Michigan Failure to Yield Accident Lawyer

When a driver neglects to regard another motorist’s right-of-way and causes a crash, they might be held civilly liable. Therefore, if you were injured in a collision with a negligent motorist, consider reaching out to a lawyer who is skilled in handling failure to yield car accident claims in Michigan to discuss your legal options.

Wrecks involving a driver’s neglect to give the right of way are some of the most common throughout the state. By working with a Michigan failure to yield car accident attorney, you will get help pursuing a claim to hold the negligent driver accountable.

Yielding laws in Michigan
Failure to Yield Accident Statistics
Compensation in Failure to Yield Accident Claims
Seek Legal Counsel for Failure to Yield Accident Lawsuit

Yielding Laws in Michigan

When a reckless motorist disregards road signs and the rights of other drivers, it often leaves the innocent driver with little or no time to react. Due to this, there are specific statutes in Michigan that cover accidents in which a driver fails to yield to the right-of-way of another driver and causes a crash as a result.

Pursuant to Michigan Compiled Laws Annotated 257.649, a reckless driver might be deemed negligent for failing to properly yield the right of way in compliance with a sign or at an intersection. For these and other failures to yield, a driver injured in a car accident might be able to pursue compensation against the at-fault motorist with the help of a Michigan attorney.

Failure to Yield & Driving Behavior Accident Statistics

In 2022, approximately 4,432 drivers who were involved in fatal crashes failed to yield the right of way, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The table below shows the percentages of driver behaviors as factors in fatal crashes in 2022.

Failure to stay in the proper lane and failure to yield the right of way were the fourth and fifth-highest cited factors for drivers involved in fatal crashes, with a total of about 7,850 drivers, or nearly 13 percent of all drivers in fatal crashes.

Number	Behavior	Total Crashes	Percent
1	Driving too fast for conditions	11,103	18.5%
2	Under the influence	6,594	11%
3	Operating in a careless manner	5,319	8.9%
4	Failure to yield right of way	4,432	7.4%
5	Failure to keep in proper lane	3,420	5.7%
6	Distracted	3,124	5.2%
7	Failure to obey signals, signs	2,541	4.2%
8	Operating in an erratic manner	2,251	3.7%
9	Overcorrecting/oversteering	1,708	2.8%
10	Vision obscured	1,542	2.6%
11	Drowsy, asleep, fatigued, ill	1,264	2.1%
12	Swerving or avoiding due to slippery surface, etc.	1,334	2.2%
13	Driving the wrong way, wrong side of road	1,282	2.1%
14	Making an improper turn	485	0.8%

Pursuing a Settlement in a Failure to Yield Crash Claim

Anyone injured in a collision with a negligent motorist should understand what can be included when pursuing compensation in a failure to yield car accident claim in Michigan. Of course, the damages included will vary based on the specific circumstances of a case. However, recoverable damages might include both economic and non-economic losses.

Economic Damages

Economic damages are those meant to compensate a claimant for expenses with a definitive price tag. This might include lost wages and medical expenses—including hospital bills, rehabilitation and physical therapy, and other associated costs. These damages might be especially for a claimant who was severely injured during a crash and has an extensive recovery time as a result. These claims fall under Michigan’s no-fault insurance benefits.

Non-Economic Damages

Unlike economic damages, noneconomic damages are meant to provide financial recovery to a plaintiff’s psychological and physical trauma. This might include mental anguish, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, these damages are more subjective and, therefore, often more difficult to calculate. A detail-oriented Michigan failure to yield accident lawyer could help a claimant to assess the scope of their losses for a claim.

Statute of Limitations for Michigan Failure to Yield Car Accident Claims

Anyone injured in a motor vehicle crash who wants to pursue compensation against an at-fault driver should do so within three years from the date of the accident, according to Michigan Compiled Law §600.5805.

Call a Michigan Failure to Yield Car Accident Lawyer

If you were injured in a crash because a driver failed to yield, you are likely to be traumatized and unsure of what to do next. By enlisting a lawyer who is well-practiced with claims based on failure to yield car accidents in Michigan, you will have legal help with each step.

By pursuing a civil lawsuit, you might be able to recover numerous damages that allow you to focus on your recovery. However, pursuing a claim alone is often difficult, especially for an underrepresented and underprepared claimant.

An experienced car accident attorney will work tirelessly to explain your rights, gather sufficient evidence, and file a persuasive claim against a negligent driver.

To schedule a consultation, call a legal professional at Buckfire Law Firm today. There are no fees unless you win a settlement!

Legally reviewed by:

Lawrence J. Buckfire, J.D., Lead Trial Attorney at Buckfire Law
Lawrence J. Buckfire, J.D. has over 30 years of experience specializing in personal injury and wrongful death cases. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and attended Wayne State University School of Law. Lawrence has been named a Super Lawyer, U.S. News Best Lawyer, and in The National Trial Lawyers-Top 100 Trial Lawyers.
Date of Review: June, 2025