Vehicle collisions involving the right of way often occur due to drivers lacking patience, focus, or good driving habits. They may be engaged in any number of transgressions when they fail to yield at a crosswalk or signpost. Unfortunately, the results of their actions can have long-lasting traumatic, and even fatal repercussions; especially when motorists and pedestrians are struck.
If you or someone you know has been involved in a collision in Florida, help will be needed to get back to square one. You’ll want to contact a legal firm like The Law Offices of Scott J. Senft. We specialize in getting Florida motorists and pedestrians the results that enable them to move forward with their lives.
Failure to Yield- A Potentially Fatal Decision
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), in 2020 failure to yield the right of way preceded 3,663 traffic fatalities. That amount accounted for nearly 7% of all fatalities on the road. With only speeding, impaired driving, and careless driving exceeding as causes for traffic-related deaths, one can see that failure to yield.
What Does Yield the Right of Way Mean in Florida?
In chapter 316, section 123, yielding the right of way isn’t defined in Florida. Instead, the statute lays it out simply and plainly how not to fail at the task. It’s explicitly stated that drivers must yield at:
- Stop signs
- Intersections (including crosswalks)
- Yield signs
- After any stop
- In view of intersecting traffic on approaching roadways
The statute also states that collisions with motorists or pedestrians shall be deemed prima facie evidence of failure to yield.
Yielding the Right of Way at Intersections
Failure to yield the right of way is already dangerous, but it gets more dangerous depending on where it occurs. Boca Raton intersections are one of the most dangerous places. Here drivers risk not only hurting themselves and other motorists but also pedestrians. The risk of incidents increases exponentially at certain intersections. For example:
- Intersections with flashing lights
- Intersections without traffic lights
- Intersections without yield signs or stop signs
- At roundabouts
- Intersections with poor line-of-sight
- Frontage roads
The Most Dangerous Accidents of All
Studies have shown that the most unsafe intersections are those with flashing/blinking lights. Often drivers are confused about how to proceed lawfully when they encounter these phenomena. Unfortunately, this confusion makes them and others vulnerable to one of the most deadly types of collisions. That is the side-impact collision, known as the T-bone.
Two-way frontage roads, aka service lanes, are the next most dangerous. These lanes often send traffic in one direction at one time of day, and go the opposite direction at another. A westbound lane in the morning becomes eastbound in the afternoon. When drivers don’t know the rules and veer into the lanes, there’s an increased risk of head-on collisions.
Yielding at Special Intersections
Intersections increase risk, so it’s important to have the right information on how to proceed to yield the right of way at each one:
- Drivers turning left must yield the right of way to oncoming traffic.
- At four-way stops drivers arriving simultaneously are obligated to yield the right of way to the driver on the right.
- At T-intersections, the right of way belongs to the drivers on the through street.
- Drivers approaching dead-ends intending to turn left must wait until no hazards are compromising their turn.
Search the Florida DMV for guides on intersections, turns, and more.
Other Yielding Scenarios
It’s important to keep in mind that many yielding scenarios exist outside of intersections. Staying educated and vigilant on the scenarios is part of what helps to keep your fellow motorists and pedestrians safe.
Turning Onto Larger Roads
Upon approaching a larger road drivers are required to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic. This rule also applies to alleys, driveways, private roads, parking lots, side roads, and all other similar situations
Yield Signs and Roundabouts
Boca Raton drivers are expected to lawfully comply with every yield sign they encounter. This means yielding the right of way to all approaching vehicles. Likewise, with roundabouts, drivers need to pay attention to yield signs. Here drivers are required to yield the right of way to vehicles that are already within the roundabout.
Pedestrians
Within marked and unmarked crosswalks, pedestrians generally have the right of way. With very few exceptions, drivers are expected to slow down and yield to pedestrians. Generally speaking, even when pedestrians are careless, drivers must still yield to them. This means waiting until the pedestrian clears the roadway before proceeding.
Bicyclists
Bicycles are considered vehicles in Florida. As such, they have the same responsibilities as motor vehicle operators and are required to follow the same laws concerning yielding the right of way.
Why Should I Hire an Attorney for My Yielding Accident?
Hiring an attorney is a wise move in situations like these. Having been vetted through years of experience and untold numbers of settled cases, their expertise helps to increase the chances of success exponentially. Here, “success” is defined as having every short-term and long-term expense associated with your collision and subsequent injuries covered.
Perhaps the best reason to hire an attorney is that healing takes time and energy. Dealing with insurance companies, lawyers, and the legal process is known to be very stressful for even the healthiest people. So when a person is healing from injuries, these sorts of tasks and responsibilities will be counterproductive. Let your car accident attorney hope to relieve your burden.
With The Law Offices of Scott J. Senft guiding you through the legal process, you’ll be free from wondering about the chances and outcomes. The chances of your outcome being favorable lie within the track record of the law firm. We make no guarantees, but our track record is pretty good. Contact us today for a free assessment of what legal options are available in your case.
