Car Accidents
8 min read

Roundabout Accidents in Oregon: Right-of-Way Rules, Common Mistakes, and How to Prove Fault

A comprehensive Oregon guide to roundabout right-of-way, lane rules, evidence collection, and insurer disputes after a crash.
A comprehensive Oregon guide to roundabout right-of-way, lane rules, evidence collection, and insurer disputes after a crash.

Roundabout Accidents in Oregon: Right-of-Way Rules, Common Mistakes, and How to Prove Fault

Roundabouts are designed to reduce severe crashes, keep traffic moving, and simplify intersections. But when a collision happens, drivers often discover that insurers and even police reports misread what “right-of-way” means inside the circle. Oregon’s rules are clear once you know where to look, but roundabouts introduce lane‑choice obligations and exit duties that don’t exist at standard intersections. This guide rebuilds the picture from the ground up: the core legal rule, the lane‑specific responsibilities, and the evidence that helps correct an unfair fault decision.

Below you’ll find a step‑by‑step explanation of Oregon roundabout law, a map of common crash scenarios (especially in multi‑lane roundabouts), and practical tools for gathering proof, requesting camera footage, and appealing an insurer’s decision. All sources are linked to high‑quality public references. No law firm links are included.

Quick Summary (If You Only Have Two Minutes)

  • Entering traffic must yield to vehicles already circulating. That is the foundation of Oregon’s roundabout rule. See ORS 811.285: https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_811.285
  • Lane choice matters in multi‑lane roundabouts. Your lane sets your legal path and your right‑of‑way duties at exits.
  • Outer‑lane drivers often cause sideswipes by continuing past an exit that their lane is supposed to take.
  • Evidence wins disputes. Photos of signs, pavement arrows, lane markings, vehicle positions, and video footage can correct insurer mistakes.
  • You can appeal an insurer’s decision and file a consumer complaint with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation if needed: https://dfr.oregon.gov/insure/complaints/Pages/default.aspx

1. Oregon’s Core Roundabout Rule: Yield to Circulating Traffic

Oregon law sets the basic right‑of‑way rule for roundabouts in a single statute. Under ORS 811.285, a driver commits a violation if they enter a roundabout “without yielding the right of way to a vehicle that is in the roundabout.”

What that means in practice:

  • You must slow down and yield at the entry line.
  • You cannot force a vehicle already circulating to brake, stop, or swerve.
  • The circulating vehicle has priority until a safe gap appears.

Source: ORS 811.285 (Roundabout rules) — https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_811.285

Oregon’s driver education materials reinforce this rule, emphasizing that yield signs are mandatory and that traffic inside the roundabout has the right‑of‑way.

Source: Oregon Driver Manual — https://www.oregon.gov/odot/dmv/pages/online_manual/study-section_8.aspx

2. Why Roundabout Right‑of‑Way Confusion Happens

Roundabouts demand a different mental model than four‑way stops or signalized intersections. Instead of stop‑go cycles, you’re merging into a circulating stream. The result is a predictable mix of errors:

  • Treating yield as stop. Drivers stop when the roundabout is clear, inviting rear‑end collisions.
  • Using “first‑to‑arrive” logic. That works at four‑way stops; it does not apply to roundabouts.
  • Ignoring lane‑based exit duties. In multi‑lane roundabouts, the lane you choose controls where you must exit.

Federal highway guidance notes that roundabouts rely on lane guidance and circulating yield rules to maintain safety and reduce severe crash types.

Source: FHWA Roundabouts — https://highways.dot.gov/safety/intersection-safety/intersection-types/roundabouts

3. Single‑Lane vs. Multi‑Lane Roundabouts: Why the Differences Matter

Single‑Lane Roundabouts

Single‑lane roundabouts are simpler:

  • Only one circulating lane exists.
  • Entry drivers yield to circulating traffic.
  • Exiting is straightforward because there are no inside/outside lane conflicts.

Most disputes here center on failure to yield on entry or unsafe speed.

Multi‑Lane Roundabouts

Multi‑lane roundabouts add another layer: lane choice and exit responsibilities. The rules depend on the diagrammatic signs and pavement arrows before entry. These markings tell you which lane is assigned to which exits.

Common pattern:

  • Right/outer lane: first exit, and often the second exit.
  • Left/inner lane: later exits or a U‑turn.

That means the outer‑lane driver must exit when the lane is designated to exit, and cannot continue circling past that point if it would block an inner‑lane driver who is exiting properly.

Once you choose a lane in a multi‑lane roundabout, you are committing to the path assigned by signage and pavement markings. If your lane is marked to exit, you cannot legally keep circling in a way that cuts off a vehicle in the inner lane that is exiting.

Two other Oregon rules become especially important inside the circle:

A Common Fault Pattern: The Exit Sideswipe

The most frequent disputed crash is an exit sideswipe in a multi‑lane roundabout:

  1. Driver A enters in the inner lane to take a later exit.
  2. Driver A signals and begins exiting where the sign indicates.
  3. Driver B stays in the outer lane and continues past the exit.
  4. Driver B sideswipes Driver A as Driver A exits.

In this scenario, Driver B often violated their lane assignment and failed to yield to the exiting vehicle. Insurers who treat this like a standard “unsafe lane change” claim often assign fault incorrectly.

5. How Insurers Misread Roundabout Crashes

Insurance adjusters are typically trained on common intersection patterns: rear‑ends, red‑light violations, four‑way‑stop disputes. Roundabouts are newer and often underrepresented in claims training. That creates predictable errors:

  • Over‑reliance on point‑of‑impact charts. Sideswipe damage often triggers a default “shared fault” assumption.
  • Failure to account for lane assignment signs. The adjuster may not understand that the outer lane was required to exit.
  • Simplified narratives win. “They cut me off” is easier to process than a multi‑lane, sign‑based exit rule.

That’s why a clear evidence package is essential. You should expect to teach the roundabout rules to the adjuster using official sources and hard evidence.

6. Evidence That Changes Fault Decisions

A. Photos That Matter Most

At the scene (if safe), collect:

  • Wide‑angle photos showing vehicle positions relative to exits and lane markings.
  • Close‑up photos of pavement arrows, lane‑use markings, and solid white lines.
  • Diagrammatic entry signs showing lane assignments.
  • Damage photos that confirm the angle and sides involved.

These images transform a dispute from “he said, she said” into a map of who violated the lane assignment.

B. Video Footage (The Strongest Evidence)

  • Dashcam footage is the fastest way to resolve a right‑of‑way dispute.
  • Traffic cameras may be operated by ODOT or local agencies.
  • Private cameras (gas stations, retail stores) can provide critical footage if requested quickly.

If you need camera footage, act fast. Recordings are often overwritten within days.

ODOT Public Records Requests: https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Pages/odot-records.aspx

C. Neutral Witness Statements

Independent witnesses are powerful because they are not financially tied to the outcome. Get names, phone numbers, and (if possible) a brief written statement while memories are fresh.

D. The Police Report

The report anchors the timeline and includes citations, diagrams, and a narrative summary. Even if the report is incomplete, it still becomes part of the insurer’s file and can be corrected with supplemental evidence.

7. A Step‑by‑Step Evidence Checklist

At the scene:

  • Call 911 if anyone is injured.
  • Photograph vehicle positions before moving if safe.
  • Photograph entry signs and pavement arrows.
  • Get witness names and contact info.
  • Note time, weather, and visibility.

Within 24–48 hours:

  • Request the police report number.
  • Back up photos and videos to cloud storage.
  • Identify possible traffic cameras and nearby businesses.
  • Submit any urgent public records requests for footage.

8. Oregon‑Specific Resources That Help Your Claim

Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT)

Oregon Driver Manual

Official driver guidance on yield rules, roundabout navigation, and lane use:

Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR)

If an insurer ignores evidence or issues an unfair decision, you can file a consumer complaint:

9. How to Respond to an Unfair Insurance Decision

If the insurer assigns fault incorrectly, you can push back with a structured response:

  1. Request a written explanation for the decision and the evidence relied on.
  2. Respond in writing with your evidence package and cite the roundabout rules.
  3. Explain lane‑assignment logic using the entry signs and pavement arrows.
  4. Escalate to a supervisor if the adjuster doesn’t revisit the decision.
  5. File a DFR complaint if the insurer refuses to correct a clear error.

This is where links to official rules help. For example, citing ORS 811.285 and the Oregon Driver Manual can be persuasive because they are public and neutral.

10. FAQs About Oregon Roundabout Crashes

Who has the right‑of‑way in an Oregon roundabout?

Vehicles already circulating have the right‑of‑way. Entering vehicles must yield until a safe gap exists. See ORS 811.285: https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_811.285

Do I have to signal in a roundabout?

Oregon’s signaling laws apply to turns and lane changes in general. If you are exiting or changing lanes, you should signal as required by ORS 811.335. https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_811.335

What if I’m in the outer lane and want to go past the next exit?

You must follow the lane assignment signs and pavement markings. If your lane is designated for the next exit, continuing past it can violate the lane‑assignment rule and may place fault on you if a collision occurs.

What if the other driver says I “cut them off” when I exited?

Provide photos of the entry sign and pavement arrows showing your lane was assigned to the exit. Those visuals often correct the misunderstanding.

Can I request public camera footage in Oregon?

Yes. ODOT and local agencies handle public records requests. Act quickly because footage can be overwritten. https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Pages/odot-records.aspx

11. Practical Tips for Avoiding Roundabout Collisions

  • Choose your lane early. Check signs before entry.
  • Yield on entry. Don’t enter until traffic inside has a safe gap.
  • Don’t stop inside the circle. Keep traffic moving unless necessary to avoid a collision.
  • Stay in your lane. Avoid drifting and respect solid white lines.
  • Exit decisively if your lane is assigned to that exit.

For general roundabout safety guidance, see FHWA: https://highways.dot.gov/safety/intersection-safety/intersection-types/roundabouts

12. Key Takeaways

  • Oregon law requires drivers entering a roundabout to yield to circulating traffic.
  • In multi‑lane roundabouts, lane choice controls exit duties and right‑of‑way inside the circle.
  • Insurer mistakes are common, especially in exit sideswipe cases.
  • Evidence — photos, signage, pavement arrows, video — is the fastest way to correct fault decisions.
  • Oregon provides formal complaint options through the Division of Financial Regulation.

If you were in a roundabout crash, build your evidence file early and use official sources to reinforce the rules. A clear, well‑organized record can change the outcome of your claim.

    Share:
    Back to Blog

    Related Posts

    View All Posts »