From the moment we’re taught to drive, we’re all taught what we need to do to keep ourselves and others safe. Any licensed driver should understand the rules of the road. Driving might seem like a common part of the day, and many might not think that much about it. We all have a duty to be responsible when we’re behind the wheel. If a driver slightly disregards the rules, they can cause a serious accident, harming them and everyone around them. The most you can do is make sure you’re doing everything you can to be safe, but you can’t control what others do.
One of the most important things for drivers to understand is the rule of right-of-way. If another driver fails to yield for you when you have the right of way, you can end up with significant injuries. When you’re seriously injured in an accident, you need someone who can help you get financial compensation. After your accident, a failure-to-yield accident attorney in St. Louis, MO, can provide legal support to help you in your recovery.
There are multiple occasions when a driver is expected to yield to others. These accidents can also occur for many different reasons. A driver might not be paying close enough attention to notice that they don’t have the right-of-way or that other cars are coming, they could be driving drunk, or they might just be ignoring this rule altogether. Whatever caused another driver to fail to yield when you have the right-of-way, you need a personal injury lawyer who has experience with these types of accidents.
Here are some common types of failure-to-yield accidents.
Accidents involving a pedestrian can be especially bad, as pedestrians have nothing to protect themselves against a vehicle’s impact. Common myth—most people think that drivers must always yield to pedestrians. This is not always true. Pedestrians must cross at a crosswalk and they must also obey the rules of the road regarding lights and signs. In some municipalities, a case may not even be considered if the pedestrian was not crossing in a crosswalk.
Every vehicle must move aside to a safe spot or yield and let first responders through during an emergency. This includes ambulances, police cars, and fire trucks that have lights or sirens on. Not yielding for emergency vehicles or not allowing them to pass not only delays them, but it can cause an accident involving multiple vehicles.
Often, when a driver is in a position where they’re expected to yield for someone else, there will be a yield sign making it clear. Whatever the reason for a yield sign, drivers need to adhere to it. Drivers should always be alert to road signs around them to keep everyone protected.
This is confusing for some drivers. Generally speaking, the first car that arrives at a stop sign has the right of way. If two or three cars arrive at the four-way stop at the same time, the right-of-way goes to the driver who is on the right. If you are on the left, you must yield the right-of-way. In fact, this can be confusing, so you must assume that other drivers may not yield. Proceed carefully and do not assume it is a contest as that never works out well.
Yielding is essential whenever you’re merging or changing lanes. This is especially important for drivers when merging onto the highway, where other drivers are already driving at high speeds. These drivers can cause a serious accident if they attempt to merge onto the highway without yielding.
If you have the right of way, getting hit by a driver who fails to yield can be a jarring experience. This accident can leave you with significant damage to your vehicle and serious injuries that can cause you to face additional challenges in multiple aspects of life. Financial compensation is extremely important to help you make it through these challenges and aid in your recovery. At The Cagle Law Firm, we know how difficult it can sometimes be to get the compensation you deserve. Because of this, we work hard to help you get what you need to recover.
If you’ve recently been in a failure-to-yield accident, we’re here to provide expert legal services. Contact us for a free consultation with a failure-to-yield accident lawyer in St. Louis, MO, to discuss your situation.
The Cagle Law Firm serves accident and injury clients throughout St. Louis and the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, including the eastern Missouri and southern Illinois communities. If you or a loved one needs legal assistance with your personal injury case, call The Cagle Law Firm at (314) 276-1681 or use our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.
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