Car Accidents: Failure to Yield
When a driver turns on their vehicle and proceeds into the roadway, they automatically owe a duty of care to their fellow drivers and pedestrians on the road. This means that a driver has a legal duty to operate their vehicle with reasonable care and to follow the rules of the road while driving. This includes following all traffic signals, rules of roundabouts, etc. but also driving safely for current traffic, road, weather and visibility conditions. An important rule of the road is yielding to other drivers and pedestrians when appropriate. If there is a failure to yield the right of way when it is legally required to do so, that driver may be legally liable for any traffic accident that happens as a result.
If you or a loved one was injured in an accident because another driver failed to yield, contact a car accident attorney as soon as possible. The injury lawyer can review the details of your accident and discuss your legal rights.
What is a failure to yield accident?
A failure to yield accident is caused by a driver failing to stop and give the right of way to another vehicle or pedestrian, causing a motor vehicle accident. In many failure to yield accidents, the injury victim is the one that crashes into the vehicle that failed to yield because they weren’t expecting the vehicle to be in the roadway.
Examples of failure to yield accidents:
- A driver drives through a 4-way stop when it isn’t their turn
- A driver turns left into oncoming traffic
- A driver fails to stop for a pedestrian at a cross walk
- A driver drives into a roundabout when there is already a car with the right of way inside the roundabout
- A driver enters the street from a private driveway into oncoming traffic
- A driver backs out of a parking spot into an oncoming vehicle
- A driver drives straight through an intersection with a flashing yellow or red light
- A driver merges into another car on a freeway on-ramp
Determining fault in failure to yield accidents
If you were injured in a failure to yield accident, you may be entitled to sue to recover damages such as medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering. The insurance companies of the injured driver and the at-fault driver will immediately look to determine fault for the accident. This is why it is important to take pictures of the scene and debris, any visible injuries and damage to the vehicles if at all possible. It is also important to exchange insurance and contact information with the other driver and any witnesses. In situations where fault is being contested, your personal injury attorney may need to hire an accident reconstruction specialist to review any available evidence in order to reconstruct how the accident happened and help determine fault.
Seek the help of a car accident attorney
If you or a loved one was injured because of the negligence of another, contact a personal injury lawyer to discuss your legal rights. Let an experienced car accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times larger with the help of a lawyer. Call the personal injury lawyers at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
