In addition to coming to a complete stop at stop signs and obeying traffic signals, Pennsylvania drivers are also expected to follow specific rules for yielding to other people when navigating intersections without traffic signage or lights. Failing to follow these rules not only can lead to a collision with serious and even life-threatening losses but can also confer civil liability for the costs of those losses on the person who caused the crash by not following those rules.
If you were recently hurt in a failure to yield car accident in Bala Cynwyd that was not your fault, you likely have grounds to demand civil compensation for any and all harm you sustained from the incident. Without support from a seasoned car accident attorney, you will likely have a hard time getting any compensation for your damages, let alone the full amount to which you should be entitled under Pennsylvania civil law. Let our practiced lawyers at Lowenthal & Abrams advocate for you.
What Are the Right-of-Way Rules?
In Pennsylvania, all drivers must obey the following rules when it comes to yielding to other vehicles and pedestrians:
Intersection Rules
Generally, drivers who approach intersections must yield to any driver traveling in a different direction who reached that intersection before them. If two or more drivers reach an intersection simultaneously, each driver must yield to the driver on their right.
Turning Left
Drivers turning left across lanes of opposing traffic must yield to drivers going straight.
Roundabouts
Drivers entering roadways or roundabouts from side streets, alleys, or driveways must yield to oncoming traffic already in the road or roundabout.
Pedestrians
Drivers must yield to pedestrians who are lawfully in crosswalks.
It is worth noting that while Pennsylvania does impose requirements for who should yield to who at intersections, it technically does not give anyone the automatic right-of-way at an intersection, and drivers are still expected to stop and yield to people who break the law to prevent a collision whenever possible. Guidance from a Bala Cynwyd attorney can be vital to handling this potential difficulty in the case process following a failure to yield car crash.
Proving Someone Else Failed To Yield Properly Before a Wreck
Sometimes, filing suit over a car crash because of someone else’s failure to yield is as simple as referencing the accident report in Bala Cynwyd created by responding police officers, including a traffic citation. In other situations, it may fall to an injured person to prove on their own that someone else should be liable for causing their injuries.
This can require evidence from multiple sources, including eyewitness testimony, surveillance/dashboard camera footage, accident scene photos, and even input from accident reconstruction experts. Once again, an experienced lawyer’s assistance can be vital to efficiently collecting, preserving, and using every piece of relevant information to construct a solid civil claim.
Get Help From a Bala Cynwyd Attorney With Your Failure to Yield Car Accident Claim Today
Failure to yield is one of the most common causes of traffic accidents in Pennsylvania and throughout the United States. Unfortunately, this kind of negligence can also make for uniquely complex civil claims, largely because it can be tricky to prove that someone else directly caused a traffic accident by violating this specific traffic regulation.
That is where help from a knowledgeable lawyer can make all the difference in your chances of case success. Call today to discuss your options following a failure to yield car accident in Bala Cynwyd during a private consultation.