Failure to Yield Accidents in Pittsburgh
Failing to yield is a significant problem in Pittsburgh, where there are many busy intersections with heavy motor and pedestrian traffic. If a driver fails to yield the right-of-way and this causes an accident, the victim has the right to pursue financial compensation from the at-fault driver. An experienced car accident attorney in Pittsburgh can make it easier to get the case outcome you need if you find yourself in this situation.
What Does Failure to Yield Mean?
The failure to yield is a traffic violation where a driver proceeds onto a road or into an intersection when it is another road user’s turn to do so by law. This puts the driver in the wrong place at the wrong time, creating a high risk for an automobile accident.
All drivers in Pittsburgh have a responsibility to know and adhere to the state’s right-of-way laws. These laws determine when it is safe for a driver to proceed and when he or she must yield the right-of-way to others. At a crosswalk or intersection in Pittsburgh, for example, pedestrians who are actively crossing the road have the right-of-way.
A driver who fails to yield when he or she should can be responsible for a related car accident. Common examples include running a red light, failing to stop at a stop sign and ignoring a yield sign. Failing to yield can also apply to roads with yield signs, merges, roundabouts and yielding to emergency vehicles under Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law.
Types of Car Accidents Caused by the Failure to Yield
Failing to yield is a dangerous driving practice that can lead to catastrophic accidents. Examples include:
- T-bone or side-impact accidents
- Head-on collisions
- Left-turn accidents
- Bicycle or pedestrian accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Chain reaction accidents
- Lane-change crashes
These accidents can cause serious injuries and fatalities. In the aftermath of a failure to yield crash in Pittsburgh, victims may be eligible for financial compensation.
Who Is Liable for a Failure to Yield Accident in Pittsburgh?
Pennsylvania operates under a choice no-fault law to determine financial responsibility (liability) for an automobile accident. Under this rule, an accident victim can only file a claim with someone else’s insurance company if he or she opted into “full tort” automobile insurance or if the crash caused serious injuries.
If you have the right to hold another driver accountable for a failure to yield accident, you or your car accident attorney will need to provide evidence of the violated traffic law. This may include surveillance footage, eyewitness statements, a police report and accident reconstruction by experts. The evidence must show that the other driver negligently failed to yield the right-of-way and that this caused your crash.
Maximize Your Financial Recovery By Hiring a Car Accident Attorney
If a failure to yield accident in Pittsburgh leaves you with painful injuries, expensive medical bills and inconvenient property damage, you can benefit from scheduling a free legal consultation with an experienced car accident lawyer near you.
Speaking to an attorney can give you key information about your legal rights in the aftermath of a crash. This can allow you to make informed decisions moving forward. You can focus on healing from your injuries while a lawyer investigates the car accident, identifies who is at fault, collects evidence and helps you navigate the no-fault system in Pennsylvania.