Harlene Labrum | November 6, 2023 | Car Accidents
Failure To Yield Accidents
There are many behaviors that responsible drivers consistently exhibit while behind the wheel. All drivers have a legal duty to drive as safely as possible, which includes paying close attention to the road and following traffic laws. Striving to meet this legal duty helps protect us and the other drivers we encounter on the road, but even responsible drivers are at risk of getting into an accident caused by another driver’s negligence. Traffic law violations often lead to preventable crashes, such as failure to yield accidents caused by one driver failing to respect another’s right of way. If you have been injured in an accident caused by the negligence of another motorist, consider calling the knowledgeable Tennessee car accident lawyers of Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers at (615) 685-8546 to learn more about seeking financial compensation.
What is Failure to Yield?
Traffic laws are designed to keep the roads as safe as possible and to minimize accidents. Unfortunately, not all drivers respect the rules of the road, which endangers the surrounding vehicles. Failure to yield laws apply in a few different situations in which one driver has a legal obligation to allow another driver to proceed. Some common examples include:
- When two or more drivers arrive at a four-way stop sign, the first to arrive has the right of way. If two vehicles arrived at the same time, the right of way goes to the vehicle furthest to the right. In situations with three vehicles, the vehicle furthest to the left should yield to the other two vehicles.
- Three-way intersections in which one road ends with no stop sign or traffic lights require the driver on the road that ends to yield to the drivers on the other roadway. If there is a stop sign, the left-most vehicle must yield to the vehicles on the right side.
- In situations where a traffic light is not working, all vehicles must stop at the light and must only continue when it is safe to do so. The stop sign rules above apply when multiple vehicles arrive at the intersection simultaneously.
- All drivers must yield to emergency vehicles, such as police cars and ambulances.
- Motorists are legally obligated to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks.
When a driver fails to follow failure to yield laws and injures someone else in an accident, the injured individual may have grounds to seek financial compensation through an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
Failure to Yield Laws in Tennessee
Right-of-way rules are found in every state, but the specifics may vary slightly. In Tennessee, laws on the failure to yield the right of way are found in section § 55-8-197 of the Tennessee legal code. Someone who fails to yield but does not cause an accident will receive a traffic citation, as well as 4 points on their official Tennessee motor vehicle record. In cases where a driver fails to yield and causes an accident that results in serious or fatal injuries, the driver could be charged with a criminal misdemeanor offense – Class B for serious bodily injuries and Class A for fatal crashes. A conviction for either of these offenses can result in jail time, fines, probation, and driver’s license suspensions.
In addition to possible criminal penalties, negligent drivers who injure others in failure to yield accidents can face civil penalties in the form of insurance claims and personal injury lawsuits. Victims of these crashes may be entitled to financial compensation for personal and financial damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, lost earning potential, pain and suffering, and more. The experienced team of Tennessee car accident lawyers at Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers is ready to help car accident victims understand their legal options after a crash.
Negligence for Failure to Yield in an Accident
Traffic crashes are some of the most common causes of accidental injuries in the United States, and those who suffer these injuries often struggle with a variety of economic and personal difficulties caused by their injuries. In the hours and days following an accident, there will likely be investigations from the police and the drivers’ insurance companies. In both cases, the investigation will attempt to determine who was responsible for the crash.
Tennessee is an at-fault state according to the Tennessee Financial Responsibility Laws. This means that the driver who is found to be responsible for causing the crash is legally responsible for the damages suffered by others who were injured in the crash. The at-fault driver’s insurance company is obligated to pay for damages up to the limit of the insurance policy, with the driver bearing the legal burden of paying the remainder of damages. However, some car accident victims struggle to deal with the insurance company, as these companies may attempt to limit or deny damages. This is why in some car accident cases, people injured in the crash decide to hire a personal injury lawyer and file a lawsuit in order to seek the full damages they believe they are entitled to.
Learn More About What to do After a Failure to Yield Accident From an Experienced Car Accident Lawyer
Getting back on track after a serious car accident can be a difficult, lengthy process. Serious injuries can result in long hospital stays, expensive long-term medical care, time away from work, and both physical and emotional pain and suffering. Those who are injured in accidents caused by other negligent drivers do not deserve the financial burden of going through this recovery alone. The insurance system and personal injury lawsuits provide two avenues for recovering the financial compensation you deserve after a car accident that was not your fault.
The team of Tennessee car accident lawyers at Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers has experience representing victims of failure to yield accidents and other types of crashes caused by negligence. We are prepared to help you deal with the insurance company and file a personal injury lawsuit to recover the full financial compensation you are entitled to, if necessary. Consider contacting Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers today at (615) 685-8546 to learn more about your rights in a free consultation.
Contact the Nashville Car Accident Attorneys at Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers Today
For more information, please contact the Nashville car accident law firm of Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers, to schedule a free consultation today.
We proudly serve Nashville, Brentwood, and its surrounding areas in Tennessee:
Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers – Nashville
315 Deaderick St, Suite 1525
Nashville, TN 37238
(615) 685-8546
Labrum Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers – Brentwood
320 Seven Springs Way, Suite 250
Brentwood, TN 37027
(615) 455-3384