Stop signs are the road’s simplest instruction and among its most violated — rolling stops, right-of-way confusion, and outright runs produce intersection crashes with usually-clear fault. Here are the rules, and how violation gets proven when the other driver swears they stopped.
- The rules: a complete stop at the line or before the crosswalk; at four-ways, first-arrived goes first with ties yielding to the right; two-way stops yield to all through traffic — Pennsylvania’s vehicle code framework PennDOT driver materials summarize.
- Violation is negligence evidence: running or rolling the sign is the classic right-of-way failure — the fault fingerprint is impact geometry: who was established in the intersection, struck where.
- The ‘I stopped’ dispute: stopping doesn’t end the duty — stopping then pulling into traffic that had the right of way is the same violation with better manners. Cameras, witnesses, and physics resolve the swearing contest.
- Pedestrians and cyclists: stop-line and crosswalk duties protect them specifically — sign-running strikes on walkers and riders carry the same analysis with higher stakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
We both had stop signs and both claim the other ran it. Now what?
Impact points, debris fields, and camera canvassing reconstruct arrival order and speeds — the physics usually knows who paused and who performed. Comparative fault handles genuine splits.
The driver stopped, then pulled out right into me. They say they ‘did everything right.’
Stopping is half the duty — yielding is the other half, and pulling into established traffic violates it. This is among the most common intersection claims we handle.
What does hiring you cost?
No attorney’s fee unless we recover; the contingency percentage and cost handling are in the written fee agreement. Consultations are free.
Questions about your situation? Call (215) 464-4600 or contact us online — free, confidential consultations, contingency-fee representation.