Who’s Liable for Accidents Caused by Faulty Traffic Signals?
A green light is supposed to be a promise — a guarantee that it is safe to move through an intersection. When that promise is broken by a malfunctioning signal, the results can be catastrophic. According to the Federal Highway Administration, roughly one-quarter of all traffic fatalities and about half of all traffic injuries in the United States occur at intersections, making proper signal function a matter of life and death.
If you were hurt in a crash caused by a faulty traffic signal, the question of who is responsible is far more complicated than a standard car accident claim. At Younglove Law Group, our car accident attorneys have extensive experience investigating these cases, identifying the parties at fault, and fighting to recover the compensation our clients deserve.
Who Is Responsible for Traffic Signal Maintenance?
Traffic signals are typically owned and maintained by a government agency. In California, that responsibility can fall on a city, county, or the state’s Department of Transportation, depending on which roadway the signal controls. When a signal malfunctions and causes an accident, that agency may be held liable if it failed to keep the signal in safe working condition.
Government Liability for Signal Failures
Holding a government entity accountable is not automatic. To establish liability, you generally need to show that the responsible agency had notice of the malfunction — either actual notice, meaning someone reported it, or constructive notice, meaning the problem had existed long enough that a reasonable agency should have discovered it. You must also show that the agency failed to act within a reasonable time to address the hazard. This requires reviewing maintenance logs, inspection records, and prior complaints about the signal.
It is important to note that filing a claim against a government entity in California comes with strict procedural requirements. Unlike standard personal injury claims, you typically have only six months from the date of your injury to file a government tort claim. Missing this deadline can permanently bar you from pursuing compensation, which is why speaking with an injury claims attorney as soon as possible is so important.
When Private Parties Share Liability
Government agencies are not always the only party responsible for a faulty traffic signal. In some cases, private companies or contractors may also bear responsibility.
Manufacturers and Installation Contractors
If a signal malfunction was caused by a defect in the equipment itself, the manufacturer of that equipment may face a product liability claim. Similarly, if a contractor installed or repaired the signal and did so negligently, that contractor could also be held accountable. Identifying whether the failure was due to poor maintenance, defective parts, or improper installation is a critical step in determining who is at fault.
Other Drivers at the Scene
Even when a signal malfunctions, other drivers retain a duty to operate their vehicles safely. California law requires drivers to treat a completely dark or non-functioning signal as a four-way stop. If another driver ran through the intersection without yielding and struck your vehicle, that driver may also share liability for your injuries. California’s pure comparative fault rule means that multiple parties can be assigned a percentage of fault, and each may owe compensation proportional to their responsibility.
What Compensation Can You Recover?
Accidents caused by faulty traffic signals often result in serious injuries. Depending on the circumstances of your collision, you may be entitled to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. In cases involving government negligence, the amount of compensation available can be subject to certain limitations under California law, making it even more valuable to have an attorney calculate the full scope of your damages from the start.
When building your claim, our attorneys gather key evidence that includes surveillance footage from nearby businesses or traffic cameras, public maintenance records, witness statements, and crash reconstruction analysis. Our attorneys also act quickly, knowing that signal malfunction evidence can disappear fast and that government claims have tight filing deadlines.
Contact Younglove Law Group After a Traffic Signal Accident
Traffic signal malfunction cases require a level of investigative depth and legal knowledge that goes well beyond a typical collision claim. Younglove Law Group has recovered millions of dollars for accident victims throughout California, and our attorneys bring more than 20 years of combined experience to every case they handle.
When government negligence or defective equipment puts you at risk, you deserve attorneys who will dig into the details, meet every deadline, and refuse to let liable parties off the hook. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, meaning you owe us nothing unless we recover compensation for you. If you were injured in a crash involving a faulty signal, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our Younglove Law Group attorneys.
