Miami Intersection Accident Lawyer - Red-Light Runners and Left-Turn Crashes

Intersections are where different streams of traffic converge, and they are where a large number of injury-producing crashes occur in Miami-Dade County. The most common types of intersection accidents include:

Red-Light Running

A driver who runs a red light enters the intersection at speed while cross-traffic has the right of way. These crashes often produce T-bone (side-impact) collisions, which are particularly dangerous because the side of a vehicle offers less structural protection than the front or rear. Red-light violations are a persistent problem across Miami-Dade, particularly at high-volume intersections during rush hours.

Failure to Yield on Left Turns

Left-turn accidents occur when a driver turns left across oncoming traffic without a sufficient gap or without a protected green arrow. Under Florida right-of-way laws, the left-turning driver must yield to oncoming vehicles. These crashes frequently happen at intersections with unprotected left-turn signals, where drivers misjudge the speed of approaching vehicles.

Stop Sign Violations

Rolling through or completely ignoring stop signs at residential and secondary intersections causes collisions that, while sometimes at lower speeds, can still produce serious injuries - particularly when the other driver does not anticipate the violation and has no time to brake.

Right-Turn-on-Red Crashes

Drivers making right turns on red are required to come to a complete stop and yield to pedestrians and cross-traffic. Failure to do so can cause collisions with vehicles that have a green light and with pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Traffic Camera and Red-Light Camera Evidence

Miami-Dade County maintains traffic monitoring cameras at numerous intersections throughout the county. While Florida's red-light camera program has been the subject of legislative debate, footage from these systems - as well as from private security cameras, dashcams, and nearby business surveillance systems - can be critical evidence in establishing which driver had the green light at the time of the crash.

This footage is not preserved indefinitely. Surveillance systems routinely overwrite older recordings, sometimes within days. If you have been injured in an intersection accident, contacting an attorney promptly helps ensure that a preservation letter is sent to relevant parties before footage is lost.

Florida Right-of-Way Laws

Florida's traffic statutes establish clear right-of-way rules at intersections. Drivers must obey traffic signals and stop signs. Left-turning drivers must yield to oncoming traffic. Drivers entering an intersection on a green light have the right of way over those making turns. When a driver violates these rules and causes an accident, that violation may be used as evidence of negligence in a civil claim.

Comparative Negligence at Intersections

Under Florida's modified comparative negligence system (F.S. §768.81), insurance companies may argue that you share fault for the intersection accident - for example, claiming you were driving too fast, were distracted, or failed to exercise caution when entering the intersection. If you are found 51% or more at fault, you recover nothing. Strong evidence from traffic cameras, witnesses, and police reports is essential for countering these arguments.

Common Injuries in Intersection Crashes

Intersection accidents frequently involve T-bone or angular impacts, where the striking vehicle hits the side of the other vehicle. Because vehicle doors and side panels provide less protection than the front or rear, occupants on the struck side are particularly vulnerable. Common injuries include:

• Traumatic brain injuries - from head impact with side windows, pillars, or intruding vehicle structures
• Broken ribs and pelvis fractures - from direct lateral impact force
• Spinal injuries - from rotational forces in angular collisions
• Soft tissue injuries - whiplash, herniated discs, and torn ligaments
• Lacerations and contusions - from shattered glass and vehicle deformation

Remember: under F.S. §627.736, you must seek medical treatment within 14 days of the accident to preserve your PIP benefits. The statute of limitations for filing a personal injury lawsuit is two years (F.S. §95.11(3)).