Columbia Stop Sign Accident Lawyer
Stop signs are such a common sight that it’s easy to overlook them at intersections. Most people stop on instinct, not because they see the sign. Unfortunately, many motorists speed through an intersection without even coming to a complete stop—or even slowing down. Motorists and pedestrians can end up in the back of an ambulance after a driver hits them at high speeds. Contact a Columbia stop sign accident lawyer at The Stanley Law Group to discuss your accident and whether you can seek financial compensation.
Who is To Blame for Your Wreck?
Accidents are painful and expensive. Our clients often call us because they can’t pay their bills, and they are eager to know if they can receive financial compensation for their accident. The good news is you can—if you can prove someone is at fault.
Here are the most common people to blame for a stop sign accident:
- Careless drivers. A careless driver might fail to stop because he’s in a hurry or he has driven this route so many times he comes to a “rolling stop” instead. Many drivers roll through a stop sign when they are making a right-hand turn, but the law requires that you stop.
- Reckless drivers. Dangerous motorists will race through a stop sign without a care in the world. Maybe they are high or intoxicated, or they are in such a hurry they don’t feel they need to stop. Someone fleeing the cops will probably race through an intersection without stopping.
- Fatigued drivers. Motorists who fall asleep will obviously be oblivious that an intersection is up ahead, so they can hit a pedestrian or a vehicle passing through. Fatigued drivers also are not thinking clearly.
- Government workers. Some stop signs are missing, obscured by tree limbs, or defaced. The government should make sure stop signs are visible. Inexperienced drivers often rely on signs to tell them when to stop. If the sign is missing or defective, then the government could be at fault for the accident.
Our firm can sue a careless or dangerous driver. We might also sue the government for failing to replace a missing stop sign or refusing to pare back branches which obscure the sign.
You should take certain steps after the crash. First, try to get a picture of the stop sign. If it is missing or obscured, we’ll want photographic evidence from the day of the accident. Sometimes the government installs a new sign and pretends it was always there. Second, call the police to report the accident. Many speeding motorists flee the scene, so you might be the victim of a hit and run as well.
We also recommend stopping and swapping personal and insurance details with all motorists. That is what the law requires.
Schedule Your Free Consultation
The Stanley Law Group handles all types of personal injury cases, including those caused by a missing or defective intersection sign. Our Columbia stop sign accident lawyers can provide an overview of the process for obtaining compensation in a free consultation.
