At a yield sign, always yield to cross traffic and wait for a safe gap before you enter the intersection. Never risk your safety or your passengers.
Navigating any street in California can leave you in some complex situations. For example, you may be concerned that you are not following the rules at a yield sign or intersection. Worse, you may have been struck by another driver who did not follow these rules and may be responsible for your injuries.
When an accident happens, determining what traffic laws were broken or what went wrong can help you recover from the injuries and suffering you have experienced. You may ask questions about what to do when you reach a yield sign before entering an intersection. Our Text Kevin Accident Attorneys team can help you navigate these complex situations, determine who is at fault for your injuries, and identify what laws have been broken.
What Do I Do When I Reach a Yield Sign?
You need to pass a driver’s test to get your license, but it may have been some time since you took your examination. You may always have stopped at yield or stop signs, but you may be unsure exactly what the sign means. Understanding how someone else’s failure to yield at a yield sign can help you better understand the details of your accident.
Let Cross Traffic Pass
Yield signs indicate which drivers have the right of way when two roads intersect. For example, you may be on an entry ramp to the highway, and you may need to yield to oncoming traffic before you enter this road, according to California Vehicle Code Section 21800. Failure to do so can lead to serious accidents because the other drivers may have no indication that they need to stop.
Always Look Before Entering a Gap
One of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself while entering an intersection at a yield sign is to always look before crossing the gap. Looking helps you ensure a safe distance between cars to enter and regain speed relative to the other vehicles on the road. If you enter the intersection and do not have time to catch up with the flow of traffic, it can lead to a rear-end collision.
Consider the Speed of the Other Vehicles
Entering roads like highways at intersections is especially dangerous at high speeds. According to the National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP), even an increase in speed limits from 55 to 65 mph is associated with a 3% crash rate increase. This study, among many others, draws a correlation between high speeds and fatalities.
To avoid these dangers, which can cause catastrophic injuries, always wait and even consider letting more vehicles pass if you are unsure if you have enough room. Vehicles may travel faster than you realize, leading to a dangerous situation. Rather than risking your safety and others, simply wait a little longer to ensure you have the space to travel.
What If Someone Does Not Yield and Causes an Accident?
When you reach a traffic sign like a yield sign, you are expected to follow those instructions. Failure to do so can lead to an accident, which may be dangerous for you and anyone else involved. Unfortunately, if you were injured because someone failed to yield, you may be hurt and struggling unduly as you pay for the damages caused by someone else.
Fortunately, you may have grounds to recover compensation. Under California Code 1714, when another driver is negligent, the injured party may pursue compensation to help recover the damages they suffered against the at-fault party. Those damages can help you avoid paying out of pocket for the costs and suffering caused by your accident.
Sometimes, the at-fault party’s insurance company may be liable for your injuries. However, if their insurance policy is too limited to cover the injuries you have suffered, your claim may need to go to court. Fortunately, our personal injury lawyers are here to guide you through this process when you have grounds for an accident claim.
Pro Tip
If you lost a loved one because someone was careless at an intersection, you may still have grounds to file a claim. Talk to your family and our team about your options for filing a California wrongful death lawsuit.
Intersection Accidents Can Cause Devastating Injuries
Unfortunately, when someone does not follow the traffic laws that keep us safe on the road, it can lead to severe injuries. Those injuries can take months, years, or even a lifetime to recover from. If you have suffered from any of the following serious injuries because of a car accident, you may have a significant recovery time ahead of you:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- Whiplash
- Spinal injury
- Burns
- Broken bones
Unfortunately, these injuries can be life-threatening or even deadly in certain situations. The faster you travel, the more likely severe or even fatal injuries will happen. Fortunately, we can help you navigate these issues and pursue compensation for them.
You May Have Grounds for Compensation If Someone Fails to Yield
When someone fails to yield at an intersection, their mistakes can leave you severely injured. The more dangerous your accident, the more expensive your recovery may be. In fact, it can take weeks or even months after the accident before you even know the full extent of your injuries and damages.
Fortunately, when someone else causes severe injuries like these, they may also be held liable for the injuries and suffering you have experienced. In these cases, you may have grounds to pursue compensation for the compensatory damages you are due for an accident. You should not be held accountable for someone else’s negligence.
Economic Damages
Under California Code 1431.2, economic damages include any financial losses you have suffered because of the accident. The at-fault party may compensate you for any expenses you accrued because of the crash. However, we must first determine the full extent of your damages.
That begins by determining what expenses have occurred because of the recovery process of your injuries, your time away from work, and other costs. These damages may cover both the current losses you are suffering and the future costs for your case. For example, if you know you will need surgery or more time away from work because of your accident, these damages should be included.
Unfortunately, it is easy to settle for less. Many people who do not seek legal representation struggle to calculate the total value of their claim and are stuck paying out of pocket for expenses that could have been included in their economic damages. That is why we focus on determining what your claim is worth and what expenses need to be estimated to cover the full scope of your damages.
Non-Economic Damages
Economic damages may comprise most of your concrete expenses, but they are not the only damages you may be eligible for. Non-economic damages are the intangible, emotional suffering you have experienced because of your accident. In traumatic accidents, these damages may also be included in your case.
For example, losing teeth in a crash is extremely painful and can also leave you feeling disfigured. The psychological impact of both the physical pain and the emotional suffering should be included in your compensation. However, because these damages do not have a singular value beyond the costs of dental repair, it can be difficult to calculate exactly what they are worth.
Fortunately, we offer the tools and resources you need to calculate your non-economic damages accurately. When seeking out these damages, we calculate them based on the severity of your injuries and the ongoing emotional impact of this suffering on your life. These tools can help us accurately judge what your claim is worth and what damages we can pursue for them.
Note
While settling for less can hurt your case, asking for compensation far beyond what your claim is worth can also hurt your chances for compensation. That is why we focus on being as accurate and clear as possible about the compensation you are due.
California Laws Can Severely Impact Your Case If You Are Not Prepared
In the wake of your California car accident, you may believe that your case is clear-cut and simple to see that the other party is responsible for your injuries. However, no matter how simple your claim may seem, you are still subject to California laws regarding civil lawsuits. As you navigate your lawsuit, mistakes can reduce the compensation you are due or even lead to your claim being dismissed.
Preparing for your car accident claim is crucial to protecting yourself from a loss of compensation that can leave you paying out of pocket for your recovery. Fortunately, we have the tools and resources to help you navigate laws impacting your case and make decisions to help your claim succeed. If you have any questions about the following state laws, we are prepared to guide you through them and represent you in the courtroom so you can focus on your recovery, not these legal statutes.
Statute of Limitations
When pursuing a lawsuit for a crash caused by a failure to yield, you may need time to prepare your case. However, remember that the clock is ticking on your case from the accident date. If you do not act on time, there may be consequences for your case.
California Civil Code 355.1 states that personal injury claims have a two-year time limit. If you do not file within this time limit, your claim may be dismissed, leaving you without compensation for your injuries. Without this compensation, you may have to pay fully out of pocket for your recovery.
Fortunately, the statute of limitations can work in your favor. When you have only a limited time to file, your evidence will be much fresher than it would otherwise be. More and newer evidence can mean more opportunities for you to get compensated fairly for your injuries.
Comparative Fault
While you may have been following the rules of the road, the other party may try to place part or all the blame for the accident on you. Under California’s comparative fault laws, listed under California Code 1714, that can reduce the value of your claim. That may mean paying out of pocket for the suffering you have experienced.
Fortunately, you have an opportunity to fight back. We provide an aggressive defense for our clients, pursuing evidence that you were not at fault for the accident in any way. That defense can help you avoid reductions in your compensation that can impact your claim’s value.
Tip
If you are concerned about following state laws regarding your case, do not hesitate to reach out to an attorney. Having a legal professional on your side, like our team, can help you make strong choices and better understand the legal statutes impacting your case.
Get Help from a Car Accident Law Firm That Will Approach Your California Car Accident with Focus and Dedication
When another driver makes a careless decision at an intersection, it can change your life for months, years, or for the rest of your life. Those changes can lead to significant expenses and emotional consequences that can affect how you live your life. Unfortunately, without the right support, you may find yourself paying out of pocket for this suffering rather than getting the help you need.
At Text Kevin Accident Attorneys, we are dedicated to helping our clients navigate these complex cases. We have a track record of success, helping clients like you get compensated fairly when a car accident changes their lives. To learn more about our services, reach out for a free consultation by calling or filling out our online contact form.
