Rhode Island Failure to Yield Car Accidents

All motorists in Rhode Island are obligated to obey traffic laws, one of which is to yield to vehicles that have the right of way. Failing to do so can result in a preventable traffic collision and related injuries. If you were hurt by a driver who failed to yield in Rhode Island, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries and other losses.

At Bottaro Law, we understand how a car accident can impact your physical and emotional well-being. That’s why our failure-to-yield accident attorneys in Rhode Island want to help you seek justice and the compensation you deserve. Our legal team has the experience, skills, and resources to handle every aspect of your case on your behalf. With us on the case, you can focus on healing and not on bureaucratic red tape and stressful negotiations.

Types of Failure to Yield Accidents in Rhode Island

A driver who fails to yield the right-of-way may cause an accident in situations involving:

Stop Signs, Yield Signs, and Traffic Lights – Intersections can be dangerous because multiple cars are driving at different speeds and in directions, typically passing perpendicularly in front of one another. If a driver is not paying attention as they approach an intersection, they could enter the intersection when it is not their turn to do so, potentially colliding with whichever vehicle has the right of way.
Left Turns – When turning left on a two-way roadway, a driver must necessarily cross paths with oncoming traffic. They must watch for cross traffic and yield to oncoming vehicles. A driver should never make a left turn when a traffic light is red or when oncoming traffic makes it unsafe to do so.
Right Turns on Red – A driver may turn right at most red lights after first coming to a complete stop if there is no oncoming traffic. Failing to yield in this situation can cause a serious T-bone, sideswipe, or rear-end accident.
Bicycles and Pedestrians – When turning or changing lanes, drivers must yield to bicycles traveling in the bike lane and pedestrians crossing in a designated crosswalk. Cyclists and pedestrians are especially vulnerable to severe injury because they are exposed and are not protected like a car’s occupants.
Parking Lots and Driveways – These areas typically do not have traffic signs, and even collisions at slow speeds can cause damage and injuries. Rhode Island law says that stopped vehicles should yield to the car already traveling or to the vehicle on the right if they are both stopped.
Three-Way and Four-Way Stop Signs – The first vehicle to arrive at the intersection should proceed. If multiple cars arrive simultaneously, drivers should yield to the vehicle on their right.
Merging – A driver who wants to merge into another lane should yield to those already traveling in that lane. Failure to merge properly can lead to dangerous sideswipe accidents, especially at high speeds.
Emergency Vehicles – When an emergency vehicle is approaching with its lights and sirens on, drivers should move to the right side of the road and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed.

Yielding the right of way is not only a courteous thing to do. It is essential for keeping all road users safe.

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Common Injuries from Failure to Yield Accidents

When drivers fail to yield the right of way at an intersection, they can cause a serious accident involving multiple injuries. Some of these injuries can be severe and include:

Spinal cord damage – These injuries can cause numbness, loss of muscle control, and, in many cases, complete or partial paralysis.
Head injuries and traumatic brain injuries – A blow to the head can cause serious brain damage that may cause permanent cognitive and behavioral changes.
Neck and back injuries, including whiplash, and slipped or herniated discs – The neck and back are sensitive areas, and the blunt force of a car accident can cause significant damage to tendons, muscles, and bones.
Severe lacerations and deep bruises – Severe lacerations from broken glass and other sharp objects can become infected if not treated properly. Deep bruises may take a long time to heal and could indicate more serious problems, such as a broken bone or internal damage.
Fractures and broken bones – When bones do not set properly, they can cause permanent pain and develop into joint damage over time. Surgery is sometimes necessary to prevent or correct these problems.
Damage to soft tissues – Torn muscles, ligaments, or tendons often require surgery to repair and may cause permanent activity limitations.
Damage to internal organs – Internal bleeding can be a significant concern immediately after an accident. Permanent organ damage can affect the organ’s function and have drastic health consequences.

Causes of Rhode Island Failure-to-Yield Accidents

There are many causes of failure-to-yield accidents in Rhode Island, most of which are due to driver error or careless driving. Examples include:

Drunk driving
Distracted driving
Drowsy driving
Aggressive driving
Impatience

Proving Liability in Failure-to-Yield Accidents

Determining who is at fault in a car accident can be difficult, but it is a prerequisite for seeking compensation. Generally speaking, anyone whose carelessness, recklessness, or deliberately dangerous behavior contributed to an accident could be held at fault and therefore liable for compensating any injured parties. For example, if someone is too distracted by a text message to notice the car in front of them has stopped, they would likely be at fault for a subsequent rear-end collision and liable for any injuries suffered as a result.

To determine fault, investigators and insurance adjusters will look at evidence like:

Photographs of the scene
Videos of the accident taken from traffic, in-vehicle, or security cameras
Accident reconstructions
Police reports

One important thing to understand about Rhode Island’s negligence laws is that an injured motorist can still seek compensation for an accident even if they were partially at fault for causing it. However, the amount of compensation they can receive is prorated by the amount of fault they’re assessed. So, as an example, a person who was found to be 20 percent at fault for a car accident that caused them $10,000 in losses could potentially receive $8,000 in compensation from the other driver.

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Contact Our Failure-to-Yield Accident Attorney in Rhode Island Today

If you were injured in a failure-to-yield accident in Rhode Island, the attorneys at Bottaro Law can help you pursue the money you deserve from the driver who hurt you. Contact us today for a free consultation with a failure-to-yield accident lawyer in Rhode Island.