Failure to Yield Car Accidents in Little Rock

Failure to yield car accidents in Little Rock occur when motorists fail to give the right-of-way as required under state traffic laws. Unfortunately, it is a common cause of crashes, particularly in intersections. Determining fault requires investigating what caused the incident, who had the right-of-way, and who failed to give way as necessary.

While an experienced car wreck lawyer is not usually a legal requirement, studies show that working with a skilled car crash injury lawyer improves your chance of reaching the best potential outcome substantially.

Who Has the Right-of-Way?

Determining which driver has the right of way depends on the circumstances at the time. For example, under Arkansas Code § 27-51-502, when you approach an intersection and need to make a left turn, you must yield to oncoming vehicles before proceeding, whether there is a green light or not. Failure to yield in this situation is a leading cause of collisions. Other common traffic right-of-way rules include the following:

• In uncontrolled intersections, motorists must yield to the vehicles on their right if arriving at the same time
• Cars approaching four-way stop signs proceed in the order they arrive, or yield to the automobile on the right if they arrive together
• Always yield to pedestrians crossing legally in crosswalks, or when entering or exiting driveways
• Emergency vehicles with active lights or sirens always have the right-of-way

At stop signs, everyone must stop completely and then yield to vehicles already in the intersection or closely approaching on the roadway. After stopping to ensure it is safe to proceed, the driver may proceed.

At yield signs, all motorists must slow down or stop if necessary and yield to vehicles, pedestrians, or bicyclists with the right-of-way. As a general rule, you must yield if failing to do so would cause a crash, even if you technically have the legal right to go.

Steps After a Crash

Always stop at a safe location after a collision and call the local authorities. After police officers arrive at the scene, they request a copy of the accident report.

Also, take names and contact information from any witnesses and use your cell phone to document the scene with pictures or videos. Our skilled injury attorneys could investigate to determine fault in failure to yield car crashes in Little Rock.

Communication and Negotiations

Our knowledgeable lawyers are experienced in handling claims arising from Little Rock failure to yield auto collisions and could handle the investigation, evidence analysis, case preparation, and filings. We could also handle the communication and negotiations with insurance companies. Insurers often offer quick, lowball settlements before you even know the full extent of your injuries, property damage, and future financial losses.

Giving them recorded statements can also be a mistake, as they may take them out of context. They may also dispute fault, downplay your bodily injuries and losses, or argue there were pre-existing conditions.

Qualified legal counsel knows the strategies used by insurance company adjusters and could protect your rights and interests. If a fair settlement amount cannot be reached, we could guide you through the civil court process. Having all communication go through us acts as a buffer, protecting you from avoidable mistakes or issues.

Speak to an Attorney About Little Rock Failure to Yield Car Accidents

Knowing and following traffic laws at all times is crucial for preventing avoidable crashes. However, even if you are following the road rules, careless drivers can still cause collisions.

When this happens, you have the right to seek compensation from the at-fault driver to cover your damages and losses. Contact our office to schedule a consultation with an experienced lawyer and learn more about failure to yield car accidents in Little Rock.