Running a red light and the importance of CCTV evidence

Paul was cycling through Glasgow city centre on an evening journey towards Glasgow Central Station. He was travelling along Renfield Street, approaching the traffic light-controlled junction with St Vincent Street.

Those familiar with Glasgow will know that at most times of the day and night this is a particularly busy part of the city with significant vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The time and date of Paul’s accident were no exception.

Paul was cycling down Renfield Street and planning to turn right onto St Vincent Street at the traffic lights. At this point, the road consists of four lanes of one-way traffic, controlled by phased signals. Paul was an experienced cyclist, wearing high-visibility clothing, a helmet, and using front and rear lights.

As he entered the junction and began his right turn manoeuvre, something struck the rear of his bicycle. He has no clear memory of the collision itself. Paul would later discover that he had been struck by a driver of a car that had run through a red light.

We worked closely with the police, initially obtaining the CRaSH report. This provided us with the third-party details and allowed us to intimate a claim against the relevant insurer. We also secured CCTV footage from two separate camera angles covering the junction.

The footage proved to be critical. (It can be viewed here).

One camera showed Paul approaching and proceeding through the junction in a controlled and consistent manner. A second camera captured the collision more clearly, including the movement of surrounding vehicles.

Importantly, the footage demonstrated that Paul was travelling through the junction on a green light. Other vehicles in the same direction continued through the junction in the same manner, while the third-party vehicle entered the junction when it was unsafe to do so.

Although the footage did not clearly show the colour of the traffic lights themselves due to distance, the sequencing of the signals, together with the movement of surrounding traffic on such a busy road, painted a clear and compelling picture. We were therefore satisfied that, on the balance of probabilities, the driver of the car had proceeded through a red light.

During his recovery, Paul began to suffer from a significant and persistent urological condition linked to the accident.

We instructed a specialist expert to assess this issue and its impact. Given the severity of his symptoms, and the lengthy waiting times for treatment, urgent intervention was required.

To ensure Paul received timely care, we took proactive steps to secure an interim payment for him.

When the third party failed to engage meaningfully, we raised court proceedings at an early stage and utilised procedural mechanisms to apply pressure for the interim payment.

Shortly after lodging a motion for interim damages, the defender agreed to release funds. This allowed Paul the option of proceeding with private treatment without delay, avoiding an approximate 12-month wait within the NHS system.