It’s scary the amount of people who completely ignore stop signs. Sadly, the consequences of stop sign accidents can be devastating. In fact, in 2022, stop sign accidents resulted in 7,777 injuries and 93 fatalities in South Carolina alone. Stop sign accidents were also the 4th most common traffic control collision types, trailing closely behind stop and go lights.

If you or someone you love has been injured or worse due to a stop sign accident, we’re here for you. Every day, we fight to get South Carolina residents and visitors the justice and compensation they deserve to secure a brighter future ahead following an unexpected accident. For a free case evaluation, give our team a call today at (803) 888-2200.

Stop Sign Accidents: Who Is At Fault?

South Carolina law requires every driver approaching a stop sign to come to a complete stop at the clearly marked stop line. Failure to do so is a sign of negligence.

It’s important to understand that South Carolina is a modified comparative negligence state. This means that as long as you are not more than 50% at fault for the accident, you can recover compensation for your damages. 

The percent you are found to be at fault for the crash directly affects the amount of compensation you can recover for your damages. For example, if you’re found to be 15% at-fault for the accident, you can recover 85% of the amount the jury awards you.

Can You Be Liable If Someone Runs a Stop Sign and You Hit Them?

If a driver runs a stop sign and hits another vehicle that has the right of way, then it is likely that the driver who ran the stop sign will be found at fault or at least partially at fault for the accident. This will likely be true unless you had the last clear chance to avoid hitting that vehicle and failed to do so.

For more information based on the specifics of your accident, our award-winning car accident attorneys offer entirely complimentary case evaluations. Simply contact our team to get your questions answered.

Proving Fault in South Carolina Stop Sign Accidents

An experienced car accident lawyer will help you prove that the three elements of negligence existed, pursuant to South Carolina law. Without a lawyer on your side, it can become very challenging to prove who was at-fault for the accident, even in what seems like a simple case.

Your lawyer will obtain and preserve various forms of evidence to optimize your car accident claim, including but not limited to:

  • Witness Statements
  • Video Footage
  • The Police Report
  • Photos of the Scene
  • And More.

Common Causes of Stop Sign Accidents

With decades of combined experience handling car accident cases throughout South Carolina, we understand the most common causes of stop sign accidents. Typically, the causes of these accidents come down to one or more of the following:

  • Distracted driving
  • Speeding
  • Failure to pay attention to oncoming traffic
  • Driving under the influence
  • Inexperienced driving

Ultimately, most accidents are caused by human error in some form. Stop sign accidents are often preventable by eliminating distractions, paying attention, and obeying the rules of the road.

Compensation After a Stop Sign Accident

Car accidents can be traumatic. Luckily, South Carolina law and our team are here to help. We will use our decades of combined experience representing motor vehicle accident cases and our vast understanding of the law to optimize your personal injury claim after a stop sign accident, ensuring you get the compensation you deserve.

With our team, you can expect optimal compensation for all damages related to the accident, including but not limited to:

  •  Medical Bills: Surgery costs, imaging, prescription medication costs, follow up appointments, and more.
  • Property Damage
  • Physical Pain
  • Lost Wages
  • Lost Future Earning Capacity
  • Rental Car Costs
  • Pain and Suffering, and more.

It’s important to keep in mind that your compensation must cover all past, current, and future damages related to the accident.

In addition, depending on the specifics of your case, you may also qualify for punitive damages. Punitive damages are intended to discipline the at-fault party to help prevent others from acting the same way – for example, if the driver was drunk at the time.

South Carolina Stop Sign Accident Lawyers

If you have any questions about the information in this article, or are wondering if you have a case, our team is available for you via phone 24/7.

With offices in Columbia and Charleston, our team handles car accident cases throughout the state. In addition, we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning no up-front or out-of-pocket fees.