Faulty traffic light accident compensation claims

By Ian Morris | Updated November 27th, 2023

18 questions have been answered on this subject, why not ask your own?

In most circumstances, when dealing with a road traffic accident claim for personal injury compensation, the crash is caused by the negligence of a driver. However, on rare occasions, a faulty traffic light can be at fault.

Road traffic accidents most commonly happen at junctions and intersections, where traffic is heavy and vehicles are stopping or stationary.Indeed, we have experience of handling personal injury claims for the occupants of cars that have collided with other moving vehicles due to a fault with traffic light timings.

If you have been involved in a road traffic accident due to faulty traffic lights and sustained an injury as a result (such as whiplash) you are likely to be able to make a successful claim for personal injury compensation. Of course, the onus will be on you to prove that the cause of an accident was not your fault (i.e, that you didn’t ignore a red light) and that there was a fault that led to vehicles from differing junctions being shown green lights at the same time.

In such a circumstance, it is vitally important that the police are called to the scene so that the full details of the incident and the faulty traffic lights are properly reported and recorded.  In  a case like this, the claim for personal injury compensation would be made against the relevant local authority highways department and given the unusual nature of the claim, it indicates why it is a good idea to hire a specialist claims company or solicitor to pursue your car accident claim.

18 questions have been answered on this subject, why not ask your own?

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    Questions

    Read on for questions and advice about claiming, plus traffic light claim examples...

    I was recently involved in a crash at a cross-section where some temporary traffic lights were not working. I was driving slowly and that’s when another car was coming across from me and I went into the back of them and hitting a road sign.

    Luckily we were both fine but my car is written off and my insurance is about to go out. This would have never happened if the temporary traffic lights were working and the road signs were clear.

    I know other people in the town who have complained online about how the temporary system is confusing and I just want to know if there’s anything I can do as I’m now left with no car

    Ian Morris

    This would be a matter for your insurers and any legal cover you have with them. As you were fortunate to not sustain injury, this is not a matter we can help with any further.

    Reply

    Would this apply at a major junction where the traffic lights were not working at all?

    Ian Morris

    When an accident happens due to faulty or broken traffic lights, a claim may succeed if it can be shown that the highways authority had been made aware of the issue but failed to take action – or if sufficient time had passed that they should have known of the fault and taken action, but failed to do so.

    In such cases, it is important that the details of those involved are obtained and that any witness details are retained if at all possible. It is also important that the incident is reported to the relevant highways authority and Police.

    Reply

    Traffic lights didn’t work, junction accident. The Police were called because we were obstructing a junction, neither of us knew what to do.
    Can you help me in claiming against Barnet Council?

    Ian Morris

    Do you know how long the lights were out of action for? Do you have any independent witnesses that can confirm that the lights didn’t work?

    Loreta Simanaviciene

    We were there for around 10 minutes to realise its out, I was the 4th car in line.
    I have 2 witnesses, people on the road, its a busy high street and it was a sunny Sunday morning.
    My insurance is saying because green was on for the other driver we might need to accept the fault. I was stationary in the junction when 3rd party drove pass me taking my front.
    How can his lights work but our filter lights did not?
    Should I email local authority?

    Ian Morris

    You should make a formal report to the local authority – complaining that the lights were out, with no warning signs or temporary signals in place.
    I assume that you have given your insurers the details of the witnesses and other vehicles involved? Clearly, it is hard to establish negligence against the local authority in such cases as we do not know how long the lights were not working for before the incident.

    As an example, if the lights had only broken that day and not been reported by anyone, the council (Highways Department) would not be liable as they would successfully argue that they had no way of knowing of the problem and had not had an opportunity to fix the problem or erect temporary signals and signage.

    However, if it can be shown that the lights had been broken for more than 24 hours and had been reported to the local Highways Department, yet no action was taken, it would be possible to establish negligence against them.

    Were you injured in this incident? If so, if you can provide me with some further information, we can look in to the prospect of pursuing a claim for personal injury compensation for you.

    Reply

    Hi, I’ve been to Birmingham city centre where cross roads traffic lights were out not working on my side and opposite side also, whilst working lights on vertical sides(left and right) as I approach to go across road taking full precautions crossed halfway and a car at an average speed of 25mph came from left side and crashed into my passenger front and back doors causing major damage. Third party saying his lights turned green that’s why he preceded. What to do who’s at fault?

    Ian Morris

    This would appear to a case where liability will be disputed. Unless you can obtain evidence to show that the other vehicle proceeded on a red light, it is going to be hard to place liability on that driver.

    Reply

    I was waiting at head of queue for green light. I proceeded. I was hit by car travelling east/west his lights not working. My car a a write off. Fractured arm, whiplash. Several eye witnesses. Police incident number. Myself and 95 year old passenger taken to hospital. Colas were working on his traffic lights but no sign up till 40 mins after accident.

    Ian Morris

    You describe a very serious road traffic accident with some significant injuries sustained. The liability for causing the collision would seem to rest with the car travelling east/west with faulty lights or lights not on. As such, both your elderly passenger and yourself are entitled to pursue claims for personal injury compensation as a result of the injuries you have sustained in this accident. Our specialist Solicitors can help you pursue your claims on a No Win No Fee basis and in doing so, ensure that your legal rights are fully upheld and that your injuries and losses are appropriately compensated.

    Reply

    i was involved in a car accident where the traffic lights were both out, i proceeded with caution 5 mph at most letting another car pass in front of me at cross junction when i was t-boned driver side at at least 40 – 50mph writing off my brand new bmw 4 series, and was hit with that amount of force caused both wheel axles to snap on impact of curb where i came to a stand still. I have been informed that these traffic lights have been out on a number of occasions causing more than just my accident, police attended and i was taken straight to hospital on spinal board.

    Ian Morris

    What was the date of your accident? If this incident happened within the past 3 years and you have not already pursued a claim for the injuries sustained and your losses, you should certainly do so. Whether the liability rests with the other driver, the Highways Authority who control the lights or even partially with you (split liability), you can pursue a claim.

    We would be happy to help you in this process should you require assistance.

    Reply

    I was involved in a faulty traffic light road traffic accident tonight and this was confirmed by the police and various witnesses. I am still in shock so I have no idea of the injuries I have, but I ache all over which is normal considering.

    I would like to made a claim against the council for causing the accident and I feel that they should replace my campervan and compensate me for the utter anguish this has caused to not only myself but a passenger in the other car that nearly lost his life tonight.

    Ian Morris

    If the Police have confirmed that the accident was caused by a faulty traffic light, it should be possible to pursue a claim against the authority responsible for the maintenance of the lights.

    Reply

    Hi, I was involved in a car crash on Friday , I had approached a set of traffic lights that were not working, I proceeded with caution then noticed the red light on the opposite side , I slowed right down but was struck by a car on my driving side. They said that the light was on green. I have taken a photograph of the lights. They seem to be working intermittently. I sustained nasty whiplash injuries, bruising to my abdomen and also have quite bad coccyx pain. Would I be eligible for compensation?

    Ian Morris

    You describe a difficult scenario for personal injury compensation in that the driver who collided with you would be unlikely to be liable as they have apparently followed the highway code and proceeded under a green light. You state that the traffic lights were faulty and there is a possibility that you may be able to claim against the highways agency or whichever authority has responsibility for these traffic lights. If there were no signs in situ warning of issues with the lights it could be that a claim could proceed, but you may have to accept an element of liability yourself.

    Reply
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