affect the apportionment of fault. There are many ways that accidents arise under these circumstances. The most common ways are:

1. Stopping Mid-Turn

A driver comes to a complete stop, decides that there is room to join the flow of traffic and turn right, moves forward to do so, and then changes their mind and stops again.

The driver behind, anticipating that both vehicles have room to join the flow of traffic, takes their attention off the vehicle in front and ends up rear-ending it when it stops.

2. Failure to Accelerate

If a driver turns right on a red but does not accelerate enough to join the flow of traffic, it may be rear-ended by a vehicle advancing in oncoming traffic. The apportionment of fault in this case may be affected by many factors:

• Was the vehicle entering traffic turning onto a road with one lane or two?
• Did the rear-ending vehicle just change lanes, entering a lane that was previously free of traffic?
• Had the rear-ending vehicle just accelerated through the intersection because its light was turning yellow?
• Was the view of the turning driver obstructed by anything which interfered with their ability to judge the speed of the oncoming traffic?

Due to these myriad factors, determining fault in such situations can become complicated. An experienced Toronto car accident lawyer can help you examine the facts to apportion liability.

Right Turns vs. Left Turns

A vehicle turning right collides with an oncoming vehicle that is turning left on an advanced or extended green. This scenario may depend on whether the vehicle turning left had signalled properly, whether there are multiple lanes, whether the vehicle turning left turned into the correct lane, and whether the vehicle turning right turned into the correct lane.

Rolling Stops

If a driver does not come to a complete stop and performs more of a “rolling stop,” they may be focused on the vehicular traffic and fail to yield to pedestrians or cyclists.

If a motorist hits a pedestrian in Ontario, they are generally presumed to be at fault for the accident, but many factors still need to be taken into account.

Was the pedestrian in a crosswalk? Did they have a green walk sign? What was the time of day, the weather conditions, and what was the pedestrian wearing? Was the cyclist on a green or a yellow light?

Again, whether you were the pedestrian, the cyclist or the driver, it is recommended that you get advice from a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. The specific facts of your case will be important in the outcome of your claim.

Factors Considered in “Right Turn on Red” Accident Claims

There are many facts that must be considered when accidents occur under these circumstances. For example:

• The mechanical fitness of the vehicle at the time of the accident
• Whether all signal lights were working properly
• Brake function
• The fitness and ability of the driver to drive at the time of the accident
• Weather conditions
• Whether the driver was operating the vehicle distracted or impaired for any reason, including alcohol, drugs (including prescription drugs), fatigue, or vision issues
• Was the driver complying with all the conditions of their license?
• And more

All of these additional facts may be crucial in determining fault.

Injured in a Collision at a Right Turn on Red Intersection? Contact Preszler Injury Lawyers Today

If you, a family member, or a friend has been injured in an accident involving a driver turning right on a red at an intersection, please speak to a personal injury lawyer so that you can understand how the facts in your case will affect your rights and who is responsible for the accident.

To discuss your situation with our personal injury lawyers in a free consultation, call 1-888-608-2111 or contact us online today.

We’re here to help.