Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC can help you through the aftermath of a car accident caused by someone failing to yield in Louisville. Yielding to traffic and pedestrians is one of the basics of safe driving, yet in a real-life situation, that doesn’t always happen. And the resulting accident can leave you facing a lot of problems. Our team can answer your questions and help you through it. Set up a free consultation today.
Do I Even Need a Lawyer?
When another driver doesn’t yield the right of way to you, a collision can happen in a split-second. Then all of a sudden, you’re dealing with very real problems. That naturally brings up a lot of questions, including whether or not you need a lawyer.
It all depends on the circumstances and what your comfort level is. Some people feel okay handling the claims process on their own, but for a lot of people, the aftermath of one of these accidents is overwhelming. That’s where our team can step in and make things easier by:
- Figuring out exactly what happened
- Gathering evidence like police reports, witness statements, photos, and video footage
- Determining who failed to yield and whether anyone else shares responsibility
- Handling the insurance company so you don’t have to
- Pushing back if the insurance company tries to shift blame onto you
- Explaining your options and what the path forward looks like
It’s true that every accident is different. But once the reality of it starts to set in—doctor appointments, missed work, vehicle repairs, and constant calls from insurance adjusters—everything gets a lot more difficult. Working with our team simplifies things.
Information That Helps After a Failure to Yield Accident
With a failure to yield accident, information and evidence is going to be extremely important—particularly right there at the scene after the collision. They happen in a split-second, and it’s not always obvious who was in the wrong. But one way to narrow this down a bit is by getting the right information. After you get to safety and call 911, try to focus on things like:
- Pictures or videos of the vehicles, the intersection, traffic lights, stop signs, skid marks, road conditions, and any visible injuries
- The other driver’s contact and insurance information
- Names and phone numbers from any witnesses or bystanders
While you’re waiting for the police and EMTs, don’t argue with the other driver or try to accuse them of not yielding. Just stick to the facts when talking with police and let them handle the situation.
And even if you think you’re okay, let EMTs check you out. With these kinds of collisions, some injuries don’t show up right away. This also brings up an important thing to remember: some of the information you need is going to be available in the days/weeks following the actual collision, like:
- Medical records from the emergency room, doctor visits, physical therapy appointments, and any follow-up care
- Bills for medical treatment, prescriptions, and other out-of-pocket expenses
- Documentation showing missed work or lost income
- Estimates and receipts for vehicle repairs
- Any emails, letters, or messages you receive from insurance companies
All in all, it’s this information that’s going to form the bedrock of what will turn out to be your “damages” when you file a claim. Before you reach that point, though, you need to figure out who’s actually responsible for the accident.
Who’s Liable For My Damages After a Failure to Yield Accident?
Although failure to yield causes a lot of car accidents in Louisville, the process for getting damages has the same starting point: figuring out who’s liable. And with these kinds of accidents, it’s fairly simple. It falls on the driver that failed to yield the right of way.
But contrary to what many people think, the right of way isn’t always automatic. It depends on a few different factors, like:
- Where the cars are positioned
- Who got there first
- Whether there were any traffic signals in effect
Of course, like any car accident, it’s not always as straightforward as it seems. Others could share liability if they also contributed to what happened. And with failure to yield accidents, that could mean:
- Other drivers not directly involved in the collision
- Car or parts makers if something failed
- The city government if there were malfunctioning signals or a lack of signage
Unfortunately, for as simple as it sounds, liability is ultimately going to depend on the details. That’s why it’s important to look at where and how these kinds of accidents usually happen here.
Common Failure to Yield Accidents in Louisville
Picturing a failure to yield accident in Louisville isn’t all that difficult. They happen in everyday situations where another driver:
- Gets distracted by a text message, directions, passengers, or something inside the vehicle
- Misjudges a gap in traffic, especially while making a left turn or entering a busy roadway
- Tries to beat a red light, rolls through a stop sign, or simply fails to yield the right of way
- Is going too fast for traffic, weather, or road conditions
- Is under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Fails to check their blind spots before merging or changing lanes
Obviously, these types of things only happen in certain areas of the city—more crowded locations, intersections, etc. That means the vast majority of them happen at spots like:
- Bardstown Road, Shelbyville Road, Hurstbourne Parkway, and Dixie Highway where drivers are constantly turning, changing lanes, and trying to get through lights
- Left-turn lanes at major intersections where drivers misjudge the speed of oncoming traffic or try to squeeze through a gap that isn’t really there
- Entrance and exit ramps along Interstate 64, Interstate 65, Interstate 71, the Gene Snyder Freeway, and the Watterson Expressway where drivers merge without enough space or fail to yield to traffic already on the road
- Four-way stops in residential neighborhoods where drivers either wave each other through, assume it’s their turn, or roll through without coming to a complete stop
- Busy commercial areas with multiple driveways and parking lot entrances, especially along stretches of Shelbyville Road, Preston Highway, and Outer Loop
- Shopping centers, grocery stores, and retail parking lots where drivers are focused on finding a parking spot instead of watching for cross traffic or pedestrians
- Areas near schools, parks, and sports venues where heavier foot traffic means drivers need to be paying closer attention
- Downtown Louisville streets with one-way traffic, frequent signal changes, and drivers who aren’t familiar with the area
- Construction zones where lane shifts, detours, and changing traffic patterns can catch drivers off guard
- Crosswalks near restaurants, entertainment districts, and local businesses in areas like NuLu, the Highlands, and Downtown where drivers fail to yield to pedestrians trying to cross safely
Even with these things, understanding exactly what happened can go a long way toward figuring out your options. And the best way to do that is to reach out to our team early on.
Kaufman & Stigger Can Help You After a Failure to Yield Car Accident in Louisville
Failure to yield accidents in Louisville happen in seconds, but dealing with the aftermath can take much longer. Having someone in your corner can make the process less stressful and give you the support you need while you focus on getting better. That’s what our team of Louisville failure to yield accident lawyers at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC can give you.
Set up a free consultation today, and let us help you through the claims process so you can move forward with your life.
