You know what happened: the light was green, you entered the intersection, and another driver hit you. But now the driver claims they had the green light. When stories conflict after an intersection crash, proving what happened can depend on evidence that may not remain available indefinitely. A Charlotte intersection accident lawyer can act quickly to identify traffic camera footage, nearby surveillance video, eyewitnesses, police records, and other evidence that may establish who had the right of way.
At Mehta & McConnell Injury Lawyers, Viral Mehta and Jason McConnell spent years representing insurance companies before representing injured people. They understand how insurers investigate disputed-fault accidents and how important strong evidence can be when each driver tells a different story.
You can reach our lawyers at 980-326-2270.
Key Takeaways
- Intersection crashes often come down to conflicting stories. When both drivers claim the green light, independent evidence like traffic or surveillance footage, eyewitnesses, and signal timing information becomes critical.
- Contributory negligence raises the stakes. North Carolina generally follows this doctrine, so the other driver’s insurer may argue you contributed to the crash to prevent you from recovering damages.
- A camera at the intersection does not guarantee usable footage. Charlotte has hundreds of traffic surveillance cameras, but footage may not have been recorded or retained, and nearby private cameras and dashcams can be just as important.
- Evidence can disappear quickly. An attorney can send preservation requests before video is deleted or overwritten, and you should also request the CMPD accident report early.
- A police report is only one piece of the case. If the officer did not witness the crash, a Charlotte intersection accident lawyer can investigate further to determine which driver violated the signal or failed to yield.
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When Both Drivers Claim They Had the Green Light
A red-light or stop-sign collision can quickly become a credibility dispute. The other driver’s insurer may argue that there is not enough evidence to establish fault. It may even contend that you contributed to the crash. That is especially significant because North Carolina generally follows the doctrine of contributory negligence, which can prevent an injured person from recovering damages if their own negligence contributed to the accident.
That makes independent evidence critical.
An investigation may include:
- Traffic signal or surveillance footage,
- Video from nearby businesses and homes,
- Dashcam footage,
- Eyewitness statements,
- Crash-scene and vehicle photographs,
- Vehicle event data,
- Signal timing information, and
- A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) accident report.
The sooner that investigation begins, the better the opportunity to preserve evidence before it is deleted, overwritten, or otherwise unavailable.
How an Intersection Accident Lawyer Can Preserve Camera Evidence
Charlotte operates an extensive traffic signal network. According to the Charlotte Department of Transportation (CDOT), its Signal Systems team manages traffic signals and coordinated systems throughout the city. CDOT reports that the system includes more than 900 signalized intersections and more than 500 traffic surveillance cameras.
However, the presence of a camera does not necessarily mean that a crash was recorded or that footage remains available. An attorney can investigate whether relevant footage exists and determine who controls it.
Private surveillance can be equally important. A gas station, restaurant, apartment complex, office, parking lot, or residence near the intersection may have a camera facing the roadway. Dashcams and other vehicles may also have recorded the collision. A red light accident lawyer in Charlotte, NC, can work to identify these potential sources and send preservation requests before useful video disappears.
North Carolina Right-of-Way Laws at Intersections
North Carolina law establishes several important intersection rules that address traffic-control signals, stop signs, and yield signs. Among other requirements, drivers facing stop signs generally must stop and yield as required by the statute. Drivers facing steady red traffic signals generally must stop and remain stopped until permitted to proceed, subject to exceptions such as certain lawful turns.
Regarding right-of-way at intersections, when two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different highways at approximately the same time, the driver on the left generally must yield to the vehicle on the right.
The statute also addresses left turns. A driver intending to turn left must yield to a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction when that vehicle is already in the intersection or close enough to constitute an immediate hazard.
A failure-to-yield accident attorney in Charlotte can compare these rules with the physical evidence, witness accounts, video, and signal information to determine how the crash occurred.
Get the CMPD Accident Report Quickly
If CMPD responded to your collision, obtaining the accident report should be an early step. CMPD provides crash reports to qualifying drivers, passengers, registered vehicle owners, and other authorized parties. Reports may be obtained through CMPD’s crash-report system or LexisNexis.
The report may contain driver and vehicle information, a crash diagram, officer observations, contributing circumstances, and witness information. But a police report is only one piece of evidence. If the responding officer did not personally witness the crash, additional investigation may be necessary to determine which driver actually violated the signal.
What to Do After a Charlotte Intersection Accident
After getting necessary medical care, preserve everything you have from the crash. Keep photographs, videos, witness information, medical records, insurance correspondence, and documents relating to missed work.
Then consider having an attorney investigate evidence you cannot easily obtain yourself.
Mehta & McConnell can investigate potential traffic and surveillance cameras, eyewitnesses, CMPD records, right-of-way violations, and other evidence while handling communications with insurance companies.
If a lawsuit becomes necessary, a Charlotte injury case may proceed through the North Carolina court system in Mecklenburg County, depending on the circumstances and jurisdiction.
For more information about Charlotte motor vehicle claims, visit our Charlotte car accident lawyer page.
Talk to an Intersection Accident Lawyer Before Evidence Disappears
When both drivers claim they had the right-of-way, waiting can make proving your case harder.
Viral Mehta and Jason McConnell have 40 years of combined experience and have previously worked on the insurance defense side. Today, they use that experience to represent injured people and understand how insurers evaluate, challenge, and defend accident claims.
If you were injured at a red light, stop sign, or other Charlotte intersection, contact Mehta & McConnell Injury Lawyers. An intersection accident lawyer can investigate what happened and move quickly to determine whether traffic camera footage, private surveillance video, and other evidence can still be preserved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Is at Fault When Two Drivers Both Claim They Had a Green Light in Charlotte?
Fault depends on the available evidence. Traffic or surveillance video, eyewitness accounts, vehicle damage, crash-scene evidence, signal information, and the CMPD report may help establish which driver had the right of way. Because North Carolina follows contributory negligence principles, careful investigation of disputed fault accidents is particularly important.
Can I Sue the City of Charlotte If a Poorly Designed or Maintained Intersection Caused My Accident?
Possibly, but claims involving government entities raise different legal issues than ordinary negligence claims, including governmental immunity and procedural requirements. An attorney must first determine which government agency controlled the roadway or traffic signal and whether the facts support a viable claim.
How Do Red Light Cameras and Traffic Surveillance Videos Help Prove Fault at a Charlotte Intersection?
Video may show vehicle movements, lane positions, the sequence of events, and potentially traffic-signal information. CDOT operates hundreds of traffic surveillance cameras, but a camera’s presence does not guarantee that footage was recorded or retained. Nearby private surveillance cameras may also provide valuable evidence.
What Is the Most Dangerous Intersection in Charlotte for Car Accidents?
There is no single answer without defining the time period and measurement being used. Crash totals, crash rates, fatalities, and serious injuries can produce different rankings. NCDOT provides crash data for specific intersections and roadway segments, while Charlotte identifies roads with concentrations of serious and fatal crashes through its Vision Zero and High Injury Network efforts.
How Does a Left-Turn Fault Work Under North Carolina Right-of-Way Laws?
A driver turning left generally must yield to oncoming vehicles that are already within the intersection or close enough to constitute an immediate hazard. Fault still depends on the circumstances. Speeding, traffic signals, lane movements, and other driver conduct can affect the analysis.
Legal References Used to Inform This Page
To ensure the accuracy and clarity of this page, we referenced official legal resources during the content development process
- Charlotte Department of Transportation – Operations, implementation and signal system
- N.C.G.S. § 20-158 – Intersection rules
- N.C.G.S. § 20-155 – Right of way
- CMPD’s crash-report system
- North Carolina Department of Transportation – Crash data
- City of Charlotte – Vision Zero
- City of Charlotte – High Injury Network