Trucking companies and insurers are fighting to deny you your rights after failure to yield truck accidents. Our experienced truck accident lawyers can help you put the blame where it belongs and fight for monetary damages. Contact the Wilshire Law Firm to schedule a free case review. We’ve recovered over $1 billion for clients. Call us today at (800) 501-3011 or visit us online.
Why Hire a Truck Accident Law Firm for Failure To Yield Crashes
Trucking companies and insurers do not readily admit they were negligent. Many insurers will try to find a reason to deny your claim. It is important to remember that trucking and insurance companies have legal counsel. By hiring a truck accident attorney, you are leveling the playing field and increasing your chances of obtaining the compensation you deserve.
The legal representation you choose is a significant factor in winning your case. Wilshire Law Firm’s award-winning legal team has a track record of winning cases and helping clients get life-changing financial results. Our lawyers fully invest in each client and use their experience and resources to fight for their rights. Call us 24/7 to schedule a meeting with our attorneys to discuss your case.
Failure to Yield: Major Factors in Truck Accidents
Failure to yield truck accidents can be dangerous, resulting in serious injuries or even fatalities. If a truck driver fails to yield, they have not given the right of way to another vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist. The trucker may be held liable for any injuries or damages in these cases. In addition, if the trucker works for a trucking company, the owner may be held responsible.
To avoid failure-to-yield accidents involving trucks, it’s essential for both truck drivers and other road users to be aware of traffic laws and to exercise caution when entering intersections or making turns. Pedestrians and bicyclists should also be vigilant when crossing the street and ensure they are visible to truck drivers.
Statistics of Failure to Yield Truck Accidents in California
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA), in California 7.7 percent of all vehicles involved in fatal crashes were large trucks in 2019. The majority of those killed in those collisions were passengers in passenger vehicles. About 20 percent of truckers in deadly accidents had prior speeding infractions [1].
General Types of Accidents Due to Failure to Yield
Various types of accidents can occur due to failure to yield. Some of the most common types of accidents include
- Intersection accidents: When drivers fail to yield at an intersection, they can collide with another vehicle or a pedestrian with the right of way. Intersection accidents often involve high speeds, multiple cars and left turns.
- Turning accident: Failure to yield while turning can result in a collision with another vehicle or pedestrian. This error can occur when a driver fails to properly check their blind spot before making a turn or when they misjudge the speed or distance of oncoming traffic.
- Pedestrian accidents: A truck driver failing to yield to a pedestrian can result in severe or even fatal injuries. Pedestrian accidents frequently occur at intersections and crosswalks.
- Bicycle accidents: Failure to yield to a bicyclist can result in a collision, which can cause serious injuries or fatalities. When a driver fails to check their blind spot and give the bicyclist enough room on the road, bicycle accidents can occur.
Squeeze-Play Accidents
A squeeze-play accident occurs when a truck driver attempts to make a turn and another vehicle tries to pass. If a passing car tries to pass on the side the truck turns into, it may become “squeezed” between the vehicle and the curb or median, leading to a collision.
In a squeeze-play accident, the truck driver must yield to the other vehicle, as the car has the right of way. However, if the truck driver fails to yield or signal correctly, it can result in a crash.
Wide Turn Accidents
Wide turn accidents occur when a truck driver swings out and crashes into another vehicle in an adjacent lane. The move could result in a collision if the truck driver fails to see the other car or misjudges the other vehicle’s speed.
Merging Accidents
Trucks merging into highway traffic can cause catastrophic accidents. The severity of the crash is often due to the speed of vehicles on the freeway. Trucks and other vehicles entering a highway must yield to traffic already on the road. Failure to wait for a gap in traffic can have deadly consequences.
Blind Spots on Big Rigs
Commercial trucks, also known as big rigs, have more prominent blind spots than passenger cars. Blind spots are areas around a vehicle where the driver has limited or no visibility of other vehicles or objects. The blind spots on big rigs are commonly called “no-zones” and include the following:[2]
- Rear blind spot: The area directly behind the truck, which can extend up to 30 feet, is a significant blind spot for truck drivers.
- Side blind spots: The sides of the truck, especially the right side, have large blind spots that extend from the side mirrors to the rear of the trailer. These blind spots can be dangerous for other vehicles when the truck driver turns right or changes lanes.
- Front blind spot: The front of the truck has a smaller blind spot than the sides and rear, but it can still obstruct the driver’s view of vehicles or objects directly in front of the semi.
It’s essential for other drivers to be aware of these blind spots and to avoid driving in them for extended periods. Drivers should also avoid passing a truck on the right side, especially when the semi turns right. Instead, drivers should pass on the left side, where the driver has better visibility.
Truck drivers should also take steps to minimize the impact of blind spots, such as adjusting their mirrors and using other technology like cameras or sensors. Additionally, truck drivers should always signal before turning or changing lanes to alert other drivers of their intentions.
Damages When I Am Involved in a Failure to Yield Accident
If you are involved in a crash where a truck failed to yield the right of way, you may be entitled to damages for your injuries and other losses. Damages you may recover can include the following:
- Medical expenses: The cost of medical treatment, hospital stays, surgeries, medication, rehabilitation, and any other necessary costs related to your injuries is recoverable.
- Lost income: If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be able to recover damages for lost income, including both past and future earnings and wages.
- Property damage: If your vehicle or other property sustained damage in the accident, you may be able to recover the cost of repairs or the fair market value if it is deemed a total loss.
- Pain and suffering: This includes damages for physical and emotional pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, and any other non-economic damages you may have suffered due to the accident.
- Punitive damages: You may sometimes recover punitive damages if the truck driver’s conduct was reckless or egregious.
Gathering evidence and building a solid case to recover damages is vital. Evidence can include obtaining witness statements, police reports, medical records, and other documentation related to the incident. An experienced personal injury attorney can help you understand your legal rights and options and guide you through the legal process to help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Free Case Review with Our Truck Accident Lawyers for Failure to Yield Wrecks
While there are many reasons why a trucker fails to yield to another vehicle, when it happens, it usually involves negligence. When a trucker’s negligent actions injure or kill a pedestrian or occupant in a vehicle, at-fault parties should be held accountable to pay damages and right the wrong.
Let the truck accident lawyers at Wilshire Law Firm intercede and work to rectify this imbalance. We will help you fight for your rights and hold them responsible for your injuries. If your loved one died due to a trucker’s failure to yield the right of way, we could assist in filing a wrongful death claim against the wrongdoer. A wrongful death lawsuit will help you pay for funeral and burial costs and the financial burden of losing your loved one and obtaining the necessary justice your family member deserves.
Call us at (800) 501-3011 to schedule a free case review, or contact us online. We are available 24/7 since accidents only sometimes happen during business hours.
