Yielding can cause anxiety in even the most experienced drivers. When you have extremely heavy traffic, that seems to be moving along at a steady pace, and you’re the one trying to break in, it’s a challenge. Additionally, the times necessary to you know that’s been reduced so drastically that it’s no wonder that people are unfamiliar with how to yield properly in heavy traffic.
Yielding is definitely more art than science. But with a few guiding principles, just like art, you can ensure that you at least don’t mess up most of the time. However, if you’re involved in a wreck involving yielding, or lack thereof, contact our Atlanta car accident attorneys right away
Yielding at Left-Turn Lights
There are countless yields for left-turn lights throughout Atlanta. These lights often cause confusion and can cause quite a bit of road rage as you see people inappropriately turning left at the most dangerous moments. The Georgia Department of Transportation offers one insight into turning left at an intersection “ yield the right-of-way to all traffic coming from the opposite direction.” That means that anyone going straight through the intersection when you are at a left turn yield the light has the right of way, and you do not.
The most frequently asked question in regard to left turn yield lights is whether or not it is legal to turn left because you are in the intersection after the light has changed. The answer is no. You should not enter the intersection at all unless it is safe for you to begin your left turn. That means that watching people creep into an intersection with the hope of making a dash when the traffic breaks can get tickets for turning left on red. When it comes to a fault, they’re going to be viewed as the at-fault party because they did not yield properly.
Yielding When Entering a Roundabout
Roundabouts are often terrifying. You pull up and traffic is moving quickly counter-clockwise, and there’s a yield line, but people coming up behind you, and many get paralyzed. Unlike four-way stops or stop lights, is there is no turn for you to go in a roundabout. Roundabouts work much more at like intersections without stoplights or signs where you really have to just wait for an opportunity to safely enter the flow of traffic.
Essentially everyone attempting to enter the roundabout has to yield until there’s a safe gap. Anyone who made hit a vehicle that is already in the roundabout is likely at fault for the crash. The argument to battle this false assumption is that many drivers feel that stopping at a yield sign it can lead to further accidents as people don’t approach a yield sign expecting stop. They could argue that they were rushed into traffic when it was unsafe because of an impending rear collision.
Yielding at Busy Intersections Without Stop Lights
Here’s the big one, yielding at busy intersections when there are no stoplights. Essentially, you have the right-of-way in a first-come, first-serve scenario. When pulling up to an intersection that does not have stoplights, you should have stop signs. You may not always have for stop signs, it may be a situation where the primary road that does not have to stop, then you must be able to all traffic on the main road. That means you must simply wait until it is safe to proceed.
However, if you are at a four-way stop sign, then the right of way first goes to pedestrians, then goes to the first vehicle that arrived and came to a full stop. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the vehicle to the right has priority in the right of way.
Have a Crash Related to Yielding? Call Atlanta Car Accident Lawyers at The Weinstein Firm
When someone smashes into your vehicle because they failed to adhere to proper yielding guidelines or laws, get an attorney. All throughout Atlanta, people are expected to maintain proper yielding procedure. If someone has failed to provide you with this very basic duty of care, then there’s no reason why you should eat the cost of a car accident, take full action, pursue compensation through the at-fault driver’s insurance provider, and start your recovery.
At the Weinstein Firm in Atlanta, we have seen all types of different accidents, and understand that each one is unique. Yielding accidents are particularly Troublesome, because the other driver may have actually believed they had the right of way. These accidents may have resulted in arguments or even fights at the crash scene and can lead tell lengthy legal battles. Don’t go into battle unprepared.
