Arriving At A 4-Way Stop Simultaneously With Another Driver
Car AccidentsI have encountered a number of car accident cases as a personal injury attorney in Lakeland, Florida where there was an accident at a 4-way stop because the drivers didn’t know who was supposed to go first. This article covers what to do when you arrive at a 4-way stop at the same time someone else gets there.
Yield To The Driver On The Right
If you arrive at any intersection with a 4-way stop at the same time someone else pulls up to their stop sign, the correct rule of the road is to let the driver on the right go first. Section 316.123(2)(b), Florida Statutes, says:
At a four-way stop intersection, the driver of the first vehicle to stop at the intersection shall be the first to proceed. If two or more vehicles reach the four-way stop intersection at the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.
This is not just a good rule to have-it is the law. However, accidents keep happening at four-way stops because people aren’t entirely clear on what the rule means.
The law says that the first vehicle “to stop at the intersection” should be the first to go. This means that you have to stop at the “white line” or as the statute says, “clearly marked stop line.” If no “stop line” exists, then you have to stop before going into the crosswalk.
Courtesy Goes A Long Way
The Golden Rule (treat as others as you would like others to treat you) applies on the roadway and goes a long way toward keeping you out of an accident. Therefore, if you are ever faced with a situation where you arrive at a four-way stop at the same time as another driver (and you are on the right), but yet it seems that the other driver intends on going ahead, you should just let them go first. Likewise, if the other driver arrives first (and they are on the right) but forgets that they are supposed to go first, you should kindly waive at them to go while you wait.
You never know what another person is thinking. Perhaps the person had a bad day or is distracted. Perhaps the other person mistakenly believed that you got to the intersection first. Or, perhaps the other person is just rude. Regardless of the reason, it is best to avoid a collision and go about your day.
Contact A Lakeland Personal Injury Attorney About Your Case
If you have been injured in a car accident at a four-way stop intersection, you should contact a Lakeland personal injury attorney for help with your case against the other driver. Oftentimes, these types of cases involve liability disputes between drivers and both insurance companies stand behind their respective drivers. Getting an opinion from a personal injury attorney can help you determine whether you are truly in the right while the other driver is in the wrong. Likewise, one of the insurance companies is also correct is its position while the other one is just trying to save money by delaying a claim. Schedule your free case evaluation today.
