What Are Common Causes of Failure to Yield Accidents in Denver?
If you sustained injuries in a crash because someone didn’t follow right-of-way laws, the Denver failure to yield accident lawyers at The Wilhite Law Firm can help. We have spent nearly 50 years protecting the rights of injured people and can help you claim fair compensation for your injuries. Our firm includes nearly 30 lawyers and over 90 dedicated support personnel, giving us the resources to take on the most challenging cases.
When you retain The Wilhite Law Firm, we don’t charge you any fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf, allowing you to obtain critical legal representation without additional financial pressure. Contact us today for a free consultation with a Denver car accident lawyer.
What Are Denver’s Right-of-Way Laws?
Navigating the streets of Denver requires a clear understanding of the state’s right-of-way laws. Here are some essential right-of-way rules outlined in the official Colorado Driver Handbook:
- Pedestrians – Pedestrians always have the right-of-way at intersections and crosswalks. Drivers must come to a complete stop and allow pedestrians to pass safely.
- Bicycles – Bicycles are considered vehicles and share many of the same rights and responsibilities as cars. Drivers must yield the right-of-way to bicyclists in designated bike lanes, especially when merging or crossing a bike lane to turn. On sidewalks or crosswalks, bicyclists have the same rights and responsibilities as pedestrians.
- Emergency and other official vehicles— Drivers must yield to emergency vehicles, snow plows, maintenance vehicles, and buses in various circumstances, such as when their flashers or sirens are on.
- Four-way stops – At a four-way stop, the vehicle that arrives first has the right-of-way. If two or more vehicles arrive simultaneously, the vehicle on the left must yield to the one on the right.
- Uncontrolled intersections – At intersections without traffic control devices like stop signs or traffic lights, drivers must yield to the vehicle on the right.
- Turning left – Drivers turning left must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and oncoming vehicles, including smaller ones like bicycles and motorcycles.
- Changing lanes and passing – When changing lanes or passing, you must yield to vehicles already in the lane you wish to enter. Avoid lane changes that would require another vehicle to slow down.
- Merging – Drivers must yield to all vehicles on the roadway they are merging with. They should not merge if it would cause another vehicle to slow down.
- Narrow mountain roads— On steep, narrow roads not wide enough for two vehicles, the vehicle going downhill must yield to the vehicle going uphill. This is usually done by backing up to a wider space or stopping to leave enough space for the other driver to pass.
What Are Common Causes of Failure to Yield Accidents in Denver?
In most cases, a car accident resulting from failure to yield happened because the at-fault driver wasn’t paying attention or ignored state traffic laws. Some common causes of these motor vehicle accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Impaired driving
- Aggressive lane changes, merges, or other dangerous driving behaviors
- Speeding
- Poor road conditions
- Fatigued driving
What Are the Types of Failure to Yield Accidents?
Failure to yield accidents come in many forms. Some of the most common causes of failure to yield accidents that can lead to a personal injury claim include:
- Left-turn accidents – A driver making a left turn without yielding to oncoming traffic may cause side-impact or head-on collisions.
- Merging accidents – These accidents take place when a driver merging onto a roadway fails to yield to existing traffic.
- Lane change accidents – When a driver changing lanes fails to yield to vehicles already in the intended lane, it can result in potential sideswipe incidents.
- Intersection accidents – Drivers ignoring stop signs, traffic lights, or other controls at intersections can cause collisions with vehicles that have the right-of-way.
- Roundabout accidents – If drivers fail to yield to traffic already circulating, it can lead to crashes within the roundabout.
- Pedestrian accidents – These happen when drivers do not give the right-of-way to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections.
- Bicycle accidents – Similar to pedestrian accidents, these collisions involve drivers not yielding to bicyclists in intersections and bike lanes.
- Emergency vehicle accidents – These tragic wrecks occur when drivers do not yield to emergency vehicles with flashing lights and sirens.
What Are the Most Common Locations for Failure to Yield Accidents in Denver?
Right-of-way laws cover most common situations on the road, and these crashes can happen almost anywhere. Some common spots for failure to yield accidents in Denver include:
- Crosswalks
- Intersections
- Stop signs
- Merge lanes on highways
- Parking garages
- Roundabouts (traffic circles)
How Do I Prove the At-Fault Driver Didn’t Have the Right-of-Way?
You need compelling evidence to prove you had the right-of-way at the time of the crash and that the other driver caused your injuries. Some common types of evidence in these cases include:
- Police accident reports
- Skid marks or other physical evidence from the scene
- Photos of the crash aftermath
- Surveillance video from traffic cameras or other sources
- Eyewitness accounts
- Expert testimony
- Medical records
Can I Receive Compensation for My Injuries?
If you can prove the other driver caused your injuries through their careless or intentional actions, you can demand compensation for your losses from a failure to yield accident. Depending on the facts of your case, some losses you can seek compensation for include:
- Past and future medical bills
- Lost wages or other income
- Reduced future earnings due to a disability
- Pain and suffering
- Lower quality of life due to your injuries or a disability
- Emotional distress
Is There a Time Limit for Filing a Denver Failure to Yield Accident Claim?
The typical deadline to file a car accident lawsuit in Colorado is three years from the collision date. While three years might sound like a long time, talking to a lawyer immediately after a crash can protect your right to fair compensation. Hiring an attorney right away can also help you claim compensation for your car accident injuries more quickly.
Contact a Denver Failure to Yield Accident Lawyer
The Wilhite Law Firm stands ready to protect your rights after a collision and seek maximum compensation for your injuries. Call our Denver failure to yield accident attorneys today or reach out online for a free consultation.
