Failure to Yield Accidents

Respected Southern California Car Accident Lawyers Serving Clients in Los Angeles and Orange Counties

One of the most important things drivers learn in drivers’ education is when they must yield the right of way to other motorists. As drivers gain experience, knowing when to yield becomes second nature in most situations. However, new drivers and even experienced motorists may have difficulty knowing when to yield, especially in situations involving confusing traffic patterns. At Power Trial Lawyers, our team of Los Angeles car accident attorneys has extensive experience helping accident victims recover financial compensation for their injuries after failure to yield accidents. We can help you understand your rights and effectively pursue a claim for damages, ensuring you are fairly compensated for what you’ve been through.

Avoiding Failure to Yield Accidents

Drivers are legally obligated to yield the right of way in certain situations. In this way, the vast majority of failure to yield accidents are entirely preventable. Thus, drivers who do not yield the right of way may be liable for any damages caused by their negligence. Drivers should take the following precautions to avoid failure to yield accidents.

Slow Down

Anytime a driver approaches an intersection, crosswalk, or yield sign, they should slow down, especially if they are unfamiliar with the traffic pattern in that particular area.

Avoid Distractions

Distracted driving is one of the leading causes of failure to yield accidents because distracted drivers often fail to notice another driver, pedestrian, or cyclist that has the right of way. By avoiding all distractions, motorists can greatly reduce the chances of an accident.

Check an Intersection Before Entering

Even if you have the right of way, it’s always best to make sure the intersection is clear before proceeding. You shouldn’t assume that other drivers are paying attention or that they will yield the right of way, even when they should.

Avoid Running Traffic Lights

Many failure to yield accidents happen at intersections with traffic lights. To minimize the chances of an accident, you should refrain from running yellow or red lights, as the drivers who are waiting for their light to turn green will probably assume that you are planning to stop.

By taking these precautions, you can significantly reduce the chances of an accident. Of course, some accidents are completely unavoidable. In these situations, accident victims may consider bringing a personal injury lawsuit to recover for the damages they sustained.

Bringing a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Failure to Yield Accident

Drivers, passengers, pedestrians and cyclists who are injured in a failure to yield accident can file a personal injury claim against the at-fault driver. To succeed in these cases, you must prove that the other party was legally negligent. In this context, negligence is a legal term requiring you to prove the following elements:

• The other driver owed you a duty of care;
• The other driver’s actions or inactions violated the duty of care they owed to you;
• The other driver’s actions were the cause of the accident; and
• You suffered legally recognizable damages as a result of the accident.

While proving a car accident lawsuit may seem straightforward in theory, in practice, there are often many complications making the process more difficult than most accident victims imagine. An experienced Los Angeles car accident attorney can help victims effectively bring a claim to ensure they are fairly compensated for their injuries and other damages.

Were You Injured in a Failure to Yield Accident?

If you or a loved one was recently injured in a Southern California failure to yield accident, reach out to Power Trial Lawyers to schedule a free consultation. At Power Trial Lawyers, we take pride in offering each of our many clients with attentive, comprehensive representation designed to maximize their damages while making the process as easy on them as possible. We have more than ten years of experience successfully bringing car accident lawsuits on behalf of our clients and know what it takes to win even the toughest cases. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation with an attorney today, call (888) 808-2179. You can also connect with us through our online contact form. We proudly represent clients in Los Angeles County and Orange County and have conveniently located offices in Los Angeles and Newport Beach.