Across California, safe driving practices are of paramount importance. Unfortunately, some drivers still engage in risky behaviors that increase the risk of an accident and can result in substantial injury. When you suffer injuries in an auto accident because another driver fails to yield, it can result in severe injuries and immense financial damage.
Our trusted car accident attorneys can help you understand your legal options for pursuing compensation for your losses after a failure to yield car accident in San Bernardino. Call Valero Law Group today to learn more.
Common Causes of Failure to Yield Accidents
Each year, more than 16,000 people suffer injuries or death as a result of car accidents in San Bernardino County. Many of those accidents occur because one driver fails to yield. Failure to yield wrecks can occur for several reasons, including:
- Driver distraction: Despite California laws banning driving while distracted, some drivers still use handheld communication devices or engage in other distractions while behind the wheel
- Speeding: Drivers speeding through an intersection have a greater risk of failing to yield to other drivers since they may not have time to react to changing road or traffic conditions
- Aggressive driving: Some aggressive drivers may choose not to yield to others on the road despite clear signs indicating they should hold back
- Lack of familiarity with the road: Some drivers may not recognize local roads, which means they may struggle to merge properly onto I-10 or I-15
Drivers can also fail to yield to emergency vehicles, pedestrians, or cyclists, all of whom have the right to safely share the streets of San Bernardino.
Why You Need a Lawyer for a Failure to Yield Accident Claim
Failure to yield car accidents often become more complicated than anticipated. When a driver fails to yield at an intersection, for example, it can prove difficult to determine which driver had the right of way. Furthermore, other factors can influence a San Bernardino failure to yield accident, including a mechanical failure in the vehicle. An attorney can investigate all the factors that led to the accident, making it easier to determine liability. Additionally, a lawyer can:
- Clearly lay out evidence of fault
- Make sure that injured motorists adhere to the statute of limitations (in California, two years from the date of the accident)
- Improve interactions with the insurance company, reducing stress
- Ensure any settlement amounts or court damage awards adequately reflect the full amount of an injured person’s losses
The driver who caused the accident does not have to have received a ticket for failure to yield to be held liable for the injuries other people sustained. However, if the driver does receive a criminal citation, that evidence can help establish an injured motorist’s right to compensation and make it easier for their attorney to establish liability for the accident.
Damages Available for a Failure to Yield Wreck
When a failure to yield claim is successful, an injured San Bernardino motorist can expect to receive compensation for all of their crash-related losses. This includes both economic and non-economic forms of harm. Some examples of economic damages include lost wages and a diminished earning capacity, property damage, and all present and future medical bills or injury-related expenses. Non-economic damages may include the more subjective losses such as pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and a loss of enjoyment of life.
Contact a San Bernardino Attorney After a Failure to Yield Wreck
When you sustain injuries in a San Bernardino failure to yield car accident, you need an experienced lawyer who can help you navigate the claim process, make your case to the insurance company, and fight for the full compensation you deserve. At Valero Law Group, we have extensive experience helping car accident victims recover the compensation they deserve. Contact us today for your free consultation. We are always available for calls and ready to fight aggressively on your behalf.
