Common Causes of Roundabout Car Accidents

Roundabouts are introduced to communities to make them safer, easier to navigate, and less prone to traffic. But the learning curve is steep—until locals get used to roundabouts, police departments brace themselves for an uptick in car accident reports. While roundabouts are fairly simple in theory, there are lots of ways you can misjudge them and cause a crash.

Learn more about the common causes of roundabout collisions and how to avoid a crash. To talk to Reeves & Mestayer about your legal options after a collision, call us at 228-374-5151.

Failure to Yield to the Left

In almost every other situation, you yield to drivers on your right. It’s common courtesy and has prevented many crashes. It’s the opposite in roundabouts, though. In a roundabout, you yield to drivers approaching from the left who are already in the roundabout. If you enter a roundabout expecting someone to yield to you because you’re on their right, a crash is likely.

Exiting from the Wrong Lane

Roundabouts vary quite a bit in construction and size. If your local roundabout has two or more lanes, it likely has specific rules about how to enter and exit the roundabout. Each lane has a specific purpose and ignoring lane designations can cause expensive crashes.

As you enter a roundabout, check the sign in the middle of it for instructions regarding exits. If you miss your exit because you’re in the wrong lane, simply go around the roundabout again instead of putting others in danger.

Stopping in the Roundabout

When you realize you’re in over your head and you’re not sure how to navigate a roundabout, avoid the temptation to stop and figure out your next steps. Doing so creates the ideal circumstances for a crash. Instead, go through the roundabout at an appropriate speed while checking for signs and lane markings that tell you how and when to exit the roundabout. Many people have come to complete stops in roundabouts, only to cause a multi-car rear-end situation.

Cutting Across Roundabout Lanes

You misread your GPS instructions, and you don’t have to exit on the third exit of the roundabout—you have to exit now. What do you do? If you’re like some drivers, you try to cut across all of the other lanes to hit your intended exit. This gives you plenty of opportunities to cause a collision and shut down the entire roundabout. Instead, spend a few extra seconds going through the roundabout again, getting in the correct lane, and exiting properly.

Driving Too Slow or Fast for the Roundabout

Roundabouts aren’t meant to be raceways, but they’re also not supposed to replicate a leisurely drive through the countryside. They have tight turns and driving too fast can cause you to lose control of your vehicle. You’re supposed to maintain the flow of traffic, so driving too slowly can cause traffic buildup and collisions. Keep the speed limit in mind, observe how others are going through the roundabout, and adjust your driving accordingly.

Drifting in and Out of Lanes

During peak hours, roundabouts can get packed. It’s incredibly important to stay in your lane and be mindful of those around you. However, lane drifting is easy when you’re going through a roundabout since you’re constantly adjusting your direction to account for the curves. Until you’re confident with roundabouts, keep your speed slow enough to stay in your lane.

Roundabout accidents are very common, and our team of attorneys is here to talk to you if you’re injured in one. Roundabouts are commonly misunderstood, so your police report may not be accurate or may contain incorrect information. By working with a team of personal injury experts, you can push for the full and fair compensation you deserve.

Get Help with Your Car Accident by Calling Reeves & Mestayer

The sooner you get in touch with Reeves & Mestayer, the sooner we can start investigating your car accident and building your case. The other party’s insurance company will do whatever it can to avoid paying a fair settlement, so make sure you have a trustworthy attorney fighting for you. Set up a consultation with us now by calling us at 228-374-5151 or contacting us online.