One of the first lessons that almost every new driver learns is that every driver is required to stop at a stop sign. It is not discretionary, it is not elective, and it is not in doubt: when a stop sign is present, drivers must stop.
Yet despite the clear rule in Arizona and in every other state in the country, thousands of collisions continue to happen annually due to the failure of drivers to stop at stop signs. Many of these car accidents result in injuries to those involved, whether they are the driver who ignored a stop or they happen to be an innocent victim in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Stop Sign Law in Arizona
The requirement to stop when approaching a stop sign is set forth in A.R.S. §28-855 which states that drivers must not only stop when approaching a stop sign, but that they must stop at a specified point, depending on the layout of the road or expressway. If a driver is coming to a stop sign with a crosswalk nearby, the driver must stop prior to entering the crosswalk with his or her vehicle. If there is no crosswalk, a driver has to stop before a marked stop line on the ground. And if there is no stop line or crosswalk, then a driver must stop before entering an intersection and once that driver has a clear view of traffic on the crossing street. Of course, none of the previous statements applies if a driver is directed to take alternate action by a police officer who may be in the area, controlling traffic due to a collision or an event.
Those who fail to follow the law and fail to stop at a stop sign risk significant penalties. If stopped by an officer of the law, a driver may receive a traffic citation for his or her conduct that can result in fines, fees, or the loss of a driver's license. However, if an accident results because a driver failed to stop, the punishments can be much more severe and that driver may be held liable for the full result of a collision, including any personal injuries that stem from the crash.
Common Stop Sign Accidents
The most common stop sign accident case that our lawyers work on is when a driver proceeds out of a stop sign and fails to yield to oncoming traffic that has the right-of-way with no stop sign of their own. Accidents also often occur when a driver fails to notice the sign and enters the intersection without stopping, causing a crash.
It's a much more difficult case when there's a collision at a four-way stop sign intersection. These accidents are often contested liability, as the parties involved tend to argue over who is to blame, who arrived first, and who had the right-of-way.
Legal Relief for Phoenix Stop Sign Accident Victims
A collision can give injury victims the right to bring a civil claim for damages, including a crash that is caused by a driver blowing a stop sign. These claims are separate and distinct from any type of legal action that may be pursued by local police and/or prosecutors and the right to bring a civil claim belongs exclusively to the victim. That means that an at-fault driver cannot prevent someone who is hurt from seeking relief.
A typical civil action lets an injured person recover for the totality of the harm enacted by a car accident which may include things like medical expenses incurred, pain and suffering, lost wages missed while off work, permanency of injuries, and scarring. Any specific claim will revolve around the facts and circumstances that permeate the incident and the parties involved therein which means that it is always a good idea to get advice from an experienced professional if you have been hurt.
Phoenix Injury Lawyers Who Care
The law firm of Abels & Annes, P.C. is comprised solely of personal injury attorneys who believe in the rights of victims and who fight for those rights every single day. We never represent insurance companies because we believe that victims deserve our attention, not large corporations.
We offer a free case consultation without obligation to those who call us toll free at (855) 749-5299 or locally at (602) 819-5191 where we keep a lawyer standing by 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you prefer, contact us online to receive your free consultation. In the event that we represent you in your accident, we will never charge you a fee unless we are successful in making a recovery on your behalf and we will advance all case-related expenses.
If you have been injured, put our years of experience to work for you by calling Abels & Annes, P.C. now.
If you have been hurt in a stop sign car accident in the Phoenix area, call Abels & Annes, P.C. toll free at (855) 749-5299 or Contact Us online for a free case consultation.