Failure-to-Yield Car Accidents in Los Angeles

Everybody who gets behind the wheel of a car or truck owes a duty of care to others sharing the roads. That means driving responsibly and following the rules of the highway. In certain circumstances, drivers will need to yield to other drivers, pedestrians, or bikers. When a driver wrongfully assumes they have the right-of-way, failure-to-yield car accidents in Los Angeles can occur.

If you were injured in a motor vehicle wreck because another driver failed to yield, you might have legal grounds to pursue compensation in a personal injury lawsuit. Our team of seasoned car accident attorneys at My Guy Cy can guide you through the legal process to help you achieve a successful outcome.

Situations Where Vehicles Must Yield the Right-of-Way

Motorists are supposed to drive cautiously and responsibly and to never assume that other motorists will automatically yield to them. However, right-of-way rules and regulations determine who goes first in different situations.

At Intersections

When two roads meet at an intersection, the driver who reaches the intersection first generally has the right-of-way. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the right normally has the right-of-way. Cars should typically yield when turning left at intersections.

With Pedestrians

Motorists should respect the rights of pedestrians when they are crossing the road, whether the pedestrian is in a marked or unmarked crosswalk.

At Roundabouts

Drivers should always yield to other vehicles already inside the roundabout. They should not enter the roundabout until they can do so safely without hitting another vehicle that is already there.

On a Highway

Motorists should yield to other cars before merging onto a highway. They should also yield as appropriate when changing lanes on a highway.

In Driveways and Parking Lots

Drivers who exit parking lots or driveways should yield to oncoming traffic.

With Emergency Vehicles

All motor vehicles should yield to emergency vehicles—such as ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars—when the sirens and lights are on.

A skilled Los Angeles attorney can search for evidence proving that the at-fault driver’s failure-to-yield constituted negligent driving in a car accident. Our proactive legal team and accident reconstruction experts can examine skid marks and debris at the scene, review relevant evidence like crash data, and interview bystanders to determine precisely what occurred.

Shared Fault After a Failure to Yield Collision

In many Los Angeles car crashes occurring from a failure-to-yield, more than one party holds some degree of fault. Some of the situations where someone else could bear potential liability involve the following:

• A pedestrian who crossed the road outside a readily available marked crosswalk
• A pedestrian in dark clothing who unexpectedly crossed the road at night
• A motorist who was speeding
• A motorist who was tailgating

In shared blame situations, California courts operate under a pure comparative fault system, meaning that you can pursue damages as the injured party even if you contributed to the crash. However, the court would likely reduce the amount of your recoverable damages in proportion to your degree of blame.

Our dedicated attorneys can analyze the facts of your particular case to see how shared fault rules could potentially affect your recovery amount.

Schedule a Free Consultation With a Los Angeles Lawyer After a Failure-to-Yield Crash

Failure-to-yield car accidents in Los Angeles should not occur. When they do, the at-fault driver should be held responsible for their negligence. My Guy Cy and our team of highly-trained lawyers can help if you suffered injuries because another driver did not yield to you.

Meeting with an attorney as soon as possible after an accident can give you the best chance of maximizing the value of your claim. Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to learn more about your legal rights and options.