Car crash in the intersection of highway.

If you suffered injuries due to another driver’s failure to yield, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries and financial losses. At Bayuk Pratt, our personal injury attorneys have extensive experience handling all types of car accidents, including those related to a failure to yield, and have recovered more than $300 million for our clients. Contact us today to speak to an Atlanta failure to yield accident lawyer about your case.

What Is a Failure to Yield?

Yielding means allowing another vehicle or pedestrian with the right of way to proceed, whether in an intersection, while turning, or when entering the road. Failing to yield is a traffic violation for which the driver can be ticketed.

If another driver does not yield when they should, they can cause a car accident that could seriously injure you. Because of their failure to yield, they may be held liable for your injuries and losses. If law enforcement comes to the accident scene, they will create a report documenting how the accident occurred, including whether the driver’s failure to yield caused or contributed to it.

What Types of Atlanta Accidents Are Caused by a Failure to Yield?

When a driver fails to yield, they can cause several types of accidents, often resulting in severe injuries. Some common failure to yield accidents include the following:

  • T-Bone Crashes – If a driver fails to yield to oncoming traffic and attempts a left turn, you may not have time to brake and collide with the other vehicle in a T-bone accident.
  • Sideswipe Collisions – When a driver does not yield to your vehicle and attempts to change lanes, they can cause a sideswipe, or side-impact, crash.
  • Bicyclist or Pedestrian Accidents – Drivers who fail to yield when you are walking or riding a bike through an intersection can seriously injure you because you lack the protection of a vehicle.

Where Are Some Places Where Failure to Yield Accidents Happen?

Common places and scenarios in which a failure to yield accident can happen include the following:

  • Intersections – Whether a vehicle is making a left turn in front of oncoming traffic or at a four-way stop, if it fails to yield to the car with the right of way (or a pedestrian), a collision can occur at the intersection.
  • Vehicles Entering the Roadway – Whether backing out from a driveway or exiting a parking lot, failure to yield accidents can occur when one vehicle pulls into the path of oncoming traffic.
  • Highway Ramps – A vehicle attempting to merge onto a highway that fails to yield to oncoming traffic can cause an accident.

What Are Some Injuries Caused by Failure to Yield Accidents?

Like any motor vehicle accident, if you are struck by a car or truck that fails to yield when you have the right of way, you can sustain significant injuries. The nature and severity of your injuries generally depend on the speed of the vehicle when it hits you.

Some common injuries accident victims suffer in failure to yield accidents include the following:

What Should I Do After an Atlanta Failure to Yield Accident?

If you are injured in an Atlanta failure to yield accident, evaluate your overall condition first. If you are not critically injured, take the following steps to protect your legal rights in the aftermath of an accident:

  • Call 911 – Police officers and an ambulance will come to the accident scene. EMTs will evaluate your injuries and determine whether you need emergency medical treatment. Law enforcement will investigate the accident and create a report documenting how the accident occurred, the parties involved, and who may be at fault.
  • Gather Evidence at the Scene – If you are physically able, you can help your case by taking photographs of the accident scene, including nearby traffic signs and signals, the vehicles involved in the collision, and your injuries. If you speak to the other driver, write down their contact and insurance company information. If there were any eyewitnesses to the crash, record the witnesses’ observations and obtain their names and phone numbers so your lawyer can contact them.
  • Seek Follow-Up Medical Treatment – Even if you do not require immediate medical care, follow up with your primary care physician or seek treatment at an urgent care facility. Not all injuries are immediately apparent, and you may avoid further injuring yourself if a provider identifies a latent injury or condition a few days after the accident.
  • Report the Accident to Your Insurer – Your insurance policy likely contains a provision requiring you to report any accident to the company, regardless of who was at fault for the accident. Contact your insurer as soon as possible after the accident and cooperate with their investigation so you do not inadvertently waive any available coverage you may need for your injuries and losses.
  • Contact an Atlanta Personal Injury Lawyer – By retaining an experienced car accident lawyer shortly after the accident, you will have a legal advocate in your corner from the start. Your lawyer can initiate their investigation immediately and collect evidence that may not be available later. They can also handle all communications with the insurance companies involved, alleviating the potential stress you could feel if you have to handle those calls yourself.

What Types of Compensation Can Be Recovered in an Atlanta Failure to Yield Accident?

Every case is different, but the potential categories of compensation for car accident victims are generally the same. Your attorney will advise you concerning the compensation you may seek after a failure to yield accident, which may include money for the following:

  • Medical bills
  • Prescription costs
  • Physical therapy expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Loss of future earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Mental distress
  • Loss of consortium for your spouse
  • Property damage, such as vehicle repair/replacement

Contact an Atlanta Failure to Yield Accident Lawyer

With more than 50 years of combined legal experience in Atlanta, the personal injury attorneys at Bayuk Pratt are here to serve you. Our founding partners are former high-stakes defense attorneys from large defense firms, which is a strong advantage when filing a car accident claim. That’s because we understand the strategies and tactics that insurance companies and their lawyers use to try to minimize your claim and justify a low-ball settlement offer. If you were injured in a failure to yield accident in Atlanta, we can help.

Although past results do not guarantee future successful outcomes, we have secured more than $300 million for our deserving clients. With a battle-tested attorney on your side, you can be confident you will receive the strong legal advocacy you need when facing the insurance company giants. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation with an Atlanta failure to yield accident attorney.