Collisions Caused By Stop Sign Violations

Stop signs are used to help motorists determine who needs to yield the right-of-way at an intersection. Unfortunately, not all drivers abide by these traffic control devices, which can have devastating consequences for other motorists and pedestrians on the road. When there is evidence of this type of negligence, however, injured parties are often able to recover compensation from the at-fault driver’s insurer.

Running a Stop Sign

All Florida drivers must comply with a wide range of traffic laws. Drivers are, for instance, required to come to a complete stop before the marked line on the road near a stop sign, unless there is no marked line, in which case, the driver must come to a complete stop before entering the intersection. Once stopped, drivers must stay in the same position until it is their turn to move forward. Failing to comply with these rules by “running a stop sign” is unlawful and can result in serious accidents.

Why Drivers Run Stop Signs

Drivers unlawfully pass traffic signs for a number of reasons. For instance, a driver may have merely been impatient and not wanted to wait to stop, going straight through the stop sign or “rolling” through the stop by failing to come to a complete stop. Alternatively, a driver may have been distracted and due to inattention, driven through the stop sign without noticing. Still other drivers don’t stop because they are impaired or because they were speeding and couldn’t come to a stop in time. In some cases, poor weather, like heavy rain or fog could cause a driver to miss a stop sign, especially if he or she was in an unfamiliar area. As these examples show, failing to halt at a stop sign can usually be attributed to driver error.

Who Else Can be Held Liable for Stop Sign Violations?

Drivers aren’t always the only ones who can be held liable for an accident stemming from a stop sign violation. If a person drove through a stop sign, for instance, because it was hidden from a driver’s view, then he or she could escape liability for the collision. A sign could be difficult to see for a number of reasons, including because the sign was:

• Vandalized;
• Bent or knocked over;
• Backward or twisted around;
• Broken in half or partially missing; or
• Blocked by a tree, bush, or hedge.

Of these problems, the last may be the most common. In these cases, injured parties may be able to hold the city (or company responsible for road maintenance)responsible for the crash. Similarly, road crews are tasked with regularly repainting road lines and a failure to do so, resulting in faded or absent markings, could also open a city up to liability.

Retain an Experienced Florida Car Accident Lawyer

If you were hurt in an accident because another driver ran a stop sign, or committed another type of traffic violation, you could be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and vehicle repair costs. For an assessment of your own legal options, please contact the dedicated Florida auto accident lawyers at Boone & Davis by calling 954-566-9919 today.

Sources:

flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2012/0316.123

fdot.gov/docs/default-source/designsupport/highwaybeautification/beauty/LandArch/Landscape-Guide.pdf