You had the green light. The other driver didn’t stop. In the seconds it takes to cross an intersection, a red light crash can leave you hurt, out of work, and staring at bills you never saw coming, none of it your fault. If a driver blew through a signal and hit you anywhere in New Orleans, you have the right to hold that driver accountable.
The red light car accident lawyers at Dudley DeBosier in New Orleans can investigate what happened, deal with the insurance companies, and fight for what you need to recover. Our New Orleans office sits downtown on Poydras Street, and we know these intersections. Contact us to talk through your options for free.
What Causes Red-Light Wrecks at New Orleans Intersections
Most drivers who run red lights aren’t confused about the rules. They’re often distracted, or trying to beat a yellow that has already changed. The most common causes include:
- Distracted Driving: A driver looking at a phone or otherwise taking eyes off the road can mean missing a changing traffic signal.
- Speeding to Beat the Light: A driver who is traveling too fast to stop safely may continue into the intersection after the light turns red.
- Impaired Driving: Alcohol and drugs slow reaction time and cloud judgment at intersections.
- Drowsy Driving: Fatigue can make it harder for a driver to recognize and respond to a traffic signal.
- Aggressive Driving: A driver who is in a hurry or angry may take unnecessary risks at an intersection.
The type of crash that typically follows can make these wrecks especially dangerous. When a driver runs a light, the result is often a side-impact, or “T-bone,” collision that strikes the side of your vehicle where there is little to absorb the force.
Busy corridors like Canal Street, Claiborne Avenue, Tulane Avenue, and Poydras Street carry heavy cross-traffic, and a single driver running a light can set off a chain-reaction pileup.
Common Injuries in Red-Light Crashes
Because red-light wrecks often hit from the side at speed, the injuries can be serious. The person sitting closest to the point of impact usually takes the worst of it. We regularly help people recovering from:
- Whiplash and Neck Injuries: The sudden jolt of a side impact strains the neck and spine.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord can cause lasting pain or loss of mobility.
- Traumatic Brain Injuries: A blow to the head, even without a loss of consciousness, can cause a TBI.
- Broken Bones: Arms, ribs, and hips are common fracture sites in side-impact crashes.
- Internal Injuries: Blunt force can injure organs, and these injuries aren’t always obvious right away.
See a doctor as soon as you can, even if you feel fine. Emergency teams at University Medical Center New Orleans, Ochsner Medical Center, and Touro Infirmary treat crash injuries every day, and prompt care creates a record that ties your injuries to the wreck.
Proving the Other Driver Ran the Light
Red-light wrecks can sometimes come down to a simple question: who had the light? When the other driver denies running it, the evidence has to tell the story. That evidence can include:
- The Police Crash Report: The report may contain information about the crash scene, witness statements, and any citation issued.
- Eyewitness Statements: Drivers and pedestrians who saw the light change can confirm what happened.
- Nearby Video: Businesses, doorbell cameras, and traffic cameras near the intersection may have captured the crash.
- The Other Driver’s Phone Records: These can show whether the driver was texting or on a call.
- Crash Reconstruction: When fault is disputed, a qualified analyst can use the physical evidence to show how the wreck unfolded.
New Orleans runs automated red-light cameras at intersections around the city, and footage from these systems can help support a claim. That video isn’t kept forever, though. It can be overwritten within weeks, so it helps to have a lawyer request and preserve it quickly.
Keep in mind, too, that a traffic-camera ticket is a civil matter that doesn’t automatically prove fault in your injury claim.
Who Is Liable, and How Louisiana Comparative Fault Works
Usually the driver who entered the intersection against the light is at fault. Liability isn’t always that easily determined, though. Every driver has a duty to drive carefully. That includes slowing down or stopping when you see someone about to run a light, even when your light is green.
For crashes on or after January 1, 2026, Louisiana follows a modified comparative fault rule. Under Louisiana Civil Code article 2323, if you are found to be 51% or more at fault, you are barred from recovering damages. If you are found to be less than 51% at fault, you can still recover, but your damages are reduced by your percentage of fault.
For example, being found 20% at fault would reduce your recovery by 20%. Crashes before that date fall under Louisiana’s earlier pure comparative fault rule. That is exactly where insurance companies come in. They try to pin as much blame on you as possible, because every percentage point they shift lowers what they pay. An experienced lawyer pushes back with evidence and keeps the fault where it belongs.
Red-Light Wrecks Involving Rideshares
Not every red-light wreck involves two drivers in their own cars. If you were a passenger in an Uber or Lyft when another driver ran a red light, determining which insurance coverage applies can be complicated.
These cases can involve several insurance companies at once, which makes it harder to sort out who owes what. Report the crash through the rideshare company’s app and to the police.
Also, if you are injured, seek medical attention right away. As always, if an insurance company contacts you about the crash, make sure you talk with a rideshare accident lawyer before agreeing to a settlement or giving a recorded statement.
What About Pedestrians Injured in Red-Light Crashes?
When a driver runs a red light and strikes someone walking through an intersection, the injuries are often serious and even deadly. Pedestrian cases can involve important evidence from traffic signals, surveillance cameras, and witnesses.
Our pedestrian accident claims team handles these cases across New Orleans. Whether you were walking or behind the wheel, the case still hinges upon proving the person who caused you harm ran the red light.
How Dudley DeBosier Can Help After a Red-Light Wreck
After a wreck, the last thing you should have to do is fight an insurance company alone. Our New Orleans injury lawyers handle the investigation, gather and preserve the evidence, and deal with the adjusters so you can focus on healing. Our broader car accident representation covers every kind of intersection crash.
We are proud to be part of this community. We are the Official Injury Lawyers of the New Orleans Saints, and our team lives and works here. When you hire us, you don’t pay us anything unless we recover money for you.
We can’t promise a specific outcome, but we can promise to fight for you and to be straight with you about your case every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do I Have to File a Red-Light Accident Claim in Louisiana?
For crashes on or after July 1, 2024, Louisiana gives you two years to file a personal injury lawsuit. Wrecks before that date may fall under the older one-year deadline, so the exact window depends on when your wreck happened. Talking to a lawyer early keeps you from missing it.
What If I Was Partly at Fault for the Intersection Crash?
You may still be able to recover compensation, but Louisiana’s rules changed for crashes on or after January 1, 2026. The state now follows a modified comparative fault system. If you are found less than 51% at fault, you may be able to recover damages, but your percentage of fault will reduce your recovery. At 51% or more, recovery is barred.
Can New Orleans Traffic-Camera Footage Be Used as Evidence in My Claim?
Yes. Footage from New Orleans traffic cameras can help support your claim by showing what happened at the intersection. The catch is that this video is often overwritten within weeks, so a lawyer can send a preservation request quickly before it is lost.
If the Other Driver Was Ticketed, Do I Still Need a Lawyer?
Yes. A ticket helps, but it doesn’t mean the insurance company will pay what your claim is worth. Insurers can still dispute your injuries, argue you were partly at fault, or offer far less than you need. A lawyer makes the ticket one piece of a stronger case.
What Should I Do If a Red-Light Runner Hit My Uber or Lyft in New Orleans?
Get medical attention first, then report the crash through the rideshare app and to the police. You may have a claim against the at-fault driver, and rideshare insurance coverage may also apply while you are a passenger. Because several insurers may be involved, it helps to have a lawyer determine who is responsible.
Can I File a Claim If I Was a Pedestrian Hit by a Red-Light Runner?
Yes. If a driver ran a red light and struck you while you were walking, you may have a claim against that driver for your medical bills, lost income, and other losses. The same evidence that proves a driver ran the light in a car crash applies to pedestrian cases.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Red-Light Accident Lawyer at Dudley DeBosier?
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee, so you pay nothing unless we recover money for you. Your first consultation is always free.
What Is My Red-Light Accident Case Worth?
It depends on the facts of your case, including the severity of your injuries, your medical costs, time missed from work, and how the crash has affected your daily life. No lawyer can put an exact number on a case at the start, but we can review your situation and explain what your claim may include.
Injured by a Red-Light Runner in New Orleans? Demand Dudley DeBosier
A red-light wreck can dramatically change your life in a matter of seconds. If a driver’s decision to ignore a traffic signal caused you harm, you don’t have to face the insurance companies or the medical bills on your own. The New Orleans injury lawyers at Dudley DeBosier are ready to investigate your crash and fight for the money you may deserve.
After a crash, Demand Dudley DeBosier. Get a free consultation today, and remember: you pay us nothing unless we get you money.
