Knowing the rules of the road is essential to being a safe driver, especially traffic laws that govern who has the right-of-way and who must yield. Ignoring or forgetting these rules will likely lead to a car accident. Unfortunately, failure-to-yield accidents are common.
Maryland is an at-fault insurance state, meaning that the driver whose actions caused the accident is typically responsible for paying for the injuries and property damage for all parties involved. When a driver fails to yield or does not have the right-of-way, and an accident occurs, that driver will likely be found at fault. However, there are instances where multiple parties can be found liable for an accident.
The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) states that every driver is responsible for safely controlling their vehicle. Each driver has a duty of care and should know what to do in standard traffic situations, particularly when determining who has the right-of-way.
In the following scenarios, these vehicles would have the right-of-way, meaning other cars must yield to them:
- When making a left turn against oncoming traffic, the vehicles in the oncoming lanes have the right-of-way.
- When approaching an intersection with stop signs simultaneously, the vehicle on your right has the right-of-way.
- Vehicles already traveling on a public road has the right-of-way over vehicles entering the road from a driveway or street.
- Vehicles already traveling on a highway or interstate have the right-of-way over vehicles attempting to enter from an entrance or onramp.
- Pedestrians and cyclists have the right-of-way at an intersection or crosswalk.
- In a T-intersection, cars entering by making either a left or right turn must yield to vehicles already traveling through.
- A vehicle approaching a yield sign must yield to oncoming traffic accordingly.
When a driver ignores the right-of-way rules, situations can often turn dangerous. Vehicles attempting a U-turn or trying to pass another vehicle can lead to a devastating accident when not done carefully or within the traffic laws.
Common Failure-to-Yield Accident Injuries
Injuries resulting from a failure-to-yield accident vary in severity. Many accidents of this type are side-impact collisions and happen at high speed, such as when a vehicle speeding on an onramp does not yield to traffic already on the highway. The sides of a car have the least protection, and serious injuries can occur when a car is impacted in that area.
These injuries can include:
- Cuts, bruises, scrapes
- Broken or fractured bones
- Concussions or traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
- Head injuries
- Neck and shoulder injuries
- Internal organ damage
It is essential to understand that even if a driver fails to yield, it is not definite that they will be found liable for the accident. For instance, other outside factors may cause a driver not to yield the right-of-way, such as a driver already on the highway driving recklessly or speeding.
Evidence for Your Case
It is essential to gather evidence at the accident scene, like photos, videos, and witness statements, which will help prove that the other driver is at fault. The subsequent police report can help in this situation as well. However, the best way to confirm that the other driver is liable is to hire a personal injury lawyer.
Towson Personal Injury Lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC Help Those Injured in Failure-to-Yield Car Accidents
Many car accidents occur because a driver is negligent and disobeys the right-of-way traffic laws. Contact our Towson personal injury lawyers at Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC if you need legal representation after an accident. Call us at 443-589-0150 or fill out our online form for a free consultation. Located in Hunt Valley and Towson, Maryland, we serve clients in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Bel Air, Bentley Springs, Columbia, Freeland, Hereford, Hampton, Westminster, Essex, Monkton, Sparks Glencoe, Parkton, Phoenix, Pikesville, White Hall, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County.
