Traffic signs, signals, and laws are important for all drivers in Johns Creek. That includes yielding the right-of-way when appropriate. If a driver fails to yield at the right time and causes an accident, they’re responsible for the damages.
Talk to a Johns Creek truck accident lawyer if you were injured in an accident. You can learn your legal rights and compensation options. If you were not at fault, you have the right to seek financial recovery for what you’ve lost.
John Foy & Associates has been helping accident victims for over 20 years. We discuss the details of your accident and what you can do during a free consultation. To schedule your free case review, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
Causes of a Failure to Yield Accident
All drivers have a duty of care, which includes following any right-of-way laws. Someone who fails to yield is being careless in some way. If that carelessness leads to an accident, the driver is responsible for the damages.
Common reasons that a driver fails to yield include:
- Distracted driving, such as texting while driving
- Drunk or drugged driving
- Fatigued driving
- Aggressive or reckless driving
- Being in a hurry
A driver might choose to ignore yielding laws for their own self-interests. Or the driver might fail to yield because of negligent behavior like drunk or distracted driving. No matter the reason, the at-fault driver is liable if their actions led to an accident.
As the injured party, you’ll need to prove that the other driver was at fault. That includes showing how the driver’s actions caused your crash. Thankfully, an experienced lawyer can help you build an injury claim that demonstrates the driver’s liability.
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Accident Damages You Can Claim
According to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) §51-1-6, you can recover damages from someone who breaches their legal duty. If a driver fails to yield and causes an accident, their actions entitle you to compensation.
You can file a claim with the driver’s insurance company to recover costs like:
- Medical bills
- Medication costs
- Lost wages
- Vehicle repair costs
- Pain and suffering
Your injury claim will need to outline each damage in detail. That includes determining your pain and suffering damages. These losses don’t have a set dollar amount, but a lawyer can help calculate their value.
A failure to yield accident can affect your life in many different ways. Some accident injuries make it impossible to work as you could before. Others leave you with a permanent disability or emotional trauma.
Don’t discount your damages from the accident. Talk to a lawyer who can determine all of your losses and fight for the compensation you deserve. To discuss your options during a free consultation, contact John Foy & Associates. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online.
How to Yield Correctly in Johns Creek
Yielding laws are similar in most places. All drivers must know how to yield the right-of-way in different situations. That includes appropriately yielding to other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Drivers must yield the right-of-way when:
- Turning left at an intersection
- Other drivers arrive at a four-way stop first
- There is a crosswalk for pedestrians at a light
- An emergency vehicle is passing with its lights on
- Entering a street where other cars are already on the road
- Coming upon a yield sign
Motorists must also use good judgment in each situation. For example, sometimes you must yield to avoid causing a collision, even if the other driver is in the wrong.
Failing to yield is a considerable risk factor for an accident. If another driver failed to yield and caused your accident, they are probably responsible. That means you’re likely entitled to money to recover your costs.
Common Injuries from Failure to Yield Accidents
Failure to yield accidents can cause all sorts of injuries, from minor scrapes to life-threatening damages. Some of the most common injuries we see include:
- Broken bones
- Head or brain injuries
- Cuts or lacerations
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck, shoulder, or back injuries
- Whiplash
Many failure to yield accidents happen at four-way stops or intersections. A driver might run a red light and cause a side-impact collision. These accidents are often serious because the side of a vehicle provides the least amount of protection. Drivers and passengers can suffer serious injuries.
The rate of speed also affects the severity of injuries. High-speed accidents tend to be more severe, although there are exceptions.
If someone else caused your accident, don’t wait to see a doctor. Even if you feel okay, have a medical professional evaluate you for injuries. Some injuries take time to manifest and waiting too long to get treatment will hurt your case.
What to Do After a Failure to Yield Accident
You will need to gather evidence of what happened after your accident. The best way to do that is by documenting everything you can.
If you have serious injuries, handling the details alone will be difficult. Have a friend or family member help you keep track of information, and contact an experienced lawyer. Others can help you take steps like:
- Taking pictures or videos of the accident scene, your injuries, and the vehicle damage
- Talking to eyewitnesses and getting their contact information
- Getting a copy of the police accident report from the collision
- Saving all medical bills and other documentation of your accident costs
- Going back to your doctor if your injuries change or worsen
The more information you can save, the better it will be for your case. The insurance company will be looking for proof of everything you claim. If you wait too long to work on your case, it will be challenging to fight for the compensation you deserve.
Talk to a Johns Creek Failure to Yield Accident Lawyer Today
Failure to yield accidents are often serious, complicated, and painful. But you shouldn’t have to pay if you didn’t cause your accident. At John Foy & Associates, we can help fight for your rights each step of the way.
Our attorneys have been helping accident victims for over 20 years. We’re here to protect the rights of those injured by others’ actions. We also don’t collect a fee unless we win your case, so working with us is risk-free.
To get started with a free, no-risk consultation, call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
