Indianapolis Roundabout Car Accident Lawyer

Motorists who travel the roadways around Indianapolis have noticed the seemingly ever-increasing number of roundabouts throughout the city. While changing traffic patterns can feel like a nuisance, roundabouts are designed to improve traffic flow while reducing serious collisions at traditional intersections.

However, navigating our city’s roundabouts can be tricky, even for the most experienced drivers, and even more so for motorists unfamiliar with Indianapolis traffic patterns. Due to driver confusion, speeding, and failure to yield, roundabouts can become hotspots for accidents. These accidents frequently cause devastating injuries and property damage, upending countless lives in the process.

As the leading car accident attorney in Indianapolis, we understand the challenges roundabouts present and how careless or reckless driving causes most accidents. We hold negligent motorists accountable and help victims secure the compensation they need after these incidents.

What Causes So Many Roundabout Accidents in Indianapolis?

Roundabouts are becoming increasingly common throughout Indianapolis as city planners use these circular intersections to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety. However, roundabouts can create confusion, particularly when initially opened to drivers unfamiliar with a particular roundabout.

Common causes of roundabout accidents include:

• Failure to Yield: To function as efficiently as intended, roundabouts require motorists to yield at various spokes of the intersection. When drivers fail to yield to traffic in the roundabout, accidents occur.
• Improper Lane Usage: Drivers who suddenly change lanes or attempt to force their way across lanes are frequent culprits in roundabout accidents. Improper lane usage typically results from motorists being unfamiliar with the roundabout and making late decisions about their maneuvers.
• Speeding: Drivers who exceed posted speed limits for a roundabout or travel too fast in hazardous conditions may cause a roundabout crash, particularly when entering or exiting the intersection.
• Distracted Driving: Motorists distracted by their phones, GPS systems, or other activities are significantly more likely to cause an accident in a roundabout.
• Impaired Driving: Drivers who are under the influence of alcohol or drugs lack the judgment and reaction needed to navigate roundabouts appropriately.

The Indiana Department of Transportation found that roundabouts reduce fatal accidents by a whopping 90 percent and injury crashes by 76 percent compared to traditional intersections. Despite these statistics, serious accidents occur far too frequently in roundabouts, resulting in severe injuries and property damage.

A leading Indianapolis roundabout car accident lawyer can help you pursue justice following an accident in a circular intersection. Our experienced team understands how devastating these incidents can be, piling heavy emotional and financial burdens on top of the injuries that you have suffered due to another driver’s negligence.

We are determined to help you recover the compensation you deserve.

Common Injuries in Roundabout Accidents

Roundabouts are preferred to traditional intersections for safety reasons. Vehicles navigate these traffic circles at lower speeds, so roundabout collisions typically happen at lower speeds, resulting in less severe injuries for drivers and passengers.

However, even low-speed impacts can cause significant injuries, particularly in multi-vehicle crashes. These injuries can dramatically impact a victim’s life, forcing them to need ongoing medical care while missing time off work.

These dynamics add emotional distress and financial burdens to victims and their families.

Common injuries in roundabout accidents include:

• Head Injuries: Roundabout accident victims may suffer head injuries, including concussions or even traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
• Whiplash: Collisions in traffic circles often leave drivers and passengers with whiplash that can be extremely painful and disruptive. Whiplash injuries frequently are long-lasting and necessitate long-term medical care and rehabilitation.
• Broken Bones: Collisions between vehicles may leave victims with broken bones and fractures, particularly to arms, legs, and feet.
• Severe Lacerations and Contusions: Roundabout accident victims frequently suffer severe cuts, lacerations, and contusions throughout their bodies, though often on their faces, arms, and legs.

Our experienced team understands that no two roundabout car accidents are the same and that your injuries and damages require personalized attention. We take the time to get to know you personally and understand how your accident impacted your life. Then, we can pursue maximum compensation for all of your damages.

Indiana Laws Governing Roundabouts

Understanding Indiana’s traffic laws, particularly those regarding roundabout intersections, is essential to determining fault in a traffic circle accident. These state laws are designed to keep all motorists safe while providing the legal framework for determining fault and compensation following a crash.

Indiana laws relevant to roundabout car accidents include:

• Yielding Laws: According to state law, drivers entering a roundabout must yield to vehicles already in the traffic circle.
• Turn Signal Laws: Motorists must use appropriate turn signals when entering or exiting the roundabout to indicate their intentions to other vehicles.
• Reckless Driving Laws: Indiana law prohibits reckless driving, a common cause of roundabout accidents. Reckless driving includes speeding and disregarding traffic control signals.
• Comparative Fault Rule: Indiana follows a modified comparative fault rule, meaning accident victims may be entitled to compensation if they are less than 51 percent at fault for an accident. However, that compensation may be reduced by the percentage they are determined to be at fault for causing the incident.
• Statute of Limitations: Most personal injury claims must be filed within two years of the date of the accident, according to the state’s statute of limitations. This deadline underscores the importance of contacting an experienced car accident attorney near me immediately following a crash.
• Compensation Available: Roundabout car accident victims may be entitled to compensation for damages, including medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, property damage, and punitive damages.

As a top-rated roundabout car accident lawyer in Indianapolis, we are well-versed in the local laws and traffic patterns and have the experience and resources to give you peace of mind as you recover.

We handle complex legal matters so you can focus on your physical and mental well-being as we fight for the compensation you are entitled to.

Protecting Your Rights After a Roundabout Accident

The aftermath of a roundabout car accident is often challenging to navigate as you cope with the shock of the crash and any injuries you or your passengers suffered. However, knowing what to do after an accident can give you a significant advantage when protecting your rights.

After an accident, we recommend that you:

1. Call 911: Move to a safe location and call 911 to report the accident. Medics will treat injuries, while police will gather evidence and file an accident report.
2. Seek Medical Attention: Even if you don’t feel injured, seek a complete medical evaluation from a professional. This evaluation can uncover non-apparent injuries to ensure your health while providing valuable documentation for your claim.
3. Document the Scene: Photograph the crash scene, including damage to vehicles and property, the roundabout, road conditions, any visible injuries, and anything else that may have factored into the accident.
4. Gather Information: Exchange contact and insurance information with other drivers involved in the accident. Additionally, contact information for any eyewitnesses should be collected.
5. Contact An Experienced Car Accident Attorney: A roundabout car accident lawyer near me will provide valuable guidance for protecting your legal rights and can help you navigate the legal process.

Studies have shown that car accident victims who partner with specialized attorneys achieve significantly higher compensation settlements than those who go at it alone. Here at Vaughn A. Wamsley, we are driven to achieve justice and maximum compensation for our clients.

How We Build Strong Cases

As a leading roundabout car accident lawyer in Indianapolis, we have developed a personalized and comprehensive approach that builds strong cases for our clients. We thoroughly investigate your accident to determine which party’s negligence contributed to your accident. Based on our findings, we account for all your damages to determine what constitutes fair compensation.

Armed with compelling cases, we can aggressively negotiate with insurance companies to produce a settlement that adequately compensates you for your damages. However, if negotiations fail to produce an acceptable settlement, we will be fully prepared to take your claim to court. We have an outstanding track record of achieving favorable judgments on behalf of our clients.

We treat each client as a family member, taking the time to get to know them personally. We keep you updated at every step of the process so you never have to guess what comes next. Additionally, we’re always just a phone call away to answer any questions you have.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a roundabout car accident, call us today for a free consultation. We are ready to help you achieve justice and recover the compensation you deserve.