After a Stop Sign Car Accident in Springfield, Call the Noll Law Office for Help Recovering Compensation
One of the most dangerous types of intersections is one that is controlled by just a stop sign. Despite the fact that even children know that red means stop and that a red, hexagon sign is a stop sign, there are far too many adult drivers that fail to stop when they are supposed to. According to statistics, each year in the United States there are nearly 700,000 police-report traffic accidents at stop signs. The same statistics further indicate that approximately one-third (33%) of these accidents resulted in personal injuries. Even where it is clear that a defendant ran a stop sign and caused a traffic accident, insurance adjusters and defense lawyers will still make arguments trying to shift the blame to an innocent victim. If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a stop sign car accident in Springfield or elsewhere in Illinois, call the Noll Law Office for help.
Their experienced car accident lawyers in Springfield can help recover compensation for pain and suffering, lost wages, medical bills, and other damages caused by a negligent or dangerous driver who ran a stop sign. This is particularly true in catastrophic injury cases resulting in disabling, life-changing, or fatal injuries, where their skilled lawyers know both the law and the medicine. In having this experience, the legal team at the Noll Law Office can help prove liability and establish a claim for compensation that is fair, just, and appropriate under Illinois law. To learn more after a stop sign car accident in Springfield, call their car accident lawyers to schedule a FREE consultation at (217) 414-8889.
Illinois Law and Stop Sign Accidents
Generally, there are two applicable bodies of law that govern a driver’s conduct at a stop sign. The first and most obvious is the traffic law. Indeed, under Illinois law, 625 ILCS 5/11-1204 requires motorists to stop at a stop sign before entering the intersection. A driver can only proceed once it is safe to do so by yielding the right-of-way to others. Therefore, a defendant who runs a stop sign or rolls through a stop sign without yielding to the right-of-way to others will likely be violating this statute.
If the defendant causes a stop sign car accident in Springfield that results in personal injuries, it is also possible that the defendant could be liable under the doctrine of negligence per se. This doctrine holds a defendant liable where there is a violation of a statute that is meant to protect a victim from the harm that occurred. Since Illinois law requires motorists to stop at a stop sign for reasons including safety and setting up the rules of the road, a victim of a stop sign accident is usually entitled to the doctrine of negligence per se to help prove fault.
In addition to the statutory law, there is decisional law which is derived from judicial decision-making. This is known as the common law, and sets forth a standard of care that all motorists must comply with. This standard is a flexible one, requiring drivers to use reasonable care under the circumstances when operating a motor vehicle. As a result, a defendant who fails to stop at a stop sign is likely driving unreasonably and could be found negligent.
Common Types of Stop Sign Car Accidents
When a defendant runs a stop sign, there are several different types of car accidents that could occur. The most common is an angular collision, or one where the vehicles strike each other on an angle. This type of collision can cause serious personal injuries, particularly neck and back injuries as well as shoulder or knee injuries.
However, a worse type of accident is a t-bone collision. This type of collision occurs when the front-end of one vehicle collides with the side panel of another vehicle, therefore forming a “T” shape. Due to the heavy engine in the front of a vehicle and the thin side panel right next to an occupant, most t-bone collisions result in catastrophic personal injuries.
Similarly, head-on collisions are also possible and common in stop sign car accidents in Springfield or Illinois. These types of collisions are violent and can result in a multitude of life-changing injuries, including fatal injuries.
Were You Injured in a Stop Sign Car Accident in Springfield? Speak to One of the Car Accident Lawyers at the Noll Law Office for Help
Victims and their families of any type of motor vehicle accident in Illinois may be entitled to compensation under the law. This includes compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and other damages due to a defendant’s negligent conduct. Victims who are injured in a car crash, especially a stop sign car accident in Springfield, should schedule a FREE consultation with the Noll Law Office to learn what their potential rights to compensation may be. Their compassionate and experienced legal team can help answer your questions and advise you on what the next steps may be. To learn more about how their car accident lawyers in Springfield can help you, contact the Noll Law Office today.