Causes of Roundabout Car Accidents in North Texas

Knowledgeable North Texas Car Accident Lawyers Back Those Injured in Roundabout Collisions

Roundabouts have proliferated in North Texas in recent years, replacing conventional intersections governed by stop signs or lights. State and federal regulators prefer roundabouts for their ability to reduce overall traffic collision rates at intersections.

Statistics demonstrate that roundabouts are safer than conventional intersections. However, this doesn’t mean a roundabout can reduce crashes to zero. Roundabout accidents can still occur. If you’ve been injured in a roundabout crash, speak to an experienced roundabout injury attorney in North Texas today. The team at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is here to help. 

Common Roundabout Locations in North Texas

About 45 percent of all injury crashes nationwide occur at conventional intersections, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Roundabouts aim to reduce the number of intersection collisions and the resulting deaths and serious injuries. 

Fort Worth began installing roundabouts in 2012. Since then, the city has added dozens. Roads with more than one roundabout include Blue Mound Road, Cullen Road, Elizabeth Boulevard, and Golden Triangle Boulevard. 

Dallas, Frisco, Flower Mound, and Denton have also seen a roundabout installation increase in the past few years. Frisco’s city website lists eight multi-lane roundabouts in Frisco, including two each on John Hickman Parkway, Teel Parkway, and Fields Parkway. The city’s website says it plans to install additional roundabouts in the coming years. Denton’s website listed five roundabouts open to the public as of December 2025, including two on Shoreline Drive.

What Causes Roundabout Accidents? 

Roundabouts use a one-way, circular shape to guide traffic around an intersection without forcing vehicles to continually cross one another’s paths. While some path crossings remain, others are eliminated. The tight curves of most roundabouts are also intended to reduce vehicle speed, thereby reducing momentum and the potential damage that could result from a collision. 

Despite their design, roundabouts are not accident-proof. Drivers who fail to yield, don’t pay attention, make improper lane changes, or stop in the middle of a roundabout can cause serious injuries to those around them. 

Failure to Yield

Yielding is “the golden rule” of driving in a roundabout, according to the Dallas County Public Works Department. Drivers using a roundabout must:

• Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk as they approach the roundabout,
• Yield to all traffic – including bicyclists – coming from the left before entering the roundabout, 
• Yield to any pedestrian in the crosswalk before exiting the roundabout. 

When drivers yield properly, they maximize the safety benefits of roundabouts. Yielding prompts drivers to look around, pay attention to traffic, and take steps to navigate safely. Failure to yield eliminates these benefits, greatly increasing the risk of a collision. 

Failing to Watch for Pedestrians or Bicyclists

Roundabouts change traffic patterns not only for cars but also for pedestrians and bicyclists. Bicyclists may cycle through a roundabout like a car does or may walk their bikes through pedestrian areas. While most roundabouts have marked crosswalks and spaces for pedestrians and bicyclists, drivers using the roundabout must stay alert for these travelers as well as for vehicles. 

When drivers don’t pay attention, pedestrians and bicyclists can be injured. Drivers who are speeding, distracted, or intoxicated are particularly likely to miss a pedestrian or bicyclist using the roundabout – with serious consequences. 

Improper Lane Changes

Changing lanes in a roundabout is a common cause of crashes. Roundabout traffic rules require drivers to choose a lane before entering the roundabout – “just like any other intersection,” notes the City of Denton on its website. 

Changing lanes in a roundabout can result in an accident. Drivers in a roundabout aren’t looking for lane changes, and the tight turn in a roundabout can make it tough to see drivers in one’s blind spot. 

Stopping in a Roundabout

Roundabouts are designed to maintain the flow of traffic. Vehicles in the roundabout have the right of way because they have no opportunity to stop while they’re in the roundabout. When a car stops in a roundabout, it becomes an obstacle that can easily trigger a crash. 

Stopping in a roundabout is so dangerous that the City of Denton warns drivers not to do it even if an emergency vehicle is approaching. Instead, drivers should exit the roundabout as soon as possible, then pull to the right to allow the emergency vehicle to pass.

Speeding

Speeding drivers raise the risk of a crash at all intersections, notes the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Roundabouts seek to reduce the severity of intersection crashes by reducing the speed at which cars can travel through an intersection.

Speeding comes in two forms: exceeding the posted speed limit and driving too fast for road conditions. Many roundabout crashes result from drivers going too fast as they enter or exit the roundabout. Speeding through a roundabout can:

• Prevent drivers from spotting oncoming traffic, pedestrians, or bicyclists, 
• Cause a driver to make an illegal lane change to keep the vehicle on the road,
• Force a vehicle to leave the roadway, increasing the risk of a collision in a crosswalk or on the median. 

Speeding raises the risks in a roundabout for everyone on the road. When coupled with intoxication or distraction, speeding becomes even more dangerous. 

Distracted, Drowsy, and Drunk Driving

Reduced speed and requirements to yield at the intersection enhance safety at roundabouts. When drivers are distracted, drowsy, drunk, or drugged, they may fail to slow down or to spot others at the roundabout. Serious injuries can result. 

Drunk driving can significantly increase the risk of a roundabout crash. Drunk drivers are more likely to mistime entries and exits, drive too fast, weave out of their lanes, or even attempt to drive through the roundabout backwards. All these actions can pose serious risks to other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians. 

Common Injuries in Roundabout Accidents

Injuries in roundabout crashes can range from a few bumps or bruises to serious harm. Common injuries in North Texas collisions include:

• Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries,
• Neck, back, and soft tissue injuries,
• Broken bones,
• Physical pain and suffering,
• Emotional trauma and PTSD. 

Every crash is different, and so are the injuries each crash causes. For help getting the compensation you need for the harm you’ve suffered, talk to an experienced North Texas roundabout injury lawyer. 

What to Do After a Roundabout Accident

At the scene, always think safety first. Move out of the way of traffic if you can – but don’t move anyone who appears seriously injured. Call 911 for help. Take photos or video at the scene if you can, and grab contact information from others involved in the collision and from any witnesses who are present. 

Stay on Top of Time Limits

Texas law provides a two-year window, starting on the date of the accident, to file a claim for injuries after a roundabout crash. Once this window closes, a court will not accept your lawsuit. 

Insurance companies often have even shorter windows to file insurance claims. Some insurers won’t accept a claim after only one or two months. The sooner you act, the easier it is to preserve evidence and protect your claim. An attorney can help you stay on top of these deadlines. 

Gather Evidence

After a roundabout crash, you probably have paperwork on hand: towing fees, repair bills, medical bills, doctor’s notes, and more. 

Keep all this paperwork together in the same place. If you can, talk to witnesses at the accident scene. Take photos, make videos, or back up your dash cam footage. Make copies of all forms and other items you fill out for insurance and other purposes. This information can help you build a full, fair case for compensation. 

Talk to an Experienced North Texas Roundabout Accident Lawyer

Tight deadlines, vanishing evidence, and insurance tactics can all undermine your ability to secure the compensation you need. When you’re dealing with serious injuries, time can slip by – and you may struggle to deal with your case. The sooner you contact an attorney knowledgeable in handling roundabout crashes in North Texas, the sooner you connect with an advocate who can fight for you. 

How Can a North Texas Roundabout Accident Attorney Help Me?

Texas allows injured people to file lawsuits without an attorney’s help. However, state courts require a person filing a lawsuit to follow court rules and understand applicable laws – just like a practiced attorney. When you’re already dealing with serious injuries, handling your own case can be too much to handle. 

With experience in North Texas courts and a deep knowledge of Texas car accident law, the team at Chandler Ross PLLC can:

• Investigate your claim, preserve evidence, and build a case on your behalf.
• Anticipate and address insurance company attempts to avoid liability or pay less than full compensation on your claim.
• Protect your legal rights while fighting for maximum compensation on your behalf.

To learn more, reach out to the team at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys today. Contact us to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation with one of our North Texas roundabout injury lawyers.