How Often Do Accidents Happen Due to Traffic Light Malfunctions?

It was 1912 when the American Traffic Signal Company installed the first electric traffic light on the corner of Euclid Avenue and East 105th Street in Cleveland, Ohio. No doubt, shortly after that installation, someone ran the red light! Since then, traffic lights or traffic signals spread across the country, and you can find them in nearly every city and town in the country. As sophisticated as these devices are, they aren’t immune to problems. How often do accidents happen due to traffic light malfunctions?

Intersections are a hot zone for car accidents. According to the Federal Highway Administration, one-quarter of all traffic fatalities and one-half of all traffic injuries happen at intersections. There is no specific data related to accidents related directly to traffic light malfunctions. However, when there is a breakdown, the risk of an accident increases unless drivers take extra caution.

When the Traffic Lights Break Down

When a traffic light breaks down, the rules of the road are to treat that intersection as if it were a four-way stop controlled by stop signs. That means you need to come to a complete stop at the broken light and proceed with caution. That caution includes yielding to the right of way of other cars.

Who has the right of way at a broken traffic light in Montana? That would be the driver who gets to the intersection first and comes to that stop. If two or more drivers land at the intersection at the same time, then the driver on the right has the right of way. That means you yield to the driver to your right.

If two vehicles stop at a broken light directly across from each other, then the car making the right turn has the right of way. That means the drivers need to use their turn signals. If one car is turning but the other is going straight, then the car driving straight has the right of way. If both are going straight or turning right, they can go at the same time.

Reasons for a Breakdown

Traffic lights are connected to an intricate computer network. That does not make them invulnerable. A traffic light can malfunction for several of the following reasons:

Bad Weather

Heavy rainfall, high winds, lightning strikes, and ice storms can cause a traffic light to fail.

Vandalism

Traffic lights can become the target of graffiti or other acts of vandalism that could leave the lights damaged.

Maintenance Lapses

Traffic lights need consistent upkeep. Unfortunately, the number of traffic lights in a city can strain maintenance crews. They might only be able to respond to repair calls rather than upkeep schedules, creating a cycle of problems.

Age

As with any other electrical device, a traffic light can wear down. It might also need to be upgraded to stay current with the current traffic control systems, or it might need to be replaced.

Power Outages

One of the most common causes of traffic light malfunctions is a power outage. In that scenario, the light can be completely out or default to blinking.

Responsible Parties if an Accident Occurs at a Montana Intersection

If a traffic light malfunction is a factor in an auto collision in Bozeman, other parties could be named in a personal injury lawsuit. For instance, the traffic light manufacturer could be held liable if the light is proven defective. Also, the local municipality that is in charge of upkeep could be named if a pattern of neglect can be established.

Determining Liability for a Bozeman Car Crash

Determining liability in a Bozeman car accident at an intersection can be challenging. One of the reasons is that Montana law prohibits traffic light cameras, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).

The only way a police officer can issue a ticket to a driver for running a red light is if they witness that action. That means it often falls to the account of the two motorists involved in the accident to determine who is at fault. That is why you need to get the team from Western Justice Associates, PLLC, involved in the case. We understand these and other legal concepts and can help you hold liable parties accountable.

We can thoroughly investigate the accident on behalf of our clients and include the traffic light malfunction as a mitigating factor. That work begins with the first consultation. Call to set up that free talk today.