sharp-bison-5895/12/2026

Intersection crash — light was yellow when I entered, now other driver says I ran red

Still shaking a little writing this out, honestly.

So here's what happened: I was heading through an intersection last week, and the light was yellow when I entered — I'm sure of it. I was slowing down from maybe 25mph because I was about to turn into a shopping center on the other side. So I'm mid-intersection, going slow, when a truck coming the opposite direction just launches through on what must have been his fresh green and clips my rear quarter panel hard enough to spin me halfway around.

His insurance is already saying I ran a red. Mine is doing that non-committal thing where they won't really say anything useful.

Here's what's eating at me:

The light was yellow when my front bumper crossed the stop line. I was already in the intersection.
The truck showed zero signs of slowing — no skid marks, nothing. He just gunned it the second his light changed.
There's a gas station on the corner that might have a camera angle on the intersection but I don't know who to call about that.

Does yellow-when-you-enter actually protect you legally? Or is this just going to come down to he-said-she-said? I've got a neck strain diagnosis from urgent care and my car is probably totaled.

Has anyone dealt with a disputed-light situation like this? What actually matters when both drivers think they had the right of way?

9 replies

Most helpful first

brave-wolf-0845/12/2026
I went through almost this exact thing two years ago — yellow light, other driver swore I ran it. What ended up saving me was a dashcam on a delivery van that was stopped at the cross street. It had a partial angle on the light. Point is: there are cameras EVERYWHERE that you wouldn't think to check. That gas station is worth pursuing immediately. Footage gets overwritten fast, sometimes within 48-72 hours.
- silent-tern-0335/12/2026
  The other driver's insurance calling you the red-runner this early is a classic opener. They're trying to get you to accept some percentage of fault before any real investigation happens. Don't agree to anything, don't apologize, don't even say 'I think' or 'I believe' when you talk to them — they'll use your hedging language against you. Just say you're still reviewing the facts.
- genuine-grouse-0455/12/2026
  Former adjuster here. When there's no neutral witness and no traffic camera, a lot of these end up split-fault — not because that's fair, but because it's the path of least resistance for both carriers. If you want a different outcome you need evidence. That gas station camera is your best shot right now. Call them directly and ask to speak to a manager, explain there was an accident and you need them to preserve footage. Be polite but persistent.
swift-swan-9555/12/2026
Not legal advice, but yellow-light law actually varies by state. In most places, entering on yellow is legal as long as you can't safely stop — but 'legally entered' and 'assigned no fault' are two different things in a comparative negligence state. The camera footage question is genuinely important and time-sensitive. Worth at least a free consult with a PI attorney soon so you understand what you're working with before you say too much to either insurer.
quick-finch-9305/12/2026
A few things worth documenting right now if you haven't:

1. Write down everything you remember about the light, your speed, where exactly you were in the intersection when impact happened — with as much detail as possible. Do it today while it's fresh. 2. Photograph the skid mark situation (or absence of skid marks) at the scene if you can still get there. 3. Send a written request (email is fine) to the gas station preserving any video — this creates a paper trail if they later claim it was deleted.

Timing matters a lot in disputed-fault cases.
calm-wren-6455/12/2026
Please don't blow off the neck strain even if you feel like it's 'not that bad.' Soft tissue injuries from intersection crashes can feel manageable the first week and then get significantly worse around days 7-14 as inflammation peaks. Follow up with your actual doctor, not just urgent care, and get it documented properly. I've seen people settle quickly thinking they're fine and then really regret it a few months later.
humble-swan-0335/12/2026
Genuine question — was anyone else in your car, or any pedestrians on the corner who might have seen the light? Also, did you give a recorded statement to either insurance company yet? Curious what you've already told them because that can matter a lot for how this plays out.
steady-crow-6325/12/2026
I know it feels overwhelming right now but honestly you're doing the right things — you went to urgent care, you're asking questions, you're thinking about camera footage. A lot of people just accept whatever the insurance company says in the first week and end up regretting it. You're already ahead of where I was when this happened to me.
warm-hare-4305/12/2026
Two things: get a lawyer involved before you give any more statements, and get to that gas station today, not tomorrow. Everything else can wait. Those are your two moves right now.