There have been numerous studies done for the purpose of helping to understand the types of accidents that occur at stop signs in The United States and in Rhode Island. These stop sign accident research projects will help to institute some type of counter measures to help prevent these accidents.
Rhode Island Stop Sign Accident Attorney
Statistics show that nearly 700,000 motor vehicle crashes reported annually to police occurred at stop signs. J Safety Res. 2003;34(5):485-9.Analysis of motor-vehicle crashes at stop signs in four US cities. Retting RA1, Weinstein HB, Solomon MG. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14733981 It was found that approximately one-third of those accidents involved injuries and some serious injuries. Id.
Stop sign accident in RI
There are several subtypes of stop sign violations to consider. The central issue appears to be did the driver stop or not stop. Wet, slippery and slick road conditions such as snow, ice and rain can all factor into motor vehicle and car stop sign collisions. These stop sign accidents are among the most common kinds of accidents.
“A lot of the major causes overlap with each other. For example, it’s possible for someone to be driving drunk and high, in bad weather, in an SUV, at high speed, while tired, while being distracted or lost in thought. It’s also possible for that person to be not wearing their seatbelt while driving through a red light or a stop sign on the wrong side of the road in the face on coming traffic.” What are the most common causes of fatal car accidents? Will Wister Quora
Texting while driving and distracted driving in recent times is also a major cause of intersection car and vehicular accidents.
Rhode Island stop sign intersection accident injury attorney
Driving though a stop sign is a moving violation and you can expect a ticket to be issued by a law enforcement officer. This means you will have a fine to pay and there may be other consequences that occur. These types of accidents can happen at two-way stops or four-way stops and in some instances there are errors in judgment
“Stop sign violations accounted for about 70% of all crashes. Typically these crashes were angular collisions. Among crashes not involving stop violations, rear-end crashes were most common, accounting for about 12% of all crashes. Stop sign violation crashes were classified into several sub types – driver stopped, driver did not stop, snow/wet/ice, and other/unknown. In about two-thirds of stop sign violation crashes, drivers said they had first come to a stop. In these cases, inability or failure to see approaching traffic often was cited as the cause of the crash. Drivers younger than 18 as well as drivers 65 and older were disproportionately found to be at fault in crashes at stop signs.” Retting RA1, Weinstein HB, Solomon MG. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14733981
Rhode Island law
§ 31-17-4 Vehicle entering stop or yield intersection. – (a) Preferential right-of-way at an intersection may be indicated by stop signs or yield signs.
(b) Except when directed to proceed by a police officer or traffic-control signal, every driver of a vehicle approaching a stop intersection indicated by a stop sign shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection. After having stopped, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian intending to cross the lane of traffic in a crosswalk or any vehicle which has entered the intersection from another highway or which is approaching so closely on the highway as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when the driver is moving across or within the intersection.
(c) The driver of a vehicle approaching a yield sign shall, in obedience to the sign, slow down to a speed reasonable for the existing conditions and, if required for safety to stop, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, then at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway. After slowing or stopping, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian intending to cross the lane of traffic in a crosswalk or any vehicle in the intersection or approaching on another highway so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time the driver is moving across or within the intersection. TITLE 31 Motor and Other vehicles CHAPTER 31-17 Right-of-Way SECTION 31-17-4 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/Statutes/TITLE31/31-17/31-17-4.HTM
Rear-end collisions at stop sign
These types of accidents ( stop sign accident) often cause a rear-end collision where the driver behind you either does not see you stopped or he is distracted. You could also be hit from the side which is called a T-bone crash or side impact collision and can end up with severe injuries to the driver and his or her passengers. An automobile (auto) Running a stop sign can also be the cause of serious or even deadly results to pedestrians and bicyclists.
In approximately two-thirds of the stop sign accidents that occur the driver stated that they had come to a stop. The failure or inability to see the approaching traffic was cited as the cause. This could be form an obstruction such as foliage too close to the sign, a new sign that wasn’t there previously or also that the sign could not be seen from a distance.
Measures to prevent intersection stop sign crash
Types of counter measures that have been discussed include revamping intersection designs, changing the traffic control methods and increasing the sight distance. They have also discussed the pavement markings and means to improve them so they can be seen.
If you are involved in this type of accident and injured you should, if you are able to, take pictures of the crash. An injured victim will also want to hire the best stop sign accident personal injury attorney in Rhode Island. A RI car accident causing personal injury is a serious matter requiring the legal skills of one of the best Rhode Island car accident lawyers. A top Providence car crash attorney will also have experience as a Rhode Island personal injury attorney.
Stop sign violation penalties in Rhode Island are not as significant as some other types of infractions and criminal offenses such as reckless driving, drunk driving death resulting and speeding but could still result in a fatality or serious personal injury such as a fracture, traumatic brain injury (TBI). Stop sign violations and infractions may have an impact on your driving record and insurance rates.
Many people are wondering if there are accident at stop sign rules. If a motorist is asking, “i hit a car that ran a stop sign in RI, what do I do.”
T-bone / side impact motor vehicle stop sign accident intersection wreck
In some instances a stop sign crash is fatal. Here is an example of a deadly t-bone intersection motor vehicle collision:
“The Wyoming Highway Patrol was called by the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office to assist with the investigation of a fatal crash east of Cheyenne in Laramie County yesterday that resulted in the death of 32 year old Laramie County resident Joseph D. Redmond. The crash occurred at 11:44 a.m at the intersection of Dell Range Blvd and Whitney Rd. Redmond was driving a 1985 Nissan pickup into Cheyenne traveling westbound on Dell Range Blvd prior to the crash. A second vehicle, a 2013 Ford Fusion, being driven by 65 year old Chugwater, Wyoming resident William Eric Rassmussen, was northbound on Whitney Rd at the time of the crash. Rassmussen failed to observe the stop sign at the intersection of Whitney and Dell Range and entered the intersection colliding with Redmond in a T-Bone type crash. Both drivers were in proper use of seat belts and were not ejected. Both drivers were transported by ground ambulance to Cheyenne Regional Medical Center in Cheyenne. Joseph D. Redmond succumb to his injuries at the hospital. Distracted driving is being investigated as the contributing factor in this crash and charges are pending. The crash marks the 55th highway fatality in Wyoming for 2016.” http://cordilleramontana.worldnow.com/story/32697262/cheyenne-man-32-killed-in-in-t-bone-crash , http://cordilleramontana.worldnow.com/story/32697262/cheyenne-man-32-killed-in-in-t-bone-crash
If a family member, spouse, son, daughter, husband or wife was killed in a fatal car, truck, motor vehicle or motorcycle accident, contact a Rhode Island wrongful death lawyer. A RI wrongful death attorney will fight to get you the justice you deserve for the fatal motor vehicle collision,
