When it comes to navigating the roads, many drivers act as though they always have the right of way, but this behavior can lead to serious accidents. A failure to yield occurs when a driver doesn’t give way to another vehicle or pedestrian as required by traffic laws, resulting in an accident. If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by another driver’s failure to yield, you may have grounds to seek compensation for both financial and non-financial damages. TraumaLaw is here to support you and help you pursue the justice you deserve.
Below, we outline the most common types of failure to yield infractions that occur on roads across the United States. Understanding these scenarios is crucial, as they can significantly affect your case if you’ve been involved in such an accident.
Failure to Yield at a Four-Way Stop
A four-way stop is a common type of intersection in the United States, and it’s often referred to as an “uncontrolled intersection.” When two cars approach the intersection from different directions, the general rule is that the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the immediate right. Additionally, the car that stops first at the intersection has the right of way.
Failure to yield at a four-way stop can occur when one driver disregards these rules, leading to a collision. This situation typically arises when an intersection lacks traffic signals, stop signs, or when there are defective stoplights. If you find yourself in an accident at a four-way stop and the other driver failed to yield, it’s important to document the situation as best as you can. Taking pictures of the scene, including the position of the vehicles and any surrounding signs, can help prove that you had the right of way and that the other party was at fault.
Failure to Yield at a Three-Way Intersection
Three-way intersections can be tricky, as the failure to yield rules here differ slightly from those at a four-way stop. The law stipulates that the driver on the dead-end road, or the one approaching from the terminating highway, must yield to the driver on the continuing road, regardless of who arrives at the intersection first.
In simple terms, if two vehicles approach a three-way intersection at the same time, the car on the dead-end road must yield to the vehicle traveling on the continuing road. If you’re involved in an accident at a three-way intersection, the key argument often revolves around who arrived at the intersection first.
Failure to Yield When Making a Left Turn
In most states, when a driver is making a left turn onto a highway, public property, private property, or an alley, they are required by law to yield to any oncoming traffic. The law considers approaching cars to be a potential danger if they are within a certain distance. Failure to yield during a left turn can result in a ticket, and the officer ticketing you will assess whether your turn was made safely and in accordance with traffic laws.
When defending yourself against a failure to yield violation for a left turn, the term “reasonable safety” plays a significant role. If your left turn was not made with sufficient caution or posed a danger to oncoming drivers, it could be grounds for a ticket or penalty.
Failure to Yield at Stop and Yield Signs
Simply stopping at a stop sign or yield sign does not necessarily protect you from receiving a ticket. If you fail to adequately yield the right of way to another driver who is legally entitled to it, you may be cited for failure to yield. This situation often occurs when a driver enters an intersection without properly assessing oncoming traffic or fails to stop completely when required.
Failure to yield in such cases usually involves entering an intersection when traffic from another direction constitutes a potential hazard. A common defense in these cases is that the other driver may have been at fault in causing the danger. If you find yourself in such a situation, a TraumaLaw attorney can assist you in proving your case and ensuring that you are not unfairly penalized.
How TraumaLaw Can Help
Accidents caused by failure to yield can be extremely frustrating, especially if you’ve been injured due to another driver’s negligence. At TraumaLaw, we understand how important it is to seek compensation for both the physical and emotional toll these accidents can take on your life. Our experienced Los Angeles Car Accident Attorneys specialize in traffic accident cases, including failure to yield violations.
Whether the failure to yield occurred at a four-way stop, a three-way intersection, during a left turn, or at a stop or yield sign, we are here to help you navigate the legal process. Our team will work diligently to investigate your case, gather evidence, and ensure that you receive the financial compensation you deserve.
If you’ve been involved in a failure to yield accident, don’t wait—contact TraumaLaw today. Our dedicated legal team is ready to assist you and fight for your rights. Let us help you recover from your injuries and get back on track.
