Do Roundabouts Cause Car Accidents?
Car accidents at intersections are often head-on or T-bone collisions, resulting in severe injuries or fatalities. Car accident lawyer Hardin R. Ramey can help those who have been involved in an accident recover compensation for their injuries.
Roundabouts are sometimes placed at intersections to help reduce the risk of serious accidents but when drivers are uncertain about how to drive in a roundabout it may actually cause an accident. Let’s take a closer look at whether roundabouts cause car accidents in Dallas, TX.
What Are Roundabouts?
A roundabout is a circular intersection with multiple points of exit and entrance. In a roundabout, drivers move clockwise around a central point. Drivers entering the roundabout are typically required to yield to the drivers already in the roundabout. Once in the roundabout, drivers are able to exit at their desired street.
Are Accidents More Common in Roundabouts?
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), when roundabouts replaced two-way controlled stops and signalized intersections, the number of severe accidents decreased by 82% and by 78% respectively.
Although these statistics reveal that serious accidents are less likely where roundabouts are present, the reality is that accidents can and do still happen in roundabouts.
Causes of Car Accidents in Roundabouts
Roundabouts have fewer conflict points than traditional intersections and the circular shape of the road requires drivers to slow down but even with these safety measures, accidents still happen at roundabouts. Some possible causes of roundabout accidents in Dallas include:
- Driver uncertainty: Drivers may not be sure how to enter, exit, or drive around a roundabout. When drivers are unsure of what to do, it can lead to driver error which in turn can cause accidents.
- Failure to yield: When a driver entering a roundabout fails to yield to drivers already in the roundabout it can lead to an accident.
- Driving too fast: Due to the curved nature of roundabouts, it’s important to slow down when driving around them. Driving too fast can cause drivers to lose control and crash.
- Multi-lane roundabouts with multiple merges: Multi-lane roundabouts with multiple merge points means more traffic entering, exiting, and changing lanes. All of this can combine to increase the risk of accidents.
- Distracted driving: Focusing on the road while driving is always important but it’s especially important in a roundabout when other drivers may not yield or make errors.
Seeking Compensation for Injuries
Car accidents in roundabouts typically result in less serious injuries but that doesn’t mean that roundabout accident victims aren’t entitled to compensation. Even minor injuries can lead to loss of income and medical expenses. Speaking with a car accident attorney can help injured parties get the compensation they deserve.
Schedule a Consultation at the Ramey Law Firm
If you have been injured in a car accident, you are encouraged to call the Ramey Law Firm in Dallas at (972) 437-5577 to schedule a consultation and learn more about your options for recovering financial compensation for your injuries.
