What Does Yielding the Right of Way Mean?
If you have ever raced a slot car, you know how much fun they can be. They zoom around the track at high speeds, never hitting each other. The slots in the track prevent cars from ever getting in the way of other cars.
In real life, roads don’t have slots. When two cars want to travel over the same stretch of road, one of them has to give way to the other. This is what it means to yield the right of way.
Why Is It Important to Yield the Right of Way?
Because cars are such a staple of everyday life, it is easy to forget that these vehicles are multi-ton steel and plastic contraptions. But when two of these massive machines get into a car accident, there is a high chance of serious injury to anyone inside or near them.
Properly yielding the right of way is one way to significantly lower your chances of getting into a car accident.
When Does Florida Law Require You to Yield the Right of Way?
Florida right-of-way laws are designed to minimize injuries and deaths of drivers, bike riders, and pedestrians.
These laws govern vehicles when they:
- Arrive at an intersection
- Approach a crosswalk
- Pass a school bus
- Exit or enter a highway
If you fail to yield the right of way when legally required, you could be liable for any resulting injuries or property destruction. At a minimum, you can be ticketed for failing to yield the right of way, even when it doesn’t result in an accident. And in some cases, you can have your license revoked.
How Do You Know Who Has the Right of Way?
It is usually easy to tell who has the right of way at an intersection. Most intersections have clear signs or signals that indicate which vehicle can go and which should yield. For example, if your lane has a yield sign and an intersecting lane has a stop sign, you have the right of way in almost all situations.
To determine the right of way when you aren’t at an intersection, it is best if you are familiar with the appropriate law. This will keep you from making mistakes. But just because you know the law, that doesn’t mean you should assume everyone else on the road knows it too.
If there is any question over who should yield the right of way, the following guidelines will serve you well:
- Vehicles traveling at faster speeds should be given the right of way
- The vehicle in front should be given the right of way
- Pedestrians or bike riders should be given the right of way
- Vehicles with limited visibility should be given the right of way
Even when you think you have the right of way, there are times when you should yield anyway. If you believe it will be safer to yield, you should.
What Happens When Another Driver Violates Your Right of Way?
If another driver violates your right of way, you are at serious risk of getting into an accident. Usually, you will need to react quickly to avoid one.
To improve your reaction speed, always pay close attention to other vehicles when you are in any situation that involves a right of way. That way, if somebody does violate the rule, you will already have a plan to safely avoid a collision.
Contact a Jacksonville Car Accident Lawyer After a Collision Caused By a Failure to Yield the Right of Way
If another driver failed to yield the right of way and caused an accident, contact our experienced Jacksonville auto accident lawyers for help. An attorney will evaluate the facts of your case, help you negotiate with insurance companies, and maximize your compensation.
Contact the Jacksonville Car Accident Law Firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help
For more information, please contact the Jacksonville and Ponte Vedra car accident law firm of Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers at the nearest location to schedule a free consultation today.
We serve in Duval County, St, Johns County, and its surrounding areas:
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Jacksonville
9471 Baymeadows Rd #105,
Jacksonville, FL 32256, United States
(904) 396-1100
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Downtown Jacksonville
121 W. Forsyth St. #170
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 822-4225
Baggett Law Personal Injury Lawyers – Ponte Vedra
480 Town Plaza Ave #130,
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32081
(904) 675-1167