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A roundabout (also called a traffic circle, road circle, rotary, rotunda or island) is a type of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junction.

 Modern roundabouts were first standardized in the UK in 1966 and were found to be a significant improvement over previous traffic circle and rotaries. Since then they have spread and modern roundabouts are commonplace throughout the world. Half of the world's roundabouts are in France (more than 30,000 as of 2008. One Indiana city has well over a hundred Roundabouts.

 

ACCIDENTS

95% of the accident claims we see which involve a roundabout are caused by people who are in the wrong lane or are changing lanes. The Highway Code stipulates that you should take note and act on all the information available to you when approaching a roundabout. This includes:

Traffic lights
Lane markings which direct you into the correct lane.

 Therefore you should be checking the lane markings and signage to ensure you are positioned correctly for your exit.

Motorists which stay in the left hand lane and proceed all the way round the island in this lane until they reach the exit travel across roundabout exits – which other vehicles are attempting to exit at that point in the correct lane. Most often, Liability unfortunately is not always clear cut as often the parties involved will argue that they were positioned correctly on the roundabout. Wittneses, cameras etc. help

Being in the wrong lane on the roundabout does not necessarily prove liability. However it is highly important that when you are adjusting your position on a roundabout, as you must take as much care as possible not to inconvenience other drivers positioned correctly.

 

Roundabouts can be very daunting, especially ones that seem to have never ending amounts of exits! The markings for lanes and exits can be very confusing and therefore accidents which happen on roundabouts are unfortunately one of the most common types of road traffic accidents we deal with here at The Injury Lawyers.

 

The common circumstances on a roundabout are vehicles pulling onto the roundabout when it is unclear to do so, vehicles changing lanes to exit the roundabout, and also vehicles continuing around the roundabout in the wrong lane which causes accident’s when other vehicles are trying to exit.

The Highway Code provides some general rules on the use of roundabouts, however, even when following these instructions, accidents can still occur as other road users can be careless.

On approaching a roundabout, The Highway Code asks that you take notice and act on all the information available to you, including traffic signs, traffic lights and lane markings which direct you into the correct lane. Therefore you should be checking the lane markings and signage to ensure you are positioned correctly for your exit.

 

When turning right on a roundabout you should stay in the right lane until you are approaching your exit and then signal and move into the left lane ready to exit.

This is the main problem on roundabouts as a lot of road users tend to go all the way around in the left lane which means that, when other vehicles are pulling off the roundabout, the vehicle travelling in the left lane around the roundabout can cause a collision when passing the exit which you are intending to take.

Liability for an accident on a roundabout is not always clear cut, especially if the accident has occurred on a large roundabout. Often both parties believe that they were positioned correctly and in the correct lane for their exit when the accident occurs.

Going in Circles: Three Ways to Find Out Who Is Liable for a Roundabout Car Crash

You weren’t sure about the roundabout in Overland Park when it first went in, but now that you’ve been around it a few times, it seems a lot faster and more efficient than a regular four-way intersection. However, that’s only the case when other drivers know how to use it properly—and after a few close calls, you’re wondering if it might be safer to avoid the roundabout altogether.

How Can I Tell Who Is at Fault in a Roundabout Car Accident?

While there are now over two-dozen roundabouts in the Kansas City area alone, it seems like very few drivers know how to use them properly. Unfortunately, drivers who don’t know how to use the roundabout are more likely to be nervous or make last-minute lane changes that result in a car accident—leaving both drivers involved in the crash wondering who was at fault.

Turn signals while driving on a roundabout?

If the State codes states that the use of turn signals is required when changing lanes, or "turning from a direct line then consideration should being given." Because drivers exiting a roundabout are leaving the direct line of traffic, this seems to indicate that the use of a turn signal is indeed a requirement.

Here are a few questions you should consider after an accident occurs in a roundabout. Considerations such as:

Speed
management
control
weather
visibility
And more…..

Who Had the Right of Way?

Just as with most motor vehicle accidents, you are more likely to have a successful claim if you had the right of way at the time of the crash. In a roundabout, the person who is already in the traffic circle has the right of way. All other drivers must stop and wait their turn before pulling into a roundabout, so if someone attempted to “beat you” around the circle by pulling ahead, he is likely liable for the accident.

Was There a Rear-End Collision?

While it is not always true that the car that struck another vehicle from behind is always at fault, it is more likely that a following vehicle is to blame in a roundabout car accident. Following distances are shortened in a roundabout, with cars only a few feet away from one another. If a following vehicle is speeding or not maintaining a safe distance, it may be unable to stop if the car ahead needs to brake suddenly.

Was Someone Changing Lanes?

This is one of the cases where following cars may be the ones with a successful accident claim. In a multi-lane roundabout, drivers should know which lane will get them to their destination before they enter. If they discover they are in the wrong lane and attempt to swerve back into the roundabout, they may cause a pileup behind them.

Victims who are involved in a roundabout crash should always take pictures of the damage and gather as many witnesses as possible before leaving the scene. Evidence is key in proving your case if your insurance claim is denied, and the evidence will begin to disappear just minutes after the accident takes place.