A report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that in 2017, the number of deaths arising from red-light running crashes reached a 10-year high. A total of 939 people in California and across the U.S. were killed in such crashes that year. This also constituted a 28% increase from 2012. Of the victims, just over a third were the offending drivers; the rest were passengers or drivers in the other vehicles.

In an earlier AAA report, 85% of drivers were found to admit that running a red light is dangerous. Yet one in three stated that they ran a red light in the past 30 days. Many red-light runners are distracted drivers, but perhaps even more are impatient drivers who speed and knowingly break the law.

Furthermore, two in five drivers believe they will not be pulled over for running red lights. This is where cameras may come into play. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has a study out showing that red-light cameras can reduce red-light violations by as much as 40%.

Red-light running is simply one part of the overall problem. The National Safety Council discovered that speeding, drunk driving and distracted driving are the primary causes of fatal accidents. On the other hand, phone use among drivers has gone down.

Red-light running crashes, if not fatal, can still end in a personal injury. Innocent victims may be able to file a claim against the responsible driver’s auto insurance company, but they may want legal representation. With a lawyer speaking on their behalf, victims may be reimbursed for medical expenses, lost wages, the cost of repairing or replacing the vehicle, pain and suffering and more. If negotiations do not result in a fair settlement, the lawyer might prepare the case for court.