Hit by a Driver Who Failed to Yield? We Can Help
According to the National Safety Council, failing to yield was one of the top causes of car crashes in 2020. These accidents are not only common but can leave victims with severe injuries.
After a failure to yield accident in Chicago, the cost of recovery can be overwhelming. If a driver did not give you the right-of-way and caused your crash, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your damages.
Call our experienced Chicago car accident attorneys at (312) 236-2900 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation. Our failure to yield accident lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don’t owe us anything unless we win.
Causes of Failure to Yield Collisions
According to the Illinois Motor Vehicle code, failure to yield involves any of the following actions:
- Disregarding a traffic control device
- Ignoring a traffic control light
- Disregarding a lane control signal
- Ignoring a flashing traffic signal
- Taking an improper left turn against oncoming traffic
- Failing to observe a “stop” or “yield” sign
If one of these reckless behaviors contributed to your car accident, call our Chicago attorneys as soon as possible. We can evaluate your case and help you determine the next steps.
When Are You Required to Yield?
Knowing when you have the right of way is essential to staying safe on the road.
However, Illinois right-of-way traffic laws can be complicated. Sometimes, drivers must judge if they can safely go or should let other vehicles and pedestrians go first.
In most cases, a driver must yield when:
- Turning left at a green light, to let opposite vehicles go straight
- Making a right turn on red, to let adjacent vehicles pass in front
- Entering a roundabout
- At a stop or yield sign
- Leaving a driveway, parking lot, alley, etc., to merge with traffic
- Approaching a stopped school bus
- Approaching train tracks or railroad crossings
- An emergency vehicle (with activated signals) approaches
- A pedestrian enters or is within a crosswalk
- A bicyclist is turning in a designated bike lane
Although these are the most common instances, there are other times when a driver must give the right of way to another party. Familiarizing yourself with Illinois traffic laws can help prevent a failure to yield accident and ensure you use your best judgment.
Common Injuries in Failure to Yield Accidents
There may be significant damage to your vehicle and health after a driver fails to obey right-of-way laws. Injuries are not uncommon after these types of accidents and can include:
These injuries are serious, often requiring expensive and lengthy treatments. Paying for these medical bills can add stress after an accident. A Chicago car accident attorney can help you recover compensation for your damages and bring you relief.
Fatal Chicago Car Accidents
Injuries from a failure to yield crash can be fatal. You may be entitled to compensation if you’ve lost a loved one in a Chicago motor vehicle accident.
No amount of money can remedy your loss. But after losing a loved one in an accident, you should focus on processing your grief, not paying the bills. Our wrongful death attorneys can help you move forward with life.
Who Is at Fault in a Chicago Failure to Yield Crash?
Illinois is an at-fault state, which means you file a personal injury claim with the responsible driver’s insurance. If you’ve been involved in a failure to yield accident, the driver who failed to yield is typically at-fault. They will be liable for paying your damages.
However, not every case is so simple. You might be at fault even if you technically had the right of way.
Suppose, for example, you began speeding towards an intersection, and a car turning right on red determined you were far enough away for them to go first safely. Because of your sudden acceleration, however, you closed the distance much sooner than expected and T-boned the turning driver.
In most cases, a turning vehicle is at-fault in an accident. However, their turn in this example would have been safe if you had followed the speed limit. You could be at fault and liable for their damages since your reckless behavior caused the accident.
Regardless, your lawyer can assess the evidence of your case and help determine fault.
When a Truck Fails to Yield
Due to the size and weight of commercial trucks, an accident involving these commercial vehicles can have dire results. If a truck hits a car, the impact can seriously damage the smaller automobile.
Additionally, the legal process can be complicated if a truck failed to yield in your accident. You may need to sue the driver’s company to obtain total and fair compensation.
These trucking companies often have large budgets and legal teams — their goal is to intimidate you. Our goal is to empower you. The Staver truck accident attorneys are aggressive and fearless. We can help you go up against a negligent party and fight for what you deserve—no matter what it takes.
Failure to Yield Accidents Involving Pedestrians
A moving vehicle can cause significant injury to a pedestrian or bicyclist. Because of how dangerous pedestrian accidents are, safety features are in place to prevent them.
However, even with crosswalk signals, bike lanes, and other safety measures, drivers might fail to yield to a pedestrian and cause a devastating accident.
Pedestrians always have the right-of-way at crosswalks and stop signs. If a car does not notice an individual and strikes them, the driver can be liable for the pedestrian’s injuries.
Call a Chicago Failure to Yield Attorney Today
Failure to yield accidents can be shocking and devastating. When another driver’s negligence led to your crash, you deserve to take legal action. Our compassionate and experienced legal team at Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C. can fight on your behalf. We have won millions of dollars for Illinois injury victims and won’t charge any fees unless we help you succeed.
Schedule a free case consultation today at (312)-236-2900 or through our online contact form.
