When drivers fail to follow right-of-way rules, serious accidents can occur. Failure-to-yield car accidents in St. Louis often happen at intersections, merge points, or when drivers ignore traffic signs and signals. These crashes can take others by surprise, leaving little time to react and often causing severe injuries.
Victims of these incidents face physical recovery, emotional distress, and financial challenges. If another motorist failed to yield and caused an accident that injured you, then you can seek compensation through an injury claim. An experienced car accident attorney at McCready Law could guide you through each stage of the process.
Missouri law sets clear rules for when drivers must yield the right of way to others on the road. These situations include stopping at a stop or yield sign, allowing pedestrians to cross in a marked crosswalk, yielding to oncoming traffic when making a left turn, and allowing vehicles on the main road to proceed when merging.
The laws are designed to keep traffic moving safely and prevent intersection crashes that can cause serious harm. When a driver ignores these requirements by running a stop sign, turning left across traffic without waiting, or merging without checking, they can cause dangerous right-of-way collisions in St. Louis.
Right-of-way violations often lead to high-impact collisions, particularly side-impact and head-on crashes. These wrecks can cause injuries such as:
Even whiplash or soft tissue injuries from a traffic accident can have lasting effects if not properly treated. Medical care for these injuries may involve emergency services, surgeries, and rehabilitation. Victims often face lost wages and ongoing care costs, making it essential to track both current and future expenses when building a legal claim.
To recover damages for a yield-related collision, your attorney must prove that the other driver was at least negligent. This requires showing they had a duty to follow Missouri traffic laws, breached that duty by failing to yield or follow other relevant traffic laws, which caused the crash and your injuries. Evidence like police reports, witness accounts, and traffic camera footage can often help your attorney demonstrate the facts of the case and make compelling arguments that show why the other party should be held accountable.
In more complex failure-to-yield accident cases in St. Louis, accident reconstruction experts can analyze data related to the accident like vehicle positions, speeds, and impact points. This expert testimony can help explain how the failure to give way caused the wreck, but your attorney will need to gather and present this evidence effectively to strengthen your case.
Under Missouri law, you generally have five years from the date of a right-of-way collision to file a lawsuit. Although that may seem like plenty of time, important evidence, like intersection camera footage or witness memories, can disappear quickly. Contacting an attorney promptly helps preserve your claim.
Missing the filing deadline could result in losing the ability to recover any compensation. Consulting with our lawyer soon after the right-of-way car crash helps to ensure your rights are protected.
While failure-to-yield cases might appear straightforward, insurance companies often argue that the injured party shares some blame. Missouri’s comparative fault laws allow them to reduce the compensation they owe by the percentage that they can demonstrate you were at fault for the accident. However, Missouri’s relatively forgiving pure comparative fault standard still allows you to recover even if you were more than 50% at fault, unlike many other jurisdictions.
A St. Louis attorney familiar with left-turn crashes and other yield-related wrecks can counter these tactics by securing intersection surveillance before it is erased, interviewing witnesses early, and retaining experts to explain the cause of the accident. Obtaining medical documentation that links injuries directly to the crash is also vital. A strong, evidence-backed claim increases the likelihood of a fair settlement or court verdict.
Failure-to-yield car accidents in St. Louis can leave victims with lasting physical, emotional, and financial burdens. Holding the at-fault driver accountable helps you recover the compensation you need to move forward.
If you were injured because another driver failed to give way, take action now. Contact McCready Law today for a free consultation to learn your legal options and pursue justice.
