A failure to yield car accident is one of the most common types of motor vehicle accidents, and it is the fourth-most common cause of fatal accidents. If you were hit by a negligent driver who failed to yield the right of way, you may be able to recover for your pain and suffering and medical expenses. The experienced attorneys at our law firm will help you and your family get the compensation you deserve.
Michigan’s right-of-way yield law provides drivers with clear instructions for drivers when it comes to yielding in a variety of situations. When drivers disobey these Michigan laws, the consequences of failure to yield car accidents are usually serious. Injuries in these types of cases can include fractured bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries and death.
If you or a loved one suffered injuries due to another driver’s failure to yield, the experienced car accident attorneys at Michigan Auto Law are here to fight for you. Call us now at (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation. You can also visit our contact page, or use the chat feature on our website.
Michigan’s right-of-way yield law
Under Michigan law, a driver must yield the right of way:
- When traveling through intersections – A driver must yield the right of way to a vehicle that has already entered the intersection. When two drivers enter an intersection at the same time, the driver on the left must yield the right of way. (MCL 257.649(1) and (2))
- When making left turns – A driver must yield the right of way to vehicles approaching from the opposite direction that are either already within the intersection or so close that they “constitute an immediate hazard.” (MCL 257.650(1)) Once the driver is in the process of completing the left turn, vehicles approaching from the opposite direction must yield the right of way to that driver.
- When pedestrians and bicyclists are in a crosswalk – A driver turning at an intersection must yield the right of way to pedestrians and bicyclists who are lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk. (MCL 257.612(1)(a), (c)(ii), and (d))
- When merging onto the highway – A driver who is merging onto a highway or other roadway must yield the right of way to traffic on the highway or road he or she is attempting to merge onto, adjusting his or her speed “so as to enable it to merge safely with the through traffic.” (MCL 257.649(9))
- When an emergency vehicle is approaching – When an emergency vehicle approaches – and it has its siren activated and its lights flashing – drivers of non-emergency vehicles must yield the right of way by pulling over to the right side of the road as far as possible and remaining there until the emergency vehicle has passed. (MCL 257.653a(1)(a))
- When approaching or encountering a stationary vehicle with its lights activated – A driver approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, garbage truck, utility truck, or road maintenance vehicle with its lights activated shall: (1) proceed with caution, (2) reduce speed to 10 mph under the posted speed limit and (3) yield by moving into another lane or driving at least “2 vehicle widths” apart. (MCL 257.653a(1)(a); (MCL 257.653b(1)(a))
- When approaching a railroad crossing – A driver must “maintain a reasonable speed” as they approach and then “yield the right-of-way” to a train as the circumstances require. (MCL 257.668(2))
- When encountering a funeral procession – A driver must yield to vehicles that are part of a funeral procession that is on its way to a place of burial. (MCL 257.654(1))
Generally, the penalty for failing to yield is a civil infraction, a fine of up to $100, court costs and a justice system assessment. (MCL 257.907(2)(a), (4), and (12))
Common types of failure to yield car accidents
Failure to yield car accidents typically include:
- Failure to yield at traffic lights
- Failure to yield at a stop sign or unmarked intersection
- Failure to obey other road signs
- Failure to give way to oncoming traffic when turning left
- Failure to yield to merging traffic
- Failure to give right of way to pedestrians
- Failure to yield for emergency vehicles
Common injuries in failure to yield car accidents
The most typical injuries in failure to yield car accident cases include:
- Head injuries – These include traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and concussions.
- Back injuries
- Neck injuries
- Chest injuries – These include broken or bruised ribs, whiplash, and heart attacks.
- Arm and leg injuries – These include broken bones, dislocated joints, and loss of limbs.
- Penetrating injuries
- Organ damage
- PTSD
- Death
What types of compensation can I recover after a failure to yield car accident?
In Michigan, if you or a loved one was seriously injured in a , you may be able to recover both economic and noneconomic damages.
Economic damages typically include your lost wages and medical expenses (hospital bills, rehabilitation and physical therapy, and other associated costs). These damages are especially important for a claimant who was severely injured and has an extensive recovery time as a result. These claims are payable under Michigan’s No-Fault Act.
Noneconomic damages are designed to compensate you for the psychological trauma you’ve endured. These damages typically cover pain and suffering, mental anguish, fright and shock, denial of social pleasure and enjoyments, and embarrassment, humiliation or mortification. (M Civ JI 50.02)
You may be entitled to compensation for pain and suffering after a failure to yield car accident in Michigan if:
- The other driver was more than 50 percent at fault
- You suffered a serious impairment or disfigurement
- You were insured at the time of the crash
In addition, if you lost a loved one in a failure to yield car accident, you may be able to pursue a wrongful death claim. In this type of claim, you can recover funeral and burial expenses, loss of companionship, and loss of your loved one’s financial support, in addition to many of the damages noted above.
An experienced attorney can help assess the scope of your losses and the damages to which you are entitled.
Should I hire an attorney after this type of crash?
An experienced Michigan auto accident lawyer will get you more money, more quickly after a failure to yield car accident, than a lawyer who doesn’t handle these types of cases on a daily basis.
Michigan Auto Law is the state’s largest law firm completely specializing in serious automobile crashes. For more than 50 years, our team of more than 20 auto lawyers, along with our experienced team of paralegals and support staff, has devoted itself exclusively to helping people who have been injured in car, truck and motorcycle crashes.
The key to our success is that we only handle motor vehicle cases, and we intentionally limit the number of cases we take. This allows us to focus on you, your family, and your settlement. And the results speak for themselves. Not only do we win multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements in car crash cases year after year, but we have secured the largest auto and truck settlement of any Michigan lawyer or law firm.
Michigan Auto Law can help you achieve the peace of mind you need after your failure to yield accident. You are entitled to recover pain and suffering damages as well as economic damages, such as lost wages, payment of your medical bills, and more. We will fight to get you those damages.
Injured in a failure to yield car accident in Michigan? Call Michigan Auto Law now!
If you or a loved one was injured in a failure to yield car accident in Michigan and you have concerns and questions about your legal rights to pain and suffering compensation, economic damages and auto No-Fault insurance benefits, call now (800) 968-1001 for a free consultation with one of our experienced attorneys. There is no cost or obligation. You can also visit our contact page or use the chat feature on our website.
Michigan Auto Law is Michigan’s largest and most successful law firm that specializes exclusively in helping people who have been injured in automobile crashes.
Our secret? Our car accident lawyers deliberately handle fewer cases than other personal injury law firms. This allows us to focus more time and attention on our cases.
Unlike other law firms, attorneys are never too busy to promptly return phone calls and answer questions.
We have more than 2,500 5-Star Reviews that reflect this care and attention to detail.
More importantly, this client-focused approach leads to better and faster settlements for our clients. Michigan Auto Law has recovered more million-dollar settlements and trial verdicts for motor vehicle crashes than any other lawyer or law firm in Michigan. We’ve also recovered the highest ever reported truck crash and car crash settlement in the state.
If you or a loved one was injured in a failure to yield car accident in Michigan, call now so we can start making a real difference for you.
