Failure to Yield Accidents

There are many places in Massachusetts where a driver needs to yield to another oncoming lane. With 118 rotaries (roundabouts), Massachusetts has more than any other state in the country.

Rotaries are designed so that drivers can weave in and out of traffic. A driver enters and exits the rotary without having to wait for a stop sign or other traffic signal. Rotaries are also designed to reduce life threatening crashes. According to the Federal Highway Administration, rotaries decrease the types of crashes where people are seriously hurt or killed by about 80% when compared to traditional stop and go intersections. However, just because rotaries reduce serious or catastrophic injuries, does not mean they are always safe.

Rotary and Failure to Yield Accents happen many ways. The most common reason is when a driver looks left to see if there is oncoming traffic in a rotary, but does not see that the car in front of him/her stopped. These cause rear end accidents that can also push both vehicles into the rotary, which can cause a multi-car pileup.

Failure to Yield accidents also happen on highways in the same way. A vehicle slows down to merge into traffic and gets him from behind by a driver who is not paying attention to what is happening.

If you are struck by someone who fails to yield to you want to make sure the police come to the scene. This is important for two reasons.

First, you want to call the police for your own safety because often areas where you are yielding are high speed routes. You almost always have to yield to other drivers when you are getting onto the highway. Getting out of your vehicle to swap information on a busy highway is not a good idea.

Second, you want the police there to preserve the facts of your case. The police will take statements from both parties and are familiar with the routes that you were struck on. After interviewing both drivers, the police will compile a report that might attribute fault to the person who was supposed to yield to you and ended up colliding with your car.

The police officer could also issue a citation to the other driver. In the Commonwealth, failing to yield to another vehicle may result in a citation and increased insurance premiums for the driver. These things are good for your case.

Rotaries and areas where cars yield to one another are designed to reduce “serious” and fatal automobile accidents. The whole point of a yielding route is to avoid head on or “T-bone” collisions. However, at Marcotte Law Firm, we understand that just because your vehicle was hit on the side or from behind does not make your injuries any less “serious.”

We understand that life changing injuries can and do result from a failing to yield car crash. Being struck on the side or from behind can cause the body to jostle around in such a way that whiplash can occur. We have seen serious accidents result from crashes that only cause minor damage to the vehicles. At Marcotte Law Firm, we know how to get you adequately compensated for your injuries.

Call us today to set up a free consultation at (978) 458 – 1229.