Failure-to-Yield Car Crash

Failure-to-yield car accidents are a common occurrence in Chicago, causing injuries to bicyclists, pedestrians, and others.

There are various offenses related to failure-to-yield that can cause serious accidents. Examples include failure-to-yield to a vehicle that has the right of way or failure-to-yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. There are specific laws that govern the right of way in Chicago. In some cases, failure-to-yield may be a criminal offense if another driver or pedestrian suffers personal injury because of negligent conduct.

Failure-to-Yield Car Accidents

Most common failure-to-yield accidents take place when a driver attempts an unprotected turn. Numerous accidents occur when a driver enters an intersection without due caution and forgets to yield to pedestrians or other motor vehicles that have the right of way when the light is green. Some common scenarios that lead to failure-to-yield accidents are:

• Failure-to-yield to a police, vehicle, ambulance, fire engine, or any other emergency vehicle when the emergency lights or sirens are on.
• Failure-to-yield to oncoming traffic when making a left turn.
• Failure-to-yield to stop signs.
• Failure-to-yield until the right of way driver has passed.
• Failure-to-yield to children entering a crosswalk in a school zone.
• Failure-to-yield to bicyclists when making a right turn.
• Failure-to-yield to the right of way of pedestrians.
• Failure-to-yield to crossing traffic at a yellow or red light.
• Failure-to-yield to anyone who has the right of way when pulling out of a parking lot, driveway, or side street.

Yielding to Pedestrians

In Chicago, there are specific rules governing the right of way for pedestrians at clearly marked crosswalks. The rules state that drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians entering a crosswalk or within a crosswalk. The law also states that if the traffic is not controlled by traffic devices or lights, drivers must stop and yield the right of way to any passenger crossing the road.

Yielding to Motor Vehicles

If two or more vehicles reach an intersection with a blinking stop sign or red light, the drivers must yield to the driver that arrives first. Also, any driver approaching an intersection must give way to the vehicle that is within the intersection. In addition, a vehicle that is merging into traffic must yield to other vehicles and drivers who do not have a stop or yield sign.