Someone Ran a Stop Sign and Hit My Car

When someone runs a stop sign, they have the potential to cause a serious car accident. The most common type of collision resulting from running a stop sign is a “T-bone crash.” Here, “the front of one car strikes the broadside of another, potentially resulting in serious injuries to both drivers and the occupants of their vehicles.” T-Bone car accidents have a fatality rate that is disproportionate to the share of motor vehicle crashes that they comprise. If you have been injured when someone else ran a stop sign, you may be entitled to substantial financial compensation.

The Driver Who Runs the Stop Sign Is Held Liable for the Accident

While the legal rule in an intersection car accident sounds simple in theory, it is often more complicated in practice. Whether you receive car accident compensation is determined by the negligence of the other driver. If you can prove that they did something unreasonable under the circumstances, you should be eligible for a settlement check. Running a stop sign is a prime example of negligence in a car accident case. Drivers are supposed to obey all traffic laws, and yielding the right of way when required by law is one way that they must do so.

However, you must be able to prove that it was the other driver who ran the stop sign to qualify for money for your injuries. Many intersection car accidents occur in less crowded areas, where you may not have witnesses or video camera evidence to prove which driver was to blame. Complicating matters, the other driver could be telling their own story, blaming you for the accident, and claiming that you ran the stop sign. This is known as a “truth contest,” and it could be a hurdle that you need to overcome to win your case.

How to Prove That the Other Driver Ran the Stop Sign

The most direct route to compensation for your injuries in a T-bone car accident case is when you have eyewitness testimony that backs up your side of the story. Objective third-party witnesses who can testify that they saw the other driver run the stop sign are key to your case. If you have them on your side, and their testimony is credible, chances are that you will receive some money for your injuries.

Your crash may not always have been witnessed by others. Then, your car accident lawyer may have to resort to other measures to prove your side of the story, especially when the other driver may be telling a contradictory version of events. In these cases, car accident lawyers are known to work with accident reconstruction experts who can give their opinion about which driver ran the stop sign. While this testimony may not be conclusive, it can certainly be helpful in establishing your side of the story.

You May Need to Overcome Attempts to Blame You for the Accident

Even if you are able to establish that the other driver ran a stop sign, it may not be the end of the liability determination. Their insurance company may have something to say about your role in the events leading up to the accident. Even in the face of evidence that another driver failed to yield the right of way, there may still be ways that the insurance company can attempt to spread some of the blame for the crash. For example, they could claim that you were speeding or were distracted at the time of the accident. It is imperative that you either disprove these allegations entirely or minimize their impact and settlement negotiations to receive as much money as possible for your injuries.

Contact Our Cheektowaga Car Accident Lawyers at Dan Chiacchia Injury Attorneys to Get the Compensation You Deserve

If you have been injured in a crash that occurred when another driver ran a stop sign, you need immediate legal help from our Cheektowaga car accident lawyers at Dan Chiacchia Injury Attorneys. Schedule a free case review with one of our car accident lawyers by filling out an online contact form or by calling us today at 716-648-3030. Located in Hamburg, New York, we proudly serve clients in the surrounding areas.