Navigating Wisconsin Roundabouts: Essential Rules and Safety Tips

Roundabouts improve traffic efficiency and safety but can also be tricky for drivers who are confused about how to navigate through them. Below, we talk about the rules for driving through these intersections and how to avoid the common errors that could increase your risk of a crash.

Involved in a roundabout accident? If so, we recommend seeking legal help as soon as possible. In Wisconsin, our experienced Milwaukee car accident attorneys offer a free, no-risk consultation to learn more about your car crash and discuss potential legal options.

Call us today at 414-333-3333

What Is a Roundabout?

A roundabout is a continuous-flow intersection in the shape of a circle. The unique design has a lot of benefits over standard intersections, such as:

• The circular shape better facilitates smooth traffic flow through the intersection
• Drivers must go slower through roundabouts, which increases safety
• The continuous flow of traffic also lessens the need for vehicles to have to stop
• The lower speeds have the added benefit of reducing the number of serious or fatal crashes
• There is less costly maintenance required when compared to traffic signals
• Roundabouts are not affected by power outages, unlike intersections with traffic lights

Why Do Roundabout Crashes Occur?

Although roundabout crashes are designed to enhance safety, accidents can still happen. Knowing how crashes happen in a roundabout can help you be more cautious when approaching them. Here are some common driver errors that could cause a collision in a roundabout.

Failure to Yield

Drivers entering the roundabout not yielding to vehicles already in the circle. This is the most common cause of roundabout crashes.

Excessive Speed

Entering or circulating the roundabout too fast. Speed reduces reaction time and control.

Improper Lane Use

Changing lanes within the roundabout or using the wrong lane to exit can lead to unexpected conflicts with other vehicles.

Rear-End Collisions

Sudden stops due to yielding or unexpected traffic. This situation is more common at roundabout entries.

Side-Swipe Accidents

Improper lane changes or misjudging space between vehicles is also a common cause of crashes in multi-lane roundabouts.

Hitting the Central Island

Driving over the raised center, often due to speed or distraction, could cause vehicle damage or loss of control.

Pedestrian or Cyclist Collisions

Failing to notice or yield to pedestrians and cyclists. This type of negligence is particularly risky at roundabout crossings.

Exiting Errors

Making a last-minute decision to exit or exiting from the wrong lane can confuse other drivers and lead to a crash.

Confusion or Hesitation

When drivers get confused in a roundabout, it makes their intentions unpredictable, which is a crash risk to others.

Distracted Driving

Using phones or getting distracted by other things while navigating the roundabout reduces driver awareness of surroundings and other road users.

Wisconsin Roundabout Laws

In Wisconsin, it is important to understand the laws when navigating roundabouts. Staying informed about traffic laws keeps you safer on the road. All drivers have a legal duty to take reasonable steps to avoid causing anyone harm. Understanding and following local and state laws is part of that. Following these laws helps to reduce the risk of getting involved in a roundabout collision.

Need to know more about the rules for traveling through roundabouts? Here are some key points to remember:

Entering a Roundabout

As you enter the roundabout:

• Yield to other vehicles already inside the circle to prevent collisions and keep traffic moving smoothly.
• Turn on your signals as you enter the roundabout so drivers know your next move and to lessen the likelihood of confusion.
• Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you so you can react appropriately to sudden stops or changes in traffic flow.

Navigating the Roundabout

Traveling through the roundabout:

• Continue moving through the roundabout in a counterclockwise motion, meaning vehicles should move to the right.
• Drivers should pay attention to road signs and markings as they provide critical information about navigating roundabouts.
• Do not attempt to overtake other vehicles within a roundabout. Doing so can lead to dangerous situations and disrupt traffic flow.
• Always be aware of pedestrians and cyclists at a crosswalk.

Exiting the Roundabout

When you exit a roundabout:

• Turn on your signal to indicate you plan to exit the roundabout. Doing so alerts other drivers of your intention and helps prevent collisions.
• Check for traffic to make sure your path for exiting is clear.
• Ensure you are in the correct lane for the direction you plan to steer.
• Adjust your speed.

Who Could Be Held Liable for Roundabout Collisions in Wisconsin?

Determining liability in a roundabout collision can be complex as it may involve multiple parties. Each crash is also unique and dependent on the chain of events leading up to the crash. Parties who may be liable could include one or more of the following:

At-Fault Drivers

If a driver fails to yield, runs a red light or violates traffic rules, they can be liable for the accident. Multiple drivers can sometimes be liable for a crash, depending on how it happens. For example, if both drivers fail to yield the right of way, they could each share a portion of liability for the crash.

The Municipality or Government

In some cases, the design or maintenance of a roundabout might contribute to an accident. For instance if poor design, inadequate signage or insufficient maintenance are factors. Under those circumstances, liability could fall to the municipality or government agency responsible for maintaining the roundabout.

Vehicle Manufacturers

A vehicle or auto part manufacturer might be held responsible if a mechanical failure contributes to an accident. For example, if a brake failure causes a collision in a roundabout, because:

• The brakes were faulty
• The brakes were improperly installed

What Factors into Negligence for a Roundabout Crash?

As with other types of crashes, negligence is a key factor in determining liability for a car accident in a roundabout. Several elements must be considered when evaluating negligence:

Duty of Care

Every driver has a duty of care to operate their vehicle safely and follow traffic laws. In a roundabout, this means yielding to traffic in the circle, using turn signals, and navigating correctly.

Breach of Duty

A breach occurs when a driver fails to uphold their duty of care. For example, not yielding to oncoming traffic or making unsafe lane changes constitutes a breach.

Causation

Causation in a car crash involves linking one party’s negligence to the resulting injuries and damages. Victims or their attorneys are responsible for proving that the other party caused the crash and their injuries.

For example, if a driver runs a red light while texting and hits another vehicle who had the right of way, the red light runner could be negligent. However, the car crash victim must prove that the crash and resulting injuries would not have happened if the driver had not texted and run a red light.

Contact PKSD After a Roundabout Car Crash. We Are Here to Help.

Navigating the aftermath of a roundabout accident can be challenging, especially when dealing with insurance claims and determining liability. Contact our Wisconsin car accident lawyers if you are unsure where to start with the legal process.

Our knowledgeable lawyers at PKSD have decades of experience helping clients pursue compensation. If you have a case, we are prepared to help you recover full and fair compensation for the damages you sustained.

Call our trusted law firm today. 414-333-3333