No one enjoys being in a car accident and many car accidents happen when a driver fails to yield the right-of-way. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 94 percent of car accidents are due to driver error, and their data show that in 2019, failure to yield errors were responsible for 15 percent of fatal accidents. Knowing who has the right-of-way is the responsibility of every driver who gets behind the wheel. Sometimes, drivers in a hurry ignore the rules, or they may be unfamiliar with the area where they are traveling.
What Are Examples of Failure to Yield Accidents?
Some common examples of failure to yield accidents include:
- Failure to yield while changing lanes or merging.
- Failure to yield at a crosswalk.
- Failure to yield to cyclists.
- Failure to yield at a four way stop.
- Failure to yield at a yellow or red light.
- Failure to yield when entering a road from a driveway.
- Failure to yield to oncoming traffic when turning left.
Some situations are particularly dangerous, such as failure to yield to a school bus, or not yielding to a speeding emergency vehicle. These and any of the above examples can result in a rear-end collision, head-on collision, T-bone accident, or sideswipe accident.
What Are Common Causes of Failure to Yield Accidents?
Assuming that most drivers know the rules of the road and when they should yield the right-of-way, what causes all these driver errors? There are many reasons why a driver may fail to yield, such as:
- Distracted driving: If a driver is looking at their cellphone, eating, drinking, talking to passengers, choosing music, or is otherwise distracted, they may fail to notice who has the right-of-way.
- Drowsy driving: Fatigue is a major factor in driver error, especially among teen drivers and those who spend many hours on the road, such as truck and delivery drivers.
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol: Drugs and alcohol impair a driver’s judgement, vision, and reflexes, which means they are more likely to fail to yield the right-of-way.
- Speeding: Driving faster than the posted speed limit makes it difficult to stop quickly, and this includes braking to yield to another car that has the right-of-way. Some cars that are speeding also go through yellow and red lights rather than have to slam on the brakes and come to a screeching halt.
In some cases, the driver may not be at fault for not yielding the right-of-way, like a manufacturing defect that causes a mechanical failure. In these instances, a third-party lawsuit can be a way to seek compensation for injuries suffered in a failure to yield accident. For help determining your best path for legal compensation, contact an experienced car accident lawyer right away.
Alexandria Car Accident Lawyers at the Law Offices of Duane O. King Fight for Those Injured in Failure to Yield Accidents
If you have been injured in a failure to yield accident, speak with our Alexandria car accident lawyers at the Law Offices of Duane O. King for legal help. Call 202-331-1963 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. From our offices in Washington, D.C., Alexandria, and Falls Church, Virginia, we serve clients in Prince George’s County, including Laurel, Beltsville, Adelphi, College Park, Greenbelt, Mitchellville, Woodmore, Greater Upper Marlboro, Springdale, Largo, Bowie, Capitol Heights, District Heights, Forestville, Suitland, Seat Pleasant, Clinton, Oxon Hill, Temple Hills, and Fort Washington.
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