The right of way exists mainly to ensure the safety of road-users. For effectiveness, every road-user, including the drivers, motorists, pedestrians, and cyclists, must observe the right of way. Some road-users might not adhere to the rules necessitating the other users to yield right of way even if it was not their turn to allow traffic to move smoothly and avoid accidents. Let’s look at the facts that you need to know about the right of way on the road.
RIGHT TO SEEK COMPENSATION FOR THE HARM CAUSED BY A DRIVER’S FAILURE
Sometimes, failing to yield causes an accident that could have easily been prevented. Such accidents sometimes cause serious injuries, damage to vehicles, and even death of the vehicle occupants. If a failure to yield accident occurs, you have a right to ask for compensation for the harm and losses that you incur. It will be best to get a competent lawyer who will work on your case where the negligent driver responsible is convicted. Some of the damages to be compensated include medical bills, property damages, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and pain and suffering.
EXISTENCE OF RIGHT OF WAY LAWS
The right of way laws ensures a smooth flow of traffic and safety. They state the scenarios of when to yield the right of way to other road users. For example, motorists are expected to yield to an emergency vehicle when the emergency vehicle approaches with the lights and sirens on. At a point where the emergency vehicle is stopped, you need to move to another lane and pass it cautiously.
These rules may defer depending on your jurisdiction, but the fact is that the law dictates when you should yield the right of way but does not give the right of way. It is mostly expected when driving to yield to other vehicles if you’re making a left-hand turn. Breaking these rules is a crime, punishable by law.
FAILURE TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY MAY RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT INJURIES OR FATAL ACCIDENTS
Some instances that can lead to the failure to yield the right of way include failure to observe the red light, merging onto a highway, and neglecting the oncoming traffic. There are situations where you should defer to others, such as in a crosswalk, other vehicles at an uncontrolled intersection when making left-hand turns – except when turning left off the road into a driveway whereby the others leave the driveway and when at the yield sign. Failure to yield can result in serious injuries such as bone fractures, soft tissue injuries, internal bleeding, head injuries, spinal cord injuries, cuts, and brain injuries. Even worse, it can result in deaths that will call for death claims against the accident’s cause.
SLOW DOWN WHEN APPROACHING THE YIELD SIGN
You are expected to note the yield sign and slow down as you approach the yield sign but do not make a complete stop if there is a clear path ahead. In the presence of traffic, you must wait, and to proceed, you have to look out not only for the oncoming vehicles but also for the pedestrians and cyclists who are crossing your path to avoid accidents.
RELINQUISHING THE RIGHT OF WAY
You may decide to wave at someone, but this is not a brilliant idea. It is not allowed to wave at someone to turn in front of you at a point where you’re stopped in the traffic as it can block the driver from looking at other incoming vehicles. Furthermore, it is wrong to stop at an intersection to let someone in as it confuses other drivers and can result in a traffic build-up. The fact is to understand how to relinquish the right of way and when it is safe to yield to the right.
Generally, a right of way should guide you into making the right decision on the road to avoid preventable accidents. Therefore, you should learn the facts regarding the right of way on the road to be safe. We hope this article helps significantly.
