September 9, 2026

What You Need to Know The driver who ran a light, ignored a stop sign, or failed to yield may be responsible for an intersection crash. A left-turning driver is not automatically responsible for every collision. Traffic-signal records, video, witnesses, vehicle data, and impact damage can help establish who had the right of way. Florida may divide responsibility when more than one person contributed to the crash. Getting medical care and preserving evidence quickly can protect your health and your claim. Had a bad day? Call The Reyes Firm at 833-4 BAD DAY ((833) 422-3329)  Two drivers can leave the same crash with completely different stories. One says the light was green. The other says the first driver turned directly into traffic. Meanwhile, you may be in pain, your car may be badly damaged, and an insurance adjuster may already be asking questions. A Tampa intersection accident lawyer can investigate what happened instead of relying only on competing statements. At The Reyes Firm, we examine signals, vehicle movements, video, witness accounts, physical damage, and every party that may share responsibility. SCHEDULE A FREE CASE REVIEW If you need broader information about motor vehicle claims, our Tampa car accident attorney page explains how we help injured drivers and passengers throughout Tampa, FL. Who Is Usually at Fault in a Tampa Intersection Accident? The responsible party is usually the driver whose unsafe action caused or contributed to the collision. That may be someone who entered against a red light, failed to stop, made an unsafe turn, sped into the intersection, or failed to yield. The evidence, not the type of impact alone, determines fault. Common intersection crashes include: Red-light and stop-sign collisions Unsafe left-turn crashes Right-turn-on-red crashes T-bone and side-impact collisions Rear-end crashes near traffic signals Pedestrian and bicycle collisions Multi-vehicle chain reactions The following table shows why responsibility must be investigated case by case: Crash situation Who may be responsible Evidence that may help A driver enters on red The driver who disobeyed the signal Video, witnesses, signal records, vehicle data A vehicle turns left across traffic The turning driver, approaching driver, or both Signal phase, speed, sight distance, impact location A driver turns right on red The turning driver if they failed to stop or yield Crosswalk video, witnesses, dashcam footage Two vehicles reach a four-way stop A driver who failed to stop or yield Arrival order, video, witnesses, damage patterns Several vehicles collide One or more drivers, owners, or businesses Order of impacts, vehicle data, reconstruction A signal malfunctions A driver, contractor, or responsible road agency Maintenance records, complaints, timing data   💡 Did You Know? FLHSMV’s 2024 Florida Traffic Crash Facts report recorded more than 314,000 intersection crashes statewide. Those crashes involved 982 fatalities and more than 5,300 incapacitating injuries. These figures show how serious intersection crashes can be, but fault depends on the facts of each case. Review the FLHSMV 2024 Traffic Crash Facts report. Does the police report decide who is responsible? A police report is valuable, but it may not resolve a disputed injury claim. The responding officer may not have seen the collision and may not have access to later evidence, such as business video, event data recorder information, phone records, or signal records. A traffic citation can also support an investigation without deciding the full civil case. Insurers, attorneys, experts, and courts may review information that was unavailable at the scene. Is the Left-Turning Driver Always Responsible? No. Florida generally requires a left-turning driver to yield to approaching traffic that is already in the intersection or close enough to present an immediate hazard. Still, an approaching driver may share responsibility if that person entered against a signal, drove too fast, changed lanes unsafely, or failed to take reasonable action. Florida Statute § 316.122 addresses the duty of a driver turning left. Applying that rule requires more than looking at which vehicle was turning. Investigators may ask: Did the turning driver have a protected green arrow? Was the driver facing a solid green light or a flashing yellow arrow? How far away was the approaching vehicle when the turn began? Was the approaching driver speeding or distracted? Did another vehicle block either driver’s view? Where did the vehicles first make contact? The difference between a protected and permissive turn matters. A green arrow permits the driver to proceed in the indicated direction, subject to people or vehicles lawfully within the intersection. A solid green light may allow a left turn, but the driver must still yield to approaching traffic and pedestrians when required. Speed can also change the analysis. An approaching driver may appear far enough away for a safe turn but close the distance much faster than expected. NHTSA reports that speeding contributed to 29% of all traffic fatalities in 2024. Read NHTSA’s speeding and aggressive-driving information. For more information about side-impact collisions, read our guide to T-bone accidents in Florida. How Can You Prove Which Driver Had the Green Light? The strongest proof may come from records created before, during, or immediately after the crash. Video can show the signal or vehicle movements. Signal timing can establish which directions received permission to proceed. Vehicle data, physical damage, and witness accounts can then help reconstruct the final seconds before impact. Useful evidence may include: Traffic, dashcam, doorbell, or business surveillance video Independent witness statements Photographs of signals, signs, lane arrows, debris, and skid marks Event data recorder information showing speed, braking, and throttle use Traffic-signal phase and timing plans Signal controller, inspection, and maintenance records Mobile phone and GPS records obtained through proper legal procedures Vehicle damage and accident reconstruction findings What are traffic-signal phase and timing records? These records may show how a signal was programmed to cycle through green, yellow, red, and turn-arrow phases. They may help investigators determine which movements could have received a green signal at the same time. The agency maintaining the intersection may also have inspection records, repair history, or malfunction reports. Record availability varies, so