Common Roundabout Conflicts: Who Has the Right of Way?

1. Overview

The accident occurred at a single-lane roundabout located in a suburban area. The roundabout was connected to a rural highway, and a "Yield" sign was posted at the entrance.

Vehicle A: A Honda CR-V that had already entered the roundabout and was traveling within it.

Vehicle B: A Ford Fusion approaching the roundabout from the northern entry road, attempting to enter.

2. Accident Situation

The accident occurred around 3:00 p.m. under clear weather conditions.

Vehicle A had already completed about half of the roundabout and was preparing to exit toward the south. It was traveling at a steady speed of approximately 15 mph (24 km/h) and maintained a stable path without veering excessively or encroaching on the central island.

In contrast, Vehicle B entered the roundabout from the north at a speed of approximately 25 to 30 mph (40–48 km/h) without slowing down or stopping. Despite the presence of a "Yield" sign, the driver of Vehicle B failed to notice Vehicle A already circulating in the roundabout and proceeded to enter. As a result, Vehicle B struck the front-right door and fender of Vehicle A. The impact caused Vehicle A to lose control and be pushed out of the roundabout.

3. Fault Attribution

Vehicle A (Inside the Roundabout)

Vehicle A was traveling at a safe and steady speed within the roundabout and maintained its lane properly. However, it was found that the vehicle activated its right turn signal too late, just about one second before attempting to exit the roundabout. This delay may have failed to clearly communicate its intent to Vehicle B.

→ As a result, Vehicle A was assigned 10% fault in the accident.

Vehicle B (Entering the Roundabout)

Vehicle B entered the roundabout from the northern approach at a speed of approximately 25 to 30 mph (40–48 km/h) without slowing down or stopping, despite the presence of a clearly posted "Yield" sign. The driver failed to recognize that Vehicle A was already circulating within the roundabout and proceeded to enter without yielding. Video evidence showed no signs of braking, indicating that the driver made no attempt to assess the situation before entering.

→ Consequently, Vehicle B was assigned 90% fault for the collision.

4. Legal Issues

The key legal issues in this case can be summarized into two main points:

Right-of-Way in the Roundabout

According to traffic regulations, a vehicle that has already entered a roundabout has the right-of-way over entering vehicles.

Therefore, if Vehicle A was already circulating within the roundabout when Vehicle B attempted to enter, the failure of Vehicle B to yield becomes the primary issue of liability.

Obligation to Signal Before Exiting

Even in a roundabout, drivers are required to use turn signals to indicate their intention to exit.

If Vehicle A delayed using its signal, it could have reduced the predictability of its actions for other drivers, and this may justify assigning a portion of fault.

5. Legal Basis for Roundabout Collision Cases

Right-of-Way Within a Roundabout

In most U.S. states, vehicles that have already entered a roundabout are granted the right-of-way.

Drivers approaching a roundabout must slow down or come to a complete stop, and may only enter when the roundabout is clear.

If a driver fails to yield and a collision occurs, the entering vehicle is typically held primarily at fault.

Obligation to Use Turn Signals

Traffic laws require drivers to signal continuously before making a turn or changing lanes.

This rule also applies when exiting a roundabout.

Failure to use a turn signal—or signaling too late—can reduce the predictability of the vehicle's actions and may lead to a partial fault assessment.

6. Conclusion

The court determined that the primary cause of the accident was Vehicle B’s failure to slow down and yield as required. As a result, Vehicle B was assigned 90% of the fault.

Although Vehicle A was traveling properly within the roundabout, it was assigned 10% of the fault for failing to clearly indicate its intention to exit in a timely manner.

Accordingly, the majority of the liability rested with Vehicle B, and its insurance provider was held responsible for covering the full cost of Vehicle A’s repairs and related damages.