The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton are here to help the people of Provo in their time of legal need. After a serious accident or injury, an experienced lawyer can help you hold negligent people or parties accountable. We have helped countless people following serious injuries from car accidents and other incidents.
A number of accidents occur when people fail to abide by traffic laws. Right now, we want to consider the dangers posed by people who run stop signs.
Why Running Stop Signs Is So Dangerous
Stop signs are there to keep everyone safe and to ensure all people on the road recognize proper safety and right of way. Given how intersections can be a source of serious collisions, it makes sense that stop signs are intended to keep us safe.
When people run stop signs, they put themselves, their passengers, other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians at risk. In many cases, these stop signs are on smaller streets or suburban streets, meaning that vehicles travel at lower speeds. Yet don’t let the reduced speed fool you; accidents even at low speeds can result in serious injuries, and sometimes even fatal ones.
Statistics on Running Stop Signs
According to data from the Federal Highway Administration, there are roughly 2.5 million accidents in intersections that occur in a given year. This account for around 40 percent of all car crashes annually. Other data notes that 50 percent of all serious collisions occur in intersections; 20 percent of all fatal collisions also occur in intersections.
Causes of Running Stop Signs
There are a number of reasons why a person may fail to stop at a stop sign or roll through a stop sign. These include the following:
- Texting while driving
- Distracted driving
- Driver inattention
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Being impatient or in a rush
- Stop sign is obscured (by trees, for instance)
- Poor placement of the stop sign
- Lack of lines indicating a stop
- Missing stop sign
- Poor weather
Be a Courteous and Cautious Driver
Whenever you are behind the wheel, be sure to abide by common sense traffic laws. Always make sure to come to a complete stop when you come to a stop sign. Avoid rolling stops, as these can lead to accidental collisions if pedestrians and bicyclists are present. Yield the right of way to pedestrians and bicyclists. It’s also a good idea to look both ways before proceeding through an intersection, since you’ll be able to note any oncoming traffic nearby.
How Our Attorneys Can Help
If you or someone you love has been seriously injured as a result of someone running a stop sign, our team of attorneys can help you in your time of legal need. Our lawyers will hold the negligent motorist accountable for their actions, seeking damages for vehicle damages, medical bills, and other losses related to the crash. The peace of mind we offer can be crucial following a serious collision.
Speak with Skilled Auto Accident Lawyers
For more information about your legal rights and options following a serious motor vehicle collision, be sure to contact our team of personal injury attorneys today. The lawyers of Flickinger Sutterfield & Boulton are here to help you in your time of legal need.