Car crashes can happen suddenly and without warning, especially when other drivers don’t follow the rules of the road. A good example is failure to yield accidents. While you might assume you have the right of way, inattentive drivers may have the wrong idea and proceed anyway, leaving you with devastating injuries and financial instability. Moving forward with your life can be challenging without fair compensation for your financial losses.
At Bradford Law, our personal injury attorneys are prepared to evaluate your claim and outline your legal options for recovering the money you need. We provide robust legal representation and caring service to our clients because we know now is when you need it the most.
Has a careless North Carolina driver injured you? It’s time to seek legal help with your claim to demand maximum compensation for your injuries. Contact our office today and request a free case review to get started.
What Is Failure to Yield?
North Carolina has specific laws in place to control traffic flow and ensure all drivers know when it is safe to proceed. These rules are outlined in the North Carolina Driver’s Handbook, which is required reading to pass the state’s driver’s license or learner permit tests. The rules may be in black and white, but failure to yield accidents are still too common. What is a failure to yield accident? It’s a collision that occurs because a driver does not defer to another driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist who has the right of way by law.
These accidents are common at intersections, crosswalks, stop lights, and on- and off-ramps. Distracted driving, drunk driving, speeding, and aggressive driving are some of the most common causes of failure to yield accidents. Common types of failure-to-yield accidents include:
- Running a red light
- Running a stop sign
- Failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks
- Making a left turn before checking the intersection and crosswalk
- Pulling out into the street without waiting for the road to clear
- Merging onto a freeway without yielding to other drivers
Unfortunately, many victims are caught unaware and have little to no time to take evasive actions because they are not expecting someone to violate their rights.
Common Injuries Associated with Failure to Yield Accidents
Since many failure-to-yield accident victims are caught off guard by the unexpected actions of a careless driver, they can suffer devastating and traumatic injuries. Some of the most common injuries associated with failure-to-yield accidents include:
- Traumatic brain injury
- Neck and spinal injuries
- Whiplash
- Broken bones
- Facial injuries
- Internal bleeding
- Organ damage
- Soft tissue injuries
- Lacerations
- Contusions
Pedestrians can also suffer burns and road rash when hit or dragged through the street by a driver who fails to yield them the right of way. Significant accidents and physical injuries can also lead to the development of so-called invisible injuries such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Following a crash, seek medical attention immediately, then contact an experienced North Carolina personal injury attorney for help.
Determining Fault for a Failure to Yield Accident
For victims, pursuing compensation for a failure-to-yield accident should be as simple as filing a claim against the at-fault driver’s insurance. Unfortunately, insurance companies hate to spend money on claims, and they might make it hard for you to get the full amount you deserve. That’s why you should get in touch with a North Carolina failure-to-yield accident attorney immediately. They understand that a solid claim is built on evidence, which can be lost or destroyed if not collected and preserved promptly.
Evidence is how you prove that what you say happened, happened. The at-fault driver and their insurer might try to claim that you were in the wrong, but with valuable evidence like the following, your attorney can prove conclusively that the driver violated your right of way:
- Police reports
- Cell phone records
- Surveillance videos
- Witness statements
- Photographs of the crash scene
- Expert witness testimony
- Accident reconstructions
Gathering this evidence can be challenging when you are still coping with painful injuries and navigating everyday life. An attorney has the skills and resources to get the necessary information to build a compelling claim with the best chance of earning you a favorable outcome.
Compensation for a North Carolina Failure to Yield Accident
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. Are you confident that the at-fault driver’s insurer will offer you the money you need to move forward with your life and cover your necessary medical expenses and lost wages? Before accepting an insurer’s settlement offer, you need an experienced attorney to review your claim and calculate the value of your losses. The value of your claim depends on numerous factors, including the severity of your injuries and the exact cause of the crash. Having said that, you can likely demand compensation for your:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning capacity
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
Don’t let an insurance company try to lowball you. If an adjuster calls you with a settlement, tell them that you need time to think it over with the help of your attorney.
The Deadline for Taking Action
North Carolina’s statute of limitations on car accident claims puts a strict deadline on how long you have to pursue compensation. If you attempt to file suit more than three years from the date of the accident, the trial court will likely dismiss your case as untimely filed, costing you your right to compensation. Don’t let this happen – get in touch with a personal injury lawyer today.
Contact a Skilled North Carolina Personal Injury Attorney for Help
Avoid the stress and frustration of filing a claim and fighting with an insurance company by yourself. Instead, focus on healing and allow a seasoned North Carolina personal injury attorney to do the fighting for you. At Bradford Law, we want to pursue every penny of compensation you deserve following a severe failure-to-yield accident.
Contact our North Carolina office today and arrange for a free case evaluation. Let us help you explore your options for recovering the money you need to cover your financial losses.
