Failing to yield the right of way is a common cause of accidents—some of which are very severe or even deadly. Unfortunately, determining fault in a failure-to-yield accident isn’t always easy; these accidents are often highly complex and involve multiple vehicles and factors. If you have been involved in an accident caused by another driver’s failure to yield the right of way, you may have a cause of action. To learn more about your rights and how to recover compensation after a crash, call our Massachusetts car accident attorney directly today.
When Are Drivers Required to Yield the Right of Way?
In determining liability for a right-of-way accident, it’s important to first understand what the law says about yielding. When a law or ordinance is broken and this leads to a crash, the responsible driver has committed negligence per se, which can lead to their liability. Situations in which drivers in Massachusetts are required to yield the right of way include:
- When approaching an intersection at the same time of another vehicle, the vehicle on the left shall yield to the vehicle on the right
- When approaching a yield sign that indicates that yielding to other traffic is required
- When at a crosswalk where pedestrians are present (and traffic signals do not indicate that the vehicle has the right of way)
- When at a red light or stop sign, the driver must yield to another vehicle that is within the intersection or approaching it from another direction so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard should the driver proceed
- When traffic lights indicate that a pedestrian or another vehicle has the right of way
- When an emergency vehicle with its lights or/and sirens on is passing
Right-of-way requirements in Massachusetts can be found in Massachusetts General Code Chapter 89 Section 8 and Section 9.
Reasons to Hire a Lawyer in a Failure-to-Yield Accident
If you’ve been involved in an accident that you believe was caused by the other driver’s failure to yield, you may have a claim for damages. To help you with your claim, you should consider hiring a car accident lawyer.
If your accident was severe, then chances are that you have suffered damages in the form of vehicle repairs or replacement costs, medical bills, lost wages, towing costs, reduced earning capacity, and even mental and emotional harm in the form of physical pain and mental suffering. When you work with an attorney, your chances of recovering compensation for the full value of these losses may improve.
The role of an attorney is to fight for your rights and do the legal legwork for you. Your attorney will be able to gather evidence, talk to eyewitnesses, and build your case. Your attorney will also represent you during settlement negotiations and advocate for your right to your full settlement amount.
Call Tetzel Law Today
At the office of Tetzel Law, our Massachusetts car accident attorneys are passionate about providing you with the legal support you need after a right-of-way accident changes your life. To learn more about how we can help, schedule your free consultation today by sending us a message or calling us at (617) 742-1700.