Perhaps the most essential part of responsible driving is knowing how to interact safely with other vehicles. Intersections present some of the riskiest and most complicated situations for driver interactions. How do you know who has the right of way, and what does it mean to yield the right of way?
Yielding the right of way can be an essential way to avoid car accidents and keep the roads safe for everyone. Read on to learn more about what this term means and how you can use it to practice safer driving.
What Is the Right of Way?
Before we dive into the questions surrounding yielding the right of way, let’s talk some about what right of way is.
Right of way deals with the question of who gets to move first when two cars are at an intersection. For instance, if you pull up at a four-way stop at the same time as someone else, who gets to go first?
There are a series of complex rules governing who has the right of way in any given situation. These rules vary from state to state, so it’s best to familiarize yourself with Minnesota’s specific right of way laws.
What Is Yielding the Right of Way?
Yielding the right of way allows another driver to move through an intersection before you. If you’ve ever waved someone through a four-way stop, you’ve yielded the right of way. You can also yield the right of way to people who technically don’t have that right in the first place.
Yielding the right of way can be an important way to avoid traffic accidents.
For example, let’s say you’re sitting at a stop light that has just turned green, but someone going the other direction runs the red light and goes through the intersection in front of you. You avoid a crash by yielding the right of way to them, even though they’re in the wrong.
When Should You Yield?
The simplest rule of thumb with when to yield right of way is to do so any time it will help you avoid an accident.
If the other driver violates the right of way and causes an accident, they could be held liable. But it’s better to avoid the accident in the first place than to insist on the right of way and risk getting hurt.
In Minnesota, you are always required to yield the right of way to emergency vehicles, such as ambulances and fire trucks. Pedestrians also always have the right of way, even if they’re jaywalking. And at most intersections, you’ll need to yield the right of way if you arrive at the stop after another driver.
What to Do When Someone Fails to Yield
The first thing to do if someone fails to yield the right of way at an intersection is to do your best to avoid a collision. Stop your vehicle, swerve out of the way if you can do so safely, and always practice defensive driving.
If someone fails to yield the right of way and you can’t avoid an accident, you first need to call the police and file a report. Take pictures at the scene of the accident if possible, and, of course, get the medical attention you need.
Then call a St. Cloud personal injury lawyer to discuss getting compensation for any injuries you may have suffered in the crash.
Getting Compensation for Your Injuries
Right of way can be a complicated issue in Minnesota, but the best rule of thumb is to yield right of way when you arrive second at an intersection or when it’s necessary to avoid a crash. Read up on the right of way laws in St. Cloud, and always practice defensive driving. And if someone fails to yield right of way and causes a crash, take pictures at the scene of the accident if possible.
You could be entitled to compensation if you’ve been injured in a car accident that wasn’t your fault. Our St. Cloud car accident lawyers can help you determine if you’re eligible for a compensation claim. Schedule a free consultation with us to discuss the details of your case.
Contact the Minnesota Car Accident Law Firm of Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys For Help Today
For more information, please contact an experienced car accident lawyer at Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have three convenient locations in Minnesota, including Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Edina.
We proudly serve Hennepin County, Stearns County, and its surrounding areas:
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – Minneapolis
825 Nicollet Mall, Suite 615
Minneapolis, MN 55402
(800) 292-1979
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – St. Cloud
1010 W St Germain St # 320
St Cloud, MN 56301
(320) 255-1000
Hall Law Personal Injury Attorneys – Edina
5200 Willson Rd #203
Edina, MN 55424
(952) 697-5560
