If you have been seriously injured in a car crash in Joliet where the other driver failed to yield the right of way, we can help. The experienced Joliet car accident lawyers at The Kryder Law Group, LLC Accident and Injury Lawyers is ready to help you get the compensation you deserve when you’ve suffered serious injuries because of another driver’s negligence.
In Illinois, drivers are required to yield the right of way to other vehicles and pedestrians in certain circumstances. When a driver fails to do so and an accident or collision occurs, they can be held liable for any resulting injuries.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a failure to yield accident, contact the Joliet yield accidents lawyers at The Kryder Law Group, LLC today for a free consultation. We will review your case and help you understand your legal options. Call us today to get started.
In this Article
What is the Right of Way in Illinois?
In Illinois, drivers must allow other vehicles or pedestrians to proceed before them in certain circumstances. These right of way laws are designed to prevent traffic accidents by ensuring that drivers yield to those who have the right of way. Drivers must yield in certain situations such as when another vehicle has the right of way to prevent car accidents or when a pedestrian is crossing the street.
Failing to yield the right of way can result in a traffic ticket with points on your license or car accidents. If a driver fails to yield and causes an accident that results in injuries, they can be held liable for those injuries under Illinois law.
Common Examples of Places Where Drivers Can Fail to Yield
There are many different ways that a driver can fail to yield the right of way and cause a motor vehicle accident. Some common examples of yield accidents include:
Failing to yield when making a left turn (this is the human error that often causes catastrophic motorcycle accidents)
Failing to yield to oncoming traffic when turning right
Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk
Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle with its sirens on
If you have been injured in an accident caused by another driver’s failure to yield, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the experienced Joliet car accident lawyers at The Kryder Law Group, LLC today to discuss your case.
What to Do After a Failure to Yield Accident in Joliet
If you have been involved in a failure to yield accident, there are some important steps that you should take to protect your legal rights. These steps include:
Call the Police
The responding officer will create a police report of the accident, which can be used as evidence in your case.
Get Medical Attention
It is important to seek medical attention even if you think that your injuries are minor. Some injuries can only be diagnosed by a medical professional and may get worse over time.
Gather Evidence
If you are able to, take pictures of the accident scene and get the contact information for any witnesses. This evidence can be used to support your claim that the accident happened because of the other driver’s negligence.
Speak to a Lawyer
An experienced personal injury lawyer can help you understand your legal rights and options after an accident. They can also help you build a strong case and seek compensation for your serious injury.
Potentially Recoverable Compensation for a Failure to Yield Accident in Joliet, IL
As a victim of a failure to yield accident in Joliet, IL, you may be eligible to recover the following forms of compensation and more:
Medical Expenses
The driver who caused your injuries should pay not just for the medical expenses you have already incurred at the time of the settlement, but also for those we reasonably anticipate you will face in the future.
Lost Wages
If your car accident injuries have forced you to miss work on a short-term or long-term basis, our Joliet failure to yield accident lawyers can help you make up the income you have lost with compensation from the at-fault party and their insurance company.
Reduced Earning Capacity
A severe injury from a car accident can reduce your earning capacity, even after you are cleared to return to work. If you cannot physically or mentally perform your job at the level you did before, this loss may be reflected in your paycheck. We make sure the other driver compensates you for this loss of income.
Pain and Suffering
You may also be entitled to compensation for noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. This can be a significant amount of money in some cases.
Loss of Enjoyment of Life
If your injury prevents you from partaking in hobbies or activities you previously enjoyed, the at-fault party and their insurer may have a financial obligation to compensate you for this loss of enjoyment of life.
To learn more about how The Kryder Law Group, LLC, can help you pursue these damages and more after a Joliet failure to yield accident, call us for a free consultation with a car accident lawyer.
Situations Where Drivers Should Yield to Other Vehicles
A failure to yield accident happens when two vehicles collide because one driver does not yield the right of way to the other. In the following examples of failure to yield accidents, a driver may have a legal obligation to yield to other vehicles:
Traffic Signs and Lights
Any accident that occurs at an intersection controlled by a traffic light, stop sign, or yield sign likely involves a driver failing to yield.
Pedestrians in Crosswalks
Drivers must yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, no matter what. If you were crossing the street on foot when you were struck by a vehicle, the driver may be guilty of failure to yield.
Four-Way Stop Signs
At a four-way stop sign, the car that comes to a complete stop first has the right to proceed through the intersection first. If two vehicles stop at the same time, the car to the right has the right of way.
Defenses the Other Driver Might Use
When we file a claim against the other driver and their insurance company for failure to yield, there is a good chance they will push back in an effort to avoid liability. Here are a few of the defenses they might use—our team is prepared to counter all of them:
They, not you, actually had the right of way
They were impaired by a lack of visibility, perhaps due to bad weather or poor lighting
You were speeding to such a degree that they did not have time to yield to you
The road signage setting the right of way was ambiguous
Be Aware of the Statute of Limitations That May Affect Your Case
The statute of limitations on most car accident lawsuits in Illinois is two years for cases involving bodily injury under Illinois law 735 ILCS 5/13-202. A Joliet failure to yield accident lawyer can work with you to ensure that you don’t miss a deadline which would prevent you from seeking full and fair compensation for your injuries.
Contact the Joliet Car Accident Lawyers at The Kryder Law Group, LLC Today
If you have been injured in a car accident caused by another driver’s failure to yield, contact a Joliet yield accident lawyer at The Kryder Law Group, LLC today to discuss your case. We will review your case and help you understand your legal options. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we don’t get paid unless we recover financial compensation for you. Call us today or contact us online to get started.
(312) 223-1700