When someone runs a stop sign and causes an accident, it can be hard to prove fault, especially if the other driver denies doing anything wrong. A police report, statements by eyewitnesses, and photos of the accident scene can help build a strong case showing who is liable for your injuries.
Fault in car accidents is usually based on negligence, which is a legal term that means a driver was not as careful as he or she was supposed to be. Running a stop sign is negligent behavior, and the driver may have been negligent in other ways too, such as speeding, driving while intoxicated, or texting instead of watching the road. When a driver is at fault because of negligence, the driver’s insurance company must bear the cost of other people’s injuries and vehicle damage.
What are the rules about stop signs in Georgia?
Georgia’s traffic laws require you to come to a full and complete stop at a stop sign. You should feel the car rock back when you stop – a slow roll is not good enough. You should stop behind the stop line marked on the pavement, if there is one. If there is no stop line, stop before you enter the marked crosswalk. And if there is no stop line or crosswalk, stop in a place where you can see oncoming traffic but have not yet entered the roadway.
Once you have stopped, you should yield right of way to pedestrians crossing your side of the street. You should also yield to any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another roadway, if that vehicle would pose a hazard if you were to enter the intersection.
What should I do if I am in an accident with someone who ran a stop sign?
It’s not unusual for a driver who runs a stop sign to deny doing anything wrong. They may even try to blame you for the accident. This can turn the accident investigation into a “he said, she said” situation, where it’s hard to know who to believe. The other driver’s insurance company will most likely take the other driver’s side to avoid having to pay you any money.
For this reason, it is important to create a record of what happened and protect your rights at the accident scene. The following will help you make a strong case:
- Call the police. No matter what the other driver says, get a police officer on the scene. Be sure to tell the officer clearly that the other driver ran a stop sign. This helps your case by getting your side of the story on the record.
- Take pictures of the accident scene and the damage to the vehicles. Photos can say a lot about the way an accident happened. For example, an absence of skid marks from the other car can help show that the other driver never tried to stop and avoid the accident. The vehicle damage may help show the way the impact occurred.
- Talk to witnesses. Strangers who saw the accident happen and even the passengers in your own car may have seen the other driver run the stop sign. You may also find witnesses who saw the driver blowing through stop signs before coming to the intersection where you were hit. Get witness names and contact information.
- Go to the doctor. A doctor’s diagnosis will help you prove you were injured in the accident. In addition, the sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you can begin treatment that will help shorten your recovery time.
The other important thing to do is to schedule a consultation with a lawyer who has experience with side-impact accidents and other types of accidents that happen at stop signs. A lawyer can advise you on dealing with the insurance company and can start an investigation into the way the accident happened. With a lawyer on your side, it is much more likely that the driver who ran the stop sign will be held accountable and you will recover the full cost of your injuries.
Talk to an Atlanta Car Accident Lawyer for Free
Our lawyers have been representing people injured in stop sign accidents for many years, and we know what it takes to get you the money you deserve. We won’t charge you unless we win money for you. Let us give you a FREE consultation to go over your claim and show you how we can help. Call us at (404) 341-6555 or fill out the form to the right to get your free consultation today.
