Stop Sign Violation Accidents

Unfortunately, people throughout Florida and the United States are injured in accidents involving stop sign violations. When motorists roll through or run stop signs, they put others on the road at risk for serious injuries. If you or someone close to you has been hurt in an accident due to a driver disobeying a stop sign, we can help. At The Lawrence Law Group, our Jacksonville car accident attorneys are experienced in stop sign violation accidents. We will zealously advocate for your rights throughout the entire legal process.

Stop signs are placed at intersections to minimize the risks of accidents. Stop sign accidents typically take place when two vehicles collide because one driver disregards a stop sign and enters the intersection when he or she was not supposed to. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 35 to 40 percent of all motor vehicle accidents take place at intersections. One of the most common causes of these accidents is drivers failing to observe a stop sign by either failing to stop or by stopping then failing to yield to other cars when entering the intersection.

Drivers who commit stop sign violations are legally responsible for any accident they cause. All Florida drivers owe others on the road a duty of care. Focusing on the road and obeying all traffic signals is a basic part of that duty of care. As such, drivers are expected to come to a complete stop at a designated line painted on the roadway before the stop sign, if there is one. If there is no such designated line, the driver must make a full stop prior to the entrance of the intersection.

If you were injured due to a driver’s stop sign violation, you can recover damages by establishing that the other driver was negligent. To do so, your attorney must prove the other driver violated the stop sign and that such violation was the cause of the accident and your resulting injuries. In Florida, a vehicle driver’s violation of a traffic statute constitutes evidence of negligence pursuant to Florida Civil Jury Instruction 401.9. While the statutory violation is to be considered evidence of negligence, it is not conclusive, and a jury is instructed to consider all of the factors involved. Florida Statute § 316.123 provides that vehicles presented with a stop sign must stop and then only proceed into the intersection if there is no other traffic in the roadway.

Once liability is established, the injured party can recover damages from the at-fault party. Recoverable damages include: past and future pain and suffering for the personal injuries sustained; past and future medical expenses, past and future lost wages, and property damage. Having an experienced car accident lawyer is essential to prove the full extent of these losses, especially the losses expected to occur in the future. The amount of compensation that can be recovered will vary in every case based primarily on the severity of the injuries suffered. The damages can be obtained through a settlement or awarded by a jury at trial. While most car accident cases settle without having to go to trial, it is important to hire an attorney with the resources and experience to take your case to trial.

If you have been injured in a car accident involving a driver that committed a stop sign or other traffic violation, it is important to hire an experienced Jacksonville car crash attorney. At The Lawrence Law Group, we are committed to protecting your rights and getting you the compensation you deserve. We proudly serve clients throughout Duval, Clay, Volusia, St. Johns, Baker, Nassau, Flagler, Putnam, Brevard, Union, Columbia, Alachua, Sewanee, Hamilton, and Jefferson Counties. To discuss your case in more detail, please call us 904-632-0077 or contact us online.