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Personal injury incidents due to running red lights on the rise

When a Louisiana driver is reckless or dangerous behind the wheel, it can cause accidents and result in injuries or even death. Reckless driving includes behaviors such as distracted driving, driving while intoxicated and speeding. It also includes driving through red lights, which is a type of problem that is actually on the rise. According to a study from AAA, personal injury incidents at intersections are a growing concern. 

Statistics indicate that people running through red lights is at an all-time high, and the numbers could continue to rise. In 2017, the more recent year from which definitive data is available, 939 people died in accidents caused by red-light runners. That represents almost a 30% increase in the number of these accidents in just a five-year period.

Crashes at intersections are fairly common. However, there may be a few specific reasons why there are more fatal accidents at red lights now, and one of these is distracted driving. Drivers are more distracted now than ever before thanks to smart phones, social media, texting capabilities and in-car infotainment systems. This is likely one of the reasons why some drivers do not stop in enough time, go too fast through intersections or simply do not stop at all. 

If a Louisiana driver is the victim of the reckless or negligent actions of another person, he or she may have grounds to pursue compensation through a personal injury claim. This includes people hurt in accidents caused by a driver who ran through a red light. Civil recourse allows a victim to secure restitution for medical bills, lost wages and other losses.