Failure to yield the right of way is a common cause of auto accidents across Texas.
Man and Woman Killed in Southeast-Side Collision
A man and a woman were killed in a side-impact collision on Sunday, July 2, 2023, according to a San Antonio Express-News report.
According to the report, a man and his female passenger were pulling out of a parking lot in a Ford Tauras at around 10 p.m. on the 10600 Block of U.S. Highway 81 without yielding to oncoming traffic. A Chevy Tahoe subsequently struck them, and the driver of the Tahoe stopped and called the police. The man and woman were pronounced dead at the scene, and a passenger in the Tahoe was taken to the hospital as a precaution. No charges were filed as a result of this incident.
Did You Know?
There were roughly 147,000 accidents in Texas in 2021 due to failure to yield the right of way and other traffic control violations at intersections.
Failure to Yield Collisions in Texas
Texas has nearly 300,000 feet more roads, highways, and byways than any other state in this country. As a result, there are a lot of intersections, and that affords many opportunities for right-of-way collisions, as many know all too well. These kinds of accidents are particularly dangerous, even when they don’t happen at high speeds.
Intersections are dangerous enough for Texan drivers and include a lot to watch out for. Add inclement weather, rush hour traffic, and large trucks to the mix, and the likelihood of an intersection accident becomes much higher.
Consequences for Failure to Yield
If a driver recklessly endangers other drivers by failing to yield the right of way, there are consequences for this action, even if no accident occurs.
- If No Collision Occurs – Police officers may still issue tickets and fines for such a traffic violation. Depending on the circumstances, points may also be assessed on the driver’s license, which commonly results in increased insurance rates.
- If A Collision With No Injury Occurs – Intersection accidents may only be minor fender-benders where no one is hurt. In this case, fines can vary between $500 and $2,000.
- If A Collision Causing Injury Occurs – Intersection accidents commonly result in injury. If this is the case, fines increase to between $1,000 and $4,000.
Causing a fatality may escalate the accident to criminal charges.
Who Is Financially Responsible for a Failure to Yield Accident?
Texas is an at-fault state, meaning that the driver who bears at least 51% responsibility for the crash is liable to pay damages. However, the at-fault driver may not be the only source of compensation an injured party can receive.
- PIP Insurance – if you carry PIP insurance, you may be able to collect compensation from your own insurance as well as the at-fault driver.
- UM/UIM Coverage – if the at-fault party cannot fully cover your damages, you may be able to receive compensation from your own insurance.
- Employers – if a company vehicle hits you, you may be able to collect damages from the company rather than the individual driver.
- Property Owners – if poorly designed roadways or obstructions contributed to the accident, you may be able to collect compensation from the property owner.
Auto Accident Attorneys in San Antonio
Injured in an auto accident where another driver failed to yield the right of way? Contact the auto accident attorneys with 30 years of experience at Carabin Shaw for a free case evaluation at 800-862-1260. We look forward to serving you.