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If you or your loved one suffered injuries in a failure to yield accident, call a Regan Zambri Long DC car accident lawyer today. Our compassionate attorneys will guide you through the claims process and work to ensure you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
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Because of the heavy volume of Washington, DC commuters, as well as millions of tourists who visit every day, car accidents will always be a problem. Among those accidents are failure to yield accidents. A failure to yield accident is when one driver is required to yield to another, but doesn’t stop and causes a car crash.
Last year, Washington, DC saw its deadliest year in traffic accident fatalities. 40 residents lost their lives in car accidents – the highest number since 2007. Thankfully, that trend has gone down significantly. In fact, there has been about a 16% decrease in traffic fatalities from 2021 to 2022. However, even though fatalities have gone down, car accidents are still common in the District.
Let our DC car accident lawyers take the weight of the claims process off your shoulders. We’ll do the legal work while you focus on your road to recovery.
Although most of us know what right of way is, we will provide Washington, DC’s legal definition here. Knowing as much about Washington, DC’s laws will help you with your personal injury claim.
To put it simply, the right of way is when one driver has the right to proceed. According to District Code Section 18-2207, Washington, DC right of way laws apply to the following situations:
In addition to the regulations listed above, there are several other situations where a driver must yield the right of way, including:
The National Safety Council estimates that a whopping 94% of car accidents are caused by driver error. Of that, 6.7% are failure to yield.
The most common causes of a failure to yield accident are:
While the causes listed above are some of the most common causes for a failure to yield accident, they are certainly not the only causes. Stay alert and be on the lookout for potential dangers on the road. Remember, a car accident can happen for any reason, at any time, to anyone. You should always drive with extreme care.
Different kinds of accidents can cause different injuries to the vehicle driver and their passengers. Each type of collision, especially if they happen at high speeds, can be extremely dangerous and even life-threatening.
A rear-end collision is when a vehicle crashes into the car in front of it. Rear-end collisions are one of the most frequent types of car accidents, especially in failure to yield situations. If negligent drivers fail to yield when they are supposed to, they run the risk of crashing into the car in front of them.
T-bone accidents are when the front of one car slams into the side of another car. When these accidents happen, the cars form the shape of a “T,” which is why they are called T-bone accidents.
In failure to yield circumstances, this type of car accident can happen when negligent drivers fail to stop at an intersection. T-bone accidents are extremely dangerous and put victims at higher risk of fatal injuries. More than half of all fatal injuries in car accidents are T bone accidents.
A sideswipe accident happens when two drivers are traveling in the same direction (i.e. driving down a highway). A car accident occurs when the right side of one of the cars makes an impact on the left side of the other car.
A sideswipe car accident can happen when drivers fail to yield at a merge or yield sign when getting onto a highway. Sideswipe accidents can be very dangerous to both drivers, especially when they are traveling at high speeds. The impact can cause the other drivers to veer off into oncoming traffic or even cause the car to roll over.
A head-on collision is when two cars, moving directly toward each other, crash. While only 2% of accidents are head-on collisions, these accidents make up almost 10% of fatalities. Victims who survive a head-on collision face severe injuries like traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and broken bones.
Head-on collisions can happen when a driver fails to yield at a traffic light, or in a traffic circle. Many times, these accidents occur at high speeds, causing catastrophic damage to the passengers in both cars.
At Regan Zambri Long, we constantly talk to our clients about the word negligence. Negligence is the failure to take proper care in doing something. In personal injury cases, establishing negligence is key to securing the compensation you deserve. One of the very first steps your lawyer will take is to determine who was at fault for the accident.
In most failure to yield cases, there is always at least one party whose irresponsibility directly led to the accident. Whether the mistake occurred at the moment of the crash or if it was something that took place months before, our attorneys will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the negligent driver and make sure he or she is held responsible.
Examples of negligent behavior that could have led to your failure to yield accident include:
Distracted driving is anything that takes the driver’s focus off the one thing they should be paying attention to the road. Distracted driving includes texting while driving, talking on the phone, using the radio or navigation system, eating or drinking, putting on makeup, or talking to passengers. Undoubtedly, distracted driving is the number one cause of accidents in Washington, DC, and across the United States.
Drowsy driving is when a driver gets behind the wheel of a car or truck while fatigued. Driving drowsy makes the driver less alert, which slows down reaction times and can cause the driver to completely fall asleep at the wheel.
Drowsy driving is a major problem in Washington, DC and throughout America. Truck drivers are particularly vulnerable to driving while fatigued. Many trucking companies will force their drivers to drive through the night to speed up delivery times. Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia have highways that are major trucking routes, putting residents in danger of getting into a failure to yield accident due to drowsy driving.
A failure to yield accident can easily happen when a driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. When a driver gets behind the wheel under the influence, they are a danger to themselves and to other drivers. Driving while intoxicated slows down reaction times. It also dulls your senses and cognitive functions. It would be easy to miss a traffic light or yield sign if you are driving under the influence, causing a failure to yield collision.
Washington, DC has an average speed limit of 55 mph on highways, like the Capital Beltway, and 25 mph around the city. Unfortunately, many drivers completely dismiss speeding laws, even though they are established to keep travelers safe.
The fact is, the faster you drive, the more difficult it will be to slow down suddenly. If you are traveling 10, 15, or even 20 miles over the posted speed limit and only notice the stop sign or yield sign at the last minute, it will be hard to slow your car down in time. Of course, when this happens, it causes failure to yield accidents.
Sometimes, failure to yield accidents are not caused by the other driver. If the car was designed poorly, put together improperly, or poorly maintained, then it doesn’t matter how careful the driver is. Many drivers don’t even notice if there are mechanical defects until it is too late.
If a driver is driving with a defect (i.e. faulty brakes) they are more vulnerable to failure to yield accidents. This is why it is so important to get a yield accident lawyer. If your accident was caused by a manufacturing mistake or a mechanical defect due to poor or lack of maintenance, then the car manufacturer or mechanic can be held responsible for the collision.
It is important to know that Washington, DC has a responsibility to keep the roadways safe for DC drivers. A large pothole can cause enormous damage. Unpaved roads are difficult to navigate. Roads that were not properly salted and cleaned from recent snowfall can cause cars to slip and slide into one another.
If the road conditions in Washington, DC caused failure to yield accidents, you may have a case against Washington, DC itself. Reach out to a Regan Zambri Long yield accident lawyer today for a free consultation. The expert Washington, DC accident lawyer will be able to guide you in the claims process and give you a reasonable assessment of your case.
The most common injuries from failure to yield accidents are:
These injuries, especially the more severe injuries, can be very costly to the victims and their families – both in money and in quality of life. For example, the cost of living with a traumatic brain injury can be over $3 million in the patient’s lifetime. Think about it – medical expenses, rehabilitation, in-home nursing care, home modifications to make it accessible, equipment costs, and even transportation costs – it all adds up to a significant amount of money.
Because accidents are sudden and unexpected, most people don’t financially plan for such an event. Even the wealthiest individuals or families would have trouble with the sudden onset of bills. Beyond cost, living with a sudden, permanent disability can affect the victim and their family’s mental health. It is important to seek counseling or therapy after a catastrophic accident.
At Regan Zambri Long, we deeply understand what you and your family are going through. Because we’re personal injury lawyers, we often meet our clients at the very worst times in their lives. We know you never asked to be our client and we don’t blame you. That’s why we work around the clock to ensure your claim is successful and moves as quickly as possible.
Washington, DC is a commuter district and pedestrians flood the streets daily. DC has very strict laws that a car is supposed to stop at a crosswalk until the pedestrian is fully across to the other side of the road. The crosswalk could be marked or unmarked for pedestrians – they simply always have the right of way in Washington, DC.
Bicyclists have the same rights as pedestrians in crosswalks. Cars must yield to all cyclists if they are crossing in a crosswalk.
Drivers who fail to yield to a pedestrian or a bicyclist are subject to a fine and up to 30 days in jail. In some cases, they also have to perform community service.
Unfortunately, DC’s strict laws regarding pedestrians do not always stop a negligent driver from failing to yield at a crosswalk, causing a terrible accident with a pedestrian. Since pedestrians don’t have the same protection as a person in a car (car passengers have the structure of the vehicle to help absorb the impact of the crash, while pedestrians have nothing surrounding them), the injuries from failure to yield accidents are often extremely severe.
The Regan Zambri Long lawyers are here to help. We will work to recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you were involved in a pedestrian failure to yield accident, call our firm today and recover the compensation you deserve.
Yes, Washington, DC is a no-fault car accident state. This means the victim’s own insurance company will offer compensation for the sustained injuries. However, if the victim’s policy does not cover all the medical bills, the victim may file a personal injury claim to collect the rest of the compensation that is owed.
Always speak with a Regan Zambri Long attorney before you speak with an insurance company, even your own insurance company. Many accident victims believe they don’t have other options because of DC’s no-fault state, but that is not true. Reach out for a free consultation today to speak with a lawyer about the legal action you could take.
As we spoke about above, determining fault in an accident case is the most vital step in the entire process. Once fault is determined, your lawyer will work to ensure you receive the highest amount of compensation possible.
Your accident lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation of the accident scene. This includes obtaining a copy of the police report, looking over security footage, pictures, and other videos, and speaking with eyewitnesses.
Once the investigation is complete and the negligent driver is determined, your lawyer will use all resources available to build a winning case. At Regan Zambri Long, we spare no expense. We have the resources and the financial backing to hire medical consultants, expert witnesses, perform accident reconstruction, and consult with other legal experts. Trust us, you are in good hands.
Once fault is determined and your case is built, your lawyer will pursue damages. The damages you could receive after you have suffered injuries in an accident are:
Washington, DC, as well as Virginia and Maryland, practice Contributory Negligence. Contributory negligence states that if the victim is liable for the accident, even partially, then he or she cannot claim compensation.
For example, perhaps you were hit by a driver who failed to yield and caused a rear-end collision with you. On the surface, it looks like that driver would be liable for the accident. However, what if you were driving erratically before the accident – pumping your brakes and driving aggressively? If that’s the case and it is proven that your reckless driving played a part in the accident, then you may not be able to receive any compensation for your injuries.
The Regan Zambri Long attorneys understand defense lawyers in Washington, DC. We know they use contributory negligence law quickly to get their client out of paying what they rightfully owe. We assure you, we will build a case that proves you had nothing to do with the accident and that you are entitled to the highest amount of compensation possible.
The statute of limitations to file a personal injury claim in Washington, DC is three years. The best thing you can do is to file the personal injury claim as soon as possible – medical bills pile up quickly. If your injuries left you unable to work, you will need compensation from the claim to help offset the medical expenses.
Do not hesitate – call Regan Zambri Long today for your free consultation. Let us take the weight of the claims process off your shoulders. We’ll do the legal work while you focus on your road to recovery.
