Car Accident Happened at a Stop Sign–Can I File a Personal Injury Claim?

In terms of popularity, the “stop sign” is one of the most recognized traffic control signals on Indiana’s roadways. Whether you see them on highways and county roads, or in neighborhoods and parking lots, stop signs appear everywhere throughout the Hoosier state.

Of course, the same is true across the U.S., as the stop sign is one of the first signals ever to be used to help direct vehicle traffic. In fact, the history of the stop sign dates its first appearance on U.S. roadways all the way back to 1915.

Yet, despite its longevity, mass existence, and iconic shape and color, it also continues to serve as the location and key piece of evidence in many Indiana car accidents that can result in a wide range of injuries.

If your car accident happened at or near a stop sign, you may be within your rights to file a personal injury claim with the liable party’s insurance company. The latest Boulton Law Group blog offers a few tips for you to consider before contacting or speaking with the insurance company.

I Was Injured at a Stop Sign–Can I File a Personal Injury Claim?

Generally speaking, if, through no fault of your own, you sustained injuries in a ‘stop sign’ car accident, Indiana law gives you the right to seek compensation for your damages. But, as is often the case, there are exceptions and stipulations–let’s take a look at some of the most important factors.

Car Accident Liability–What Caused the Collision?

The question in many stop sign car accident cases: “Which driver had the right-of-way?”. Establishing liability is key to determining if you will be able to file a successful personal injury claim.

Liability can be a source of disagreement in Indiana ‘stop sign’ car accident cases. It’s no surprise, given the combination of 2-way stops, 4-way stops, single-sign stops, and multiple intersection configurations.

As such, a number of ‘stop sign’ car accident cases result in drivers having differing accounts of what happened or who had the right-of-way.

Under Indiana law, a person may seek compensation for their damages if they are no more than 50% at fault for the car accident.

And who/what makes a determination regarding liability?

When a car accident occurs at a stop sign a number of sources may help to determine liability, such as:

• Indiana accident report(s)
• Crash site evidence
• Attorney investigation(s)
• Insurance company investigation(s)
• Witness accounts
• Camera footage, etc.

Attorney Matt Boulton had handled several stop sign car accident cases for injured Hoosiers, and the majority of cases he has investigated on his clients’ behalf resulted in them having no liability for the collision.

Did You Sustain Injuries?

‘Stop sign’ car accidents may result in any number of injury types, however, without documented medical treatment for these injuries, receiving maximum compensation for a personal injury claim may not be possible.

Insurance companies will require proof of your injuries and treatment, such as physical therapy and/or direction from a primary care physician.

Additionally, if you sustained injuries and do not follow your doctor’s orders, it can negatively affect the value of your personal injury claim.

Locating Liability Insurance

Indiana law requires every driver to carry liability insurance coverage on their vehicle, however, a large number of Hoosier drivers fail to do so.

One of Matt’s first steps in any car accident investigation is to locate all possible sources of liability insurance that will cover his clients’ damages. In some instances, it’s a fairly straightforward process, however, certain cases involve a much more complicated legal search.

In the event that there is no applicable insurance for the defendant driver and/or vehicle, Matt typically files an uninsured car accident claim through his client’s insurance policy.

Indiana Stop Sign Car Accident Example

In the following example, a quick mistake regarding “right-of-way” resulted in a collision between two vehicles resulting in injury and significant property damage:

According to the Hendricks County Sheriff’s Department, the driver of vehicle 1 (V1) was traveling eastbound on County Road 350 N, approaching the intersection of County Road 500 E, when the driver of vehicle 2 (V2) pulled out in front of him, causing him to strike V2.

V2 stated he was northbound on Country Road 500 E at the stop sign of the County Road 350 N intersection. V2 said that he “thought it was a 4-way stop,” so he continued through the intersection, resulting in V1 striking V2.

The driver of a third vehicle (V3) was sitting behind V2 at the time of the collision. This driver confirmed the events as stated by V2. The result of the initial collision caused V1 to continue through the intersection and into V3, resulting in damage to all 3 vehicles.

As a result of the collision, a passenger in V1 sustained injury that required an ambulance to take them to a local area hospital for further evaluation. Additionally, V1 and V2’s property damage required both vehicles to be towed.

In this instance, V2’s admission to “thinking” it was a 4-way stop is a significant factor in determining liability. As well, because V1 was speeding, operating under the influence, or found to have any other contributory negligence, they should have zero liability under Indiana law.

Indiana Personal Injury Attorney

If you’ve been injured in a ‘stop sign’ car accident, you may be entitled to compensation that can cover your medical bills, missed wages, and pain and suffering.

An experienced Indiana personal injury attorney can help you to identify your exact damages as well as provide insight as to what your case may be worth.

Attorney Matt Boulton has 25+ years’ experience helping injured Hoosiers throughout the state. As a result, Boulton Law Group has been recognized by its peers and clients as one of Indiana’s leaders in personal injury law.

If you’d like to learn more about your legal rights and possible right to compensation, you can send the details of your accident to Boulton Law Group by using the firm’s confidential, free contact form.