Stop signs are erected on roads and intersections to control traffic and pedestrians, with the primary goal of maintaining road safety. Yet they cause a significant number of road traffic injuries and property damage. It is common knowledge that you have to come to a complete halt when approaching a stop sign, regardless of whether the other roads are clear. Therefore, proving negligence when you are hit by a car that ran a stop sign should be easy. It then comes as a shock to many when the other driver’s insurance company refuses to pay for damages.
This is a common incident that happens more than you can imagine. That’s why it is important to know the steps you can take to ensure that the insurance company pays.
Common Causes of Stop Sign Car Crashes
First, let’s look at some of the most common causes of stop sign accidents to help you remain vigilant on the road.
- Distraction
- If the driver’s focus is not on the road, they will fail to notice the sign or when front cars slow down, causing a rear-end car accident.
- Failure to yield
- At an intersection with cars arriving at the same time, driver 1 might proceed while driver 2 does the same. Here, both drivers mistakenly think that the other is going to yield.
- Speeding due to impatience
- You might be running late for an important meeting or attending to an emergency, but speeding and running a stop sign will only make things worse.
- Failure to notice a 2-way stop
- At a 2-way stop, one of the streets might be a through street, meaning that it does not have a stop sign. A driver who is on the stop-sign street but arrived first at an intersection might mistakenly think that the other car will equally slow down, which is not the case. The outcome is a T-bone collision.
- Reckless and impaired driving that causes slow reactions.
The Insurance Company Is Refusing to Pay
Unknown to many policyholders and claimants, insurance companies do not like it when they have to compensate a victim for damages caused by their client. Learn the three common ways that insurers refuse to pay so that you prepare yourself accordingly and on time.
First, the defendant might refuse to pay by delaying your settlement. This is a tactic for you to settle for a lower amount or to give up on your case altogether. The insurer could also be delaying settling so that they continue earning interest from your money. They do so by asking for countless documents or intentionally delaying different internal processes.
Second, the insurance company might try to defend the claim. They will employ aggressive attorneys who have dealt with other claimants like you. If you do not have legal representation, it is easy to cave in and settle on their terms.
Lastly, the insurer might deny their policyholder’s liability in the accident. They might claim that there is insufficient evidence or that they need a recorded statement from you. Do not provide the latter without a qualified attorney.
What to Do if the Insurance Company Is Refusing to Pay
When the insurance company attempts to pull any of the above tricks to deny you compensation, your attorney will first provide them with all the evidence to show that their client was negligent and ran a stop sign. These include police reports, photos of the scene, and eyewitness statements.
Keep in mind that every policy and regulations when it comes to car accidents may vary in every state or city’s. If you have been involved in an accident and injured in a bustling city like Philadelphia, the insurance claim in this city is very complex that it is strongly recommended to keep in touch with an expert car accident attorney to help with your case
If all fails, the only way for the insurance company to accept liability is through a legal lawsuit. Your attorney will initiate the litigation process for a court trial.
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