Some reckless motorists drive as if the traffic rules do not apply to them. Often, these drivers fail to yield the right of way to other road users. All motorists have a duty of care towards other drivers and must obey the rules put in place to avoid causing serious harm. This includes taking caution around other drivers, motorbike riders, pedestrians, and cyclists. Failure to do so can result in a car accident, and the negligent drivers can be held liable for the damages they cause.
A failure to yield accident is a type of collision that arises from a driver’s failure to allow a pedestrian, cyclist or other motorists to go through an intersection or crossing first. Such accidents can be serious, leading to severe injuries and sometimes a loss of life. If you were injured in a similar accident, talking to a dedicated auto wreck attorney can help your rights against the party responsible for the crash. Our Missouri City failure to yield accident lawyers are the to-go-to people for such cases.
As mentioned, to yield the right of way is a legal obligation. This means that a driver must allow another car or person to go first in certain traffic situations. However, state traffic laws do not give this right to a specific driver or individual, as it depends on the circumstances. It is sometimes difficult to determine fault when an accident occurs. This is why an experienced legal professional may be needed to advise on which driver had the right of way.
Whenever two vehicles approach at an intersection at the same time, one of them must give way to the other. In this scenario, the driver on the left should yield the to the one on the right. This applies to all motorists including cyclists.
But for pedestrians, this rule does not apply. Pedestrians always retain the right of way when crossing a road at a crosswalk without a traffic signal. However, pedestrians should maintain eye contact with the driver to ensure that they are aware of your presence. Fortunately, there are marked areas where drivers are compelled to stop and yield to pedestrians through road signs. If you were hit in such an area, our local accident lawyers can help bring the driver to justice for their failure to yield.
To maintain road safety and avoid crashes, special rules have been put in place. Under these rules, drivers are expected to yield the right of way to other motorists in certain situations. Drivers must yield to:
If your accident did not happen in any of the above situations, you should consider speaking to an attorney to assist in evaluating your right of way case. Being confused about the legalities around your accident should not stop you from seeking compensation for your injuries.
Failure to yield collisions occur due to a variety of reasons. Some are tied to the driver, while other less common causes are as a result of vehicle mechanical failure. Over 90% of these accidents are attributed to human error, meaning that the drivers themselves are directly responsible due to their actions or inactions.
Some of these causes include:
Regardless of the cause of your right of way accident, it is crucial to retain a lawyer who could guide you through the legal aspects of your case.
In almost all cases, the driver who failed to yield is held responsible for the accident. This means that their auto-insurance may be responsible to pay for your claims. If they did not have coverage at the time of the accident, there is no other choice but for them to compensate you from their assets, or for you to use your own Uninsured Motorist coverage
Determining liability is also dependent on each party’s percentage of fault. The amount you receive as compensation will be reduced by the percentage that you were at fault. For example, if you were 20% at-fault for the accident, and your damages are valued at $10,000, your final payout will be $8,000. An attorney who focuses on failure to yield incidents could help you obtain the maximum amount of damages for your case.
At Lone Star Injury Attorneys, our Missouri City failure to yield accident lawyers are fully committed to ensuring that our clients receive maximum compensation for their damages, economic (medical bills) and non-economic (pain and suffering). If you or your loved one was injured in a right of way incident, please call our offices today to schedule a free evaluation for your case.
