Failure-To-Yield Car Accident Attorney in Baltimore
Drivers must obey traffic laws and act responsibly behind the wheel to avoid serious car accidents in Baltimore. One important rule is yielding the right-of-way to other drivers and road users when necessary. Drivers who forget or refuse to yield the right-of-way can cause serious accidents with tragic consequences.
A Baltimore failure-to-yield accident can leave crash victims with costly medical bills and lost income, to say nothing of the physical and emotional trauma. At the law firm of Cohen & Dwin, P.A., our attorneys advocate for the rights of people injured by careless drivers in Baltimore. We are ready to work tirelessly to seek fair compensation for you while you focus on healing.
Contact us today for a free consultation with a failure-to-yield attorney in Baltimore and find out more about your legal options.
What Is Failure to Yield?
A failure-to-yield accident is one caused by a driver who proceeds when another road user has the right to do so. In one recent year, failure to yield contributed to 3,663 car accidents nationwide, accounting for nearly 7 percent of fatal traffic wrecks.
Failure-to-yield accidents often happen at intersections, but these collisions can occur anywhere motorists have to share the roadway, from a multi-lane city boulevard to a quiet rural road. Failure-to-yield accidents can also occur when motorists enter, exit, or merge onto a highway. Some drivers also fail to yield when turning, changing lanes, or entering or exiting private driveways.
How Do Failure-To-Yield Accidents Happen?
Many failure-to-yield accidents happen when drivers run red lights or stop signs. If a driver at a cross street runs a red light or fails to stop at a stop sign, they can collide with other motorists in the intersection who have the right-of-way.
Another common accident scenario involving a failure to yield is when a driver makes a poorly timed left turn in front of oncoming traffic. If another motorist is driving straight when an oncoming driver makes a left turn in front of them, they may not have enough time or space to stop and avoid a collision.
Other common failure-to-yield accident scenarios involve entering or exiting highways, public parking areas, and private driveways. When drivers merge or turn onto busy streets or highways without checking their surroundings, they are significantly more likely to collide with others who have the right-of-way.
Types of Failure-To-Yield Accidents in Baltimore
When a driver fails or refuses to yield the right-of-way, the following types of accidents might occur:
- Head-on collisions
- Sideswipe crashes
- T-bone accidents
- Rear-end collisions
- Angle-impact crashes
- Single-vehicle wrecks
- Multi-car pileups
- Rollover accidents
Causes of Baltimore Failure-to-Yield Accidents
Some of the top causes of failure-to-yield car accidents include the following:
- Distracted driving – Distracted driving behaviors like texting or eating while driving increase the risk of failure-to-yield accidents by preventing drivers from paying attention to traffic, road signs, and their surroundings.
- Driving under the influence – Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol can impair a driver’s judgment, reaction time, and ability to perceive traffic signs and stoplights, which can lead to failure-to-yield crashes.
- Driver fatigue – Fatigue affects a driver’s ability to pay attention to their surroundings and make quick decisions, significantly increasing the chances of a failure-to-yield wreck.
- Speeding – Drivers who exceed the speed limit or go too fast for conditions do not have enough time to react to changing traffic, such as oncoming vehicles with the right-of-way.
- Failure to check blind spots – When a driver fails to check their blind spots, they may be unaware of other vehicles or pedestrians nearby, which can lead to a failure-to-yield accident.
- Driver inexperience – Inexperienced drivers may lack exposure to many common traffic scenarios and comprehensive knowledge of traffic laws, which means they are more likely to fail to yield the right-of-way to others.
What Injuries Can Occur Due to Failure-to-Yield Collisions?
Failure-to-yield crashes often result in severe injuries when the driver with the right-of-way has no reason to expect a collision or time to take evasive action. Victims of failure-to-yield car accidents are at risk for severe injuries like:
- Head and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Back and shoulder injuries
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs)
- Seatbelt and airbag injuries
- Abdominal and internal injuries
- Dislocated or broken bones
- Amputation and loss of limb
- Soft tissue strains, sprains, and tears
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Damages You Can Recover After Being Injured in a Failure-To-Yield Accident
With the help of a knowledgeable injury lawyer like those at Cohen & Dwin, P.A., you could recover compensation for accident-related losses like:
- Hospital bills and other medical expenses you incur due to your injuries
- Reduced income from any time you miss at work due to your crash injuries
- Projected losses in your future earning potential due to permanent injuries
- Subjective losses, such as crash-related pain, suffering, and lost quality of life
- Incidental costs, such as out-of-pocket travel costs for medical appointments
- Auto repairs and other costs of repairing damaged personal property
Proving Liability for Baltimore Failure-to-Yield Accidents
Here are some common types of evidence that could be useful when proving liability in a failure-to-yield car accident:
- The police accident report – Police reports can provide valuable information about the accident, such as details about the crash scene, whether police issued any citations, and the responding officer’s opinion regarding who was at fault.
- Photos and videos– Images of the crash scene can provide valuable visual evidence showing what happened in the moments before, during, and after the accident. Photos of your injuries can also help show the severity and extent of your injuries.
- Witness statements – Reliable, unbiased eyewitnesses can establish what happened in a failure-to-yield car accident. Witnesses who saw the crash can confirm disputed details about who had the right-of-way and who failed to yield.
- Expert testimony – An expert witness, such as an accident reconstruction specialist, can offer insightful details about the causes and effects of the wreck.
Contact Our Failure-to-Yield Accident Attorney in Baltimore Today
If you got hurt in a car accident in Baltimore because another driver failed to yield the right-of-way, you could hold them responsible for your injuries and other crash-related losses. The dedicated lawyers at Cohen & Dwin, P.A., want to help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
Contact our failure-to-yield accident attorneys in Baltimore today for a free consultation.