Everyone who drives in Marietta must follow the rules of the road. Those rules include yielding when other drivers have the right of way. If another driver failed to yield and it caused your accident, talk to a Marietta failure to yield accident lawyer today.
Our knowledgeable lawyers at John Foy & Associates can help. We have become one of the largest and most well-known injury firms in Georgia. With over 20 years of hands-on experience, we know what it takes to win.
Working with us is risk-free for each of our clients. We do not charge a fee unless we win you compensation. To learn more during a FREE consultation, call (404) 400-4000, or contact us online.
Laws Regarding Failure to Yield in Marietta
Georgia Code Section 40-6-72 covers what it means to yield correctly in Marietta. Here’s a breakdown of what the statute says.
Yielding the Right of Way Before a Turn
If a driver is going to turn left, they must yield to oncoming traffic. If the driver is turning onto a street, they must yield to drivers already traveling on that street.
Yielding at Intersections
When an intersection has a stop sign, there are three areas where the driver must stop:
- At a stop line
- Before the crosswalk (if there’s no stop line)
- The area nearest the intersection where the driver can see traffic approaching on that road (if there isn’t a crosswalk)
Drivers should always yield to other vehicles already in the intersection. If there is a four-way stop, the driver who gets to their stop sign first has the right of way.
If more than one driver comes to an unmarked intersection, the vehicle on the right always has the right of way.
Drivers Yielding to Pedestrians
Just like motorists, pedestrians have rights on Marietta roads. If a driver approaches a four-way stop, they should yield to pedestrians. A pedestrian always has the right of way in the crosswalk.
Yielding to First Responders
Drivers should carefully yield to emergency vehicles with their lights on. When coming upon the vehicle, drivers should pull over to the right of the road. Each driver should let the vehicle pass without being in the way.
After the emergency vehicle has passed, drivers can slowly merge back onto the road and continue driving.
Yielding to School Buses
If a driver approaches a school bus, they must pay attention to the details. Drivers should stop for buses that are stopped with their lights flashing and their “STOP” sign out.
As you can see, there are specific laws about yielding on Marietta roads. If another driver hits you after failing to yield, they could be liable for your damages. You might be eligible for full compensation for your costs.
At John Foy & Associates, we work exclusively for injured individuals. We can help you build a strong claim to pursue recovery. To learn more during a FREE consultation, call (404) 400-4000, or contact us online.
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Why Marietta Drivers Fail to Yield Properly
Unfortunately, not all motorists follow the rules of the road. Some drivers will fail to yield even when they know the law. A driver might fail to yield because of:
- Drunk driving
- Distracted driving
- Texting while driving
- Daydreaming
- Aggressive driving
- Being in a hurry
No matter the reason, there is no good excuse for failing to yield. Failure to yield accidents can be some of the most severe. That’s because someone often fails to yield when they don’t have their mind on the road.
Your Compensation After a Marietta Failure to Yield Accident
If another driver caused your accident, they are responsible for the costs. You can file a personal injury claim to seek compensation. If the driver has sufficient auto insurance, their insurance company should cover your damages.
Examples of personal injury damages include:
- Medical bills
- Prescription medications
- Lost wages
- Lost earning capacity
- Car repairs
- Pain and suffering
You will need to know the full value of your damages. Calculating damages is challenging, especially if you have a lot of pain and suffering injuries. Thankfully, a failure-to-yield accident lawyer can help.
Your lawyer will use a formula to determine your pain and suffering damages. They’ll also compile evidence of your medical costs and other damages. If you require ongoing medical treatment, your lawyer will factor that in, too.
How to Handle the Other Driver’s Insurance Company
Once you know your damages, you can build your personal injury claim. However, this also means you’ll have to deal with the insurance company.
Insurance companies rarely make injury claims straightforward. They care most about one thing: their bottom line. After your accident, the insurance adjuster might contact you to start looking for ways to pay you less.
Common tactics from the insurance company include:
- Downplaying the severity of your damages
- Offering you an upfront lowball settlement
- Making you feel like you cannot get a better offer
- Questioning your accident damages
- Asking you to give a recorded statement
Never accept the first settlement offer from the insurance company. It will be a low amount that hardly covers any damages. Also, it’s best to get a lawyer before talking to the insurance company at all.
Insurance adjusters know that you are probably stressed after the accident. They also know you likely need money to pay for your costs. If you’re not careful, the insurance company could take advantage of your situation.
A lawyer levels the playing field. With a lawyer, you’ll have a professional on your side. Plus, the insurance company might offer more upfront if they see you have an attorney.
Talk to a Marietta Failure to Yield Accident Lawyer for Free Today
After a failure to yield accident, you might not know where to turn first. At John Foy & Associates, we want to make the process simple for you. We’ll handle the legal side of things while you focus on healing.
We’ve been helping accident victims for over 20 years. If you work with us, there is no fee unless we win you money.
To get a FREE consultation today, call (404) 400-4000, or contact us online.
404-400-4000 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form