I Was Struck by a Driver Who Ran a Red Light in New Hampshire: What Now?
Few roadway maneuvers are more dangerous than running a red light. These accidents can easily lead to fatalities, and this is exactly what happened after a recent crash in Manchester, New Hampshire. If you were injured after someone ran a red light, you have every right to consider legal action. You might also want to consider a lawsuit if you lost a loved one due to another driver’s negligence.
Running a Red Light Is a Type of Negligence
If you’re planning to sue a driver for causing your injuries, you must establish negligence. In other words, you must prove that this driver made some kind of mistake that led directly to your injuries. Negligence has four elements in New Hampshire. These include duty of care, breach of duty, causation, and injuries.
Running a red light is an obvious example of a “breach” of duty of care. In other words, the driver in question failed to exercise reasonable care and act responsibly behind the wheel. However, you still need to establish that the driver’s breach of duty led directly to your injuries. This is called “causation.”
Running a red light does not always lead to injuries. For example, a driver might have run a red light before narrowly missing a pedestrian. If another car subsequently strikes the pedestrian, the injured victim would probably fail to establish “causation” when suing the first driver.
What if the Driver Fled the Scene?
Running a red light often goes hand in hand with fleeing the scene of an accident. If someone is willing to run a red light, they’re probably willing to drive away from a crash without stopping. If you were injured by someone who ran a red light before fleeing, you might need to use photographs or videos of the scene to help police find the person responsible.
You might also decide to file a claim with your own insurer. This might be possible if you have UM or UIM coverage. That being said, the most appropriate pathway depends on your unique circumstances. Consider discussing these circumstances with an experienced lawyer before accepting any settlements or giving up hope on compensation entirely.
How Can I Prove a Driver Ran a Red Light?
You can prove that a driver ran a red light by using traffic surveillance cameras. You might also use witness testimony. If other people saw the driver run the red light, they can testify on your behalf.
Can a New Hampshire Auto Accident Lawyer Help Me?
If a negligent driver injured you or killed your loved one, you have every right to consider your legal options. There are few clearer examples of negligence than running a red light. The recent crash shows how dangerous these crashes can be, and it may lead to a wrongful death lawsuit in New Hampshire. Consider speaking with a Manchester personal injury lawyer at Manning Zimmerman & Oliveira PLLC to learn more about how you can pursue accountability, justice, and compensation.
Source:
nbcboston.com/news/local/man-killed-in-crash-in-manchester-nh/3848291/
