Chicago Failure-to-Yield Lawyer

Everyone who drives must understand the rules of the road. One driver always has the right of way in specific situations, like when someone turning left at an intersection must yield to oncoming traffic.

When a driver does not give others the right of way when they are supposed to, significant injuries can result. Get in touch with a Chicago failure-to-yield lawyer if you were hurt because a driver did not adhere to the right of way rules. A determined car accident attorney could ensure you receive appropriate compensation for your injuries.

Right-of-Way Accidents Are Common

Failure to yield accidents are among the most common type of crashes. Drivers who are eager to get to their destinations are sometimes less cautious than they should be.

Crashes caused by a failure to yield often happen at intersections, where a driver might attempt to turn before allowing oncoming traffic to pass. They also occur at traffic circles, where a driver might attempt to enter or exit the roundabout when another vehicle has the right to occupy the lane. Failing to yield when pulling out of a parking space or driveway also results in accidents.

Failure to yield accidents are almost always the fault of the driver who did not have the right-of-way. Illinois is an at-fault state for car accidents, so proving that the vehicle violated the right-of-way laws is essential for claiming compensation. Contacting a Chicago attorney promptly after the failure-to-yield crash is essential for building a strong case.

Proving Negligence in a Failure-to-Yield Case

When someone injured in a car accident (the plaintiff) seeks compensation for their injuries from another driver (the defendant), they must prove the defendant was negligent. In the legal context, negligence means the failure to use reasonable care to protect others from injury and causing harm to someone else as a direct result.

When the police issue a citation to a driver involved in the crash, the ticket can be used as evidence of negligence. If nobody got a ticket, a Chicago attorney can still prove the failure to yield using other evidence such as:

  • Statements from the occupants of the involved vehicles
  • Footage from the vehicles’ onboard cameras
  • Video from local traffic cams or surveillance cameras
  • Analysis of the damage to the involved vehicles
  • Witness statements

The police report can also be valuable evidence even when the officers did not issue a ticket.

In many cases, drivers of the involved vehicles share blame for the crash. 735 Illinois Consolidated Statutes § 5/2-116 allows a plaintiff who was partially responsible for an accident to claim compensation from others who bear more responsibility. However, the compensation they receive would be discounted by a percentage equaling their portion of responsibility.

Compensation for Accident Claims

Intersection crashes that cause injuries are disruptive, inconvenient, and expensive. When the accident resulted from someone else’s negligence, injured people can seek compensation from the negligent party. A Chicago attorney could help an injured person calculate and prove their damages after a crash involving the right-of-way.

An injured person can seek reimbursement of their crash-related expenses, such as property damage, medical expenses, and lost time from work. They can claim future losses when their injuries are permanent and require ongoing medical care or reduce their future earning capacity.

An injured person could also claim compensation for the intangible losses the injury caused. Non-economic damages could include payment to acknowledge the accident victim’s inconvenience, scarring, emotional trauma, disability, physical pain, and lost ability to enjoy life.

Contact a Chicago Attorney After a Right-of-Way Accident

Getting appropriate compensation after a car accident can be challenging. Insurance company employees are skilled at settling claims for the lowest amount possible, regardless of what is fair. To obtain a reasonable settlement, you must work with a personal injury attorney from McCready law.

Contact a Chicago failure-to-yield lawyer as soon as possible after a crash. We could investigate the accident, collect evidence proving negligence of the other party, and pursue your claim aggressively until a reasonable settlement is reached. You have limited time to file a claim, so get in touch with us today.