Hit by a red-light runner in Oklahoma City: the law and the proof

What Oklahoma's signal law says

Oklahoma's traffic-signal statute, 47 O.S. § 11-202, explains what each light means for drivers:

• Steady red: stop "at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection." Then remain stopped until a signal to proceed is shown (§ 11-202(3)(a)).
• Right on red (and left from one-way to one-way): allowed after the stop, unless a sign prohibits it. The turning driver must yield to pedestrians in an adjacent crosswalk and to "other traffic lawfully using the intersection" (§ 11-202(3)(b)).
• Steady yellow: warns that the green movement "is being terminated" or that a red "will be exhibited immediately thereafter" (§ 11-202(2)(a)).
• Green: traffic may proceed, but still yields to vehicles and pedestrians lawfully within the intersection when the signal changes (§ 11-202(1)(a)).

That last point matters. A green light gives you the right to proceed, but it doesn't erase the duty to yield to someone already lawfully in the intersection.

Source: 47 O.S. § 11-202, https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=82270 (read on OSCN 2026-10-28)

Proving who had the light

Red-light crashes often come down to conflicting stories: each driver says the light was theirs. Evidence that can settle the question:

• Independent witnesses: other drivers, pedestrians or passengers. Get names and numbers at the scene if you can.
• Video: business cameras, doorbell cameras, bus or rideshare dashcams, and your own dashcam. Private video is often overwritten within days, so ask early.
• Signal timing: the timing plan and any logs for that intersection's signal.
• Vehicle event data: speed and braking before impact can show whether a driver was slowing for a light. See vehicle event data after a crash.
• The crash report: the officer's diagram, statements and any citation. A citation isn't the same as a civil finding of fault. See how to get your Oklahoma crash report.

If the signal itself wasn't working. A claim against a city or the state over a signal runs through the Governmental Tort Claims Act. Its exemptions section opens: "The state or a political subdivision shall not be liable if a loss or claim results from:". Paragraph 15 lists the "Absence, condition, location or malfunction of any traffic or road sign, signal or warning device unless the absence, condition, location or malfunction is not corrected by the state or political subdivision responsible within a reasonable time after actual or constructive notice…" (51 O.S. § 155(15)). Written notice is due within one year (51 O.S. § 156). Whether that applies is a question for a lawyer.

Sources: 51 O.S. § 155, https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=552627 (current version; text per the 2026-10-28 OSCN browser check) ; 51 O.S. § 156, https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=436958

What if both drivers share some fault?

Oklahoma compares negligence:

• Your own negligence doesn't bar recovery unless it is of greater degree than the negligence of the person, or the combined negligence of the people, who caused the harm (23 O.S. § 13).
• If you can recover, your damages are reduced in proportion to your share (23 O.S. § 14).

Even a driver who had a green light can be asked whether they kept a proper lookout, or whether they were speeding or distracted. See who is at fault after an Oklahoma car accident.

Sources: 23 O.S. § 13, https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=71131 ; 23 O.S. § 14, https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=71132

Turning on red, and crashes with turning drivers

If a driver turned right on red and hit you, the question is whether that driver yielded to "other traffic lawfully using the intersection" after stopping (§ 11-202(3)(b)). If you were hit while turning left on a green, see left-turn crashes at a signal. That page covers Oklahoma's left-turn yield rule, 47 O.S. § 11-402.

If a driver hit you while you were crossing on foot, see pedestrian crashes in Oklahoma City. If the driver who ran the light was a teen, see crashes with a teen driver.

What to do after a red-light crash in OKC

1. Give your information and reasonable help to anyone injured. In a crash that injures or kills someone or damages a vehicle someone is driving or attending, each driver must give their name, address and vehicle registration number, show their driver license and security verification form on request, and give reasonable assistance to anyone injured (47 O.S. § 10-104). If anyone is hurt, notify police "by the quickest means of communication" (47 O.S. § 10-107).
2. Note the reporting agency. In Oklahoma City, it may be the Oklahoma City Police Department or the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.
3. Photograph the signal heads, the stop lines, the vehicles' final positions and any debris, if it's safe.
4. Ask witnesses to stay or to share contact details. Witnesses often leave before police arrive.
5. Write down what you saw about the light as soon as you can. Then don't speculate with insurers. See insurance calls after a wreck.
6. Get medical care and keep records. See who pays medical bills after a wreck.

Sources: 47 O.S. § 10-104, https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=82248 ; 47 O.S. § 10-107, https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=82251

Whose insurance applies

The at-fault driver's liability coverage is usually the first source. Oklahoma requires liability coverage (47 O.S. § 7-601). If the red-light runner had no insurance, or not enough, or drove away, your uninsured-motorist (UM) coverage may apply unless it was rejected in writing (36 O.S. § 3636). See uninsured motorist claims. For car repairs, see property damage and rental cars. For how losses are measured and what can reduce them, see what shapes car accident compensation.

Sources: 47 O.S. § 7-601, https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=82225 ; 36 O.S. § 3636, https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=87144

Deadlines

For most Oklahoma injury claims, the lawsuit deadline is two years (12 O.S. § 95(A)(3)). A crash with a government vehicle has written-notice rules that come sooner. See Oklahoma car accident deadlines.

Source: 12 O.S. § 95, https://www.oscn.net/applications/oscn/DeliverDocument.asp?CiteID=439150

Common questions

Who is at fault when someone runs a red light in Oklahoma?

A driver facing a steady red must stop and remain stopped until a signal to proceed is shown (47 O.S. § 11-202(3)(a)). Fault still turns on the evidence, and Oklahoma compares each driver's negligence (23 O.S. §§ 13–14).

What if the other driver says I ran the light?

Then evidence decides it: witnesses, video, signal timing, vehicle data and the crash report. Preserve what you can early.

Can I turn right on red in Oklahoma?

Yes, after stopping, unless a sign prohibits it. You must yield to pedestrians in an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic lawfully using the intersection (47 O.S. § 11-202(3)(b)).

Does a green light mean I have no fault?

Not necessarily. Drivers on a green still yield to vehicles and pedestrians lawfully in the intersection (47 O.S. § 11-202(1)(a)), and speed or distraction can be raised.

What if the red-light runner had no insurance?

Your uninsured-motorist coverage may pay for injuries unless it was rejected in writing (36 O.S. § 3636).

What to do next: see Oklahoma City car accident questions and next steps.

Information, not legal advice. Every crash is different.