While some people view stop signs and other traffic signals as a nuisance, they are in place in order to save lives. Failure to follow such signals can easily result in serious injuries or death. A recent car accident in Connecticut demonstrates the importance of stop signs after a passenger in a van was seriously injured.

In the morning of an early January day, a woman was traveling as a passenger in a van driven by a 43-year-old woman. The driver claims that she was unfamiliar with the area, which caused her to miss a stop sign. Unfortunately, she crossed into the path of a pickup driven by a 54-year-old man, allegedly due to her failure to observe the stop sign.

The driver of the pickup claims he tried to stop, but was unable to do so. He struck the van on the passenger side. The passenger was transported to a local hospital for treatment for possible injuries to her head and chest. She is now listed in stable condition. Both vehicles were reportedly significantly damaged.

It may be difficult to fully comprehend the financial impact of such a car accident on an injured party. Through no apparent fault of her own, the woman will likely face medical expenses and possibly lost wages as a result of the injuries she sustained. To seek help with these expenses, the injured woman has the option of filing a lawsuit in a Connecticut civil court. She could be awarded damages to help with the expenses stemming from the accident if she can prove it was caused by the negligence of another party to the collision.

Source: Avon Ct. Patch, Police: Driver Misses Stop Sign, Cuts into Path of Former Avon Town Official’s Car in Crash, Jessie Sawyer, Jan. 11, 2014