When a driver neglects to regard another motorist’s right-of-way and causes a crash, they might be able to 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 right of way are some of the most common throughout the state. By working with a well-versed attorney, you could have help in pursuing a claim to hold the negligent driver accountable.
- Yielding laws in Michigan
- Failure to yield statistics
- Compensation in failure to yield claim
- Legal counsel for failure to yield 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
The bar chart and corresponding table below show a total breakdown and percentage breakdown of driver behaviors as factors in fatal crashes in 2017, courtesy of The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
In 2017, approximately 3,711 drivers who were involved in fatal crashes failed to yield the right of way, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Failure to stay in the proper lane, and failure to yield the right of way were cited as third and fourth-highest cited factors for drivers involved in fatal crashes with a total of about 7,500 drivers, or almost 15 percent of all drivers in fatal crashes.
| Number | Behavior | Total Crashes | Percent |
| 1 | Driving too fast for conditions | 8,856 | 16.9% |
| 2 | Under the influence | 5,507 | 10.5% |
| 3 | Failure to keep in proper lane | 3,826 | 7.3% |
| 4 | Failure to yield right of way | 7,711 | 7.1% |
| 5 | Distracted | 2,994 | 5.7% |
| 6 | Operating in careless manner | 2,961 | 5.7% |
| 7 | Failure to obey signals, signs | 2,095 | 4.0% |
| 8 | Operating in erratic manner | 1,996 | 3.8% |
| 9 | Overcorrecting/oversteering | 1,837 | 3.5% |
| 10 | Vision obscured | 1,581 | 3.0% |
| 11 | Drowsy, asleep, fatigued, ill | 1,306 | 2.5% |
| 12 | Driving wrong way, wrong side of road | 1,187 | 2.5% |
| 13 | Swerving or avoiding due to wind, etc. | 1,103 | 2.1% |
| 14 | Making improper turn | 498 | 1.0% |
| 15 | Other factors | 6,225 | 11.9% |
| 16 | None reported | 13,421 | 25.7% |
| 17 | Unknown | 11,710 | 22.4% |
Pursuing Compensation 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.
Legal Counsel for Failure to Yield Car Accident Claims in Michigan
If you were injured in a wreck with a driver who neglected to give right of way, 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 could 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 attorney could 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 & Buckfire, P.C. today.
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