Colorado Springs Failure To Yield Right Of Way Accidents

Failure to yield accidents occur when motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians don’t abide by right-of-way rules on the road. These collisions are alarmingly common across Colorado and the United States, resulting in serious injuries and property damage. Nearly all such accidents stem from at least one person’s negligence, which means injured parties may be entitled to compensation for their losses.

The Colorado traffic code establishes clear rules for right-of-way, but many drivers either don’t understand these laws or choose to ignore them. If you’ve been injured in a failure to yield accident in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, or the surrounding areas, contacting an experienced personal injury attorney at McCormick & Murphy can help you understand your legal options.

Yielding the Right-of-Way

Colorado motorists don’t automatically have the right-of-way, even with a green signal. State traffic laws dictate when drivers must yield to other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. All motorists are required to avoid collisions regardless of circumstances, with special attention needed at intersections, crosswalks, and school zones.

At 4-way stops, vehicles must yield to whoever reached the intersection first. When multiple vehicles arrive simultaneously, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right. Left-turning vehicles must yield to oncoming traffic unless traffic signals indicate otherwise. Emergency vehicles with active lights and sirens always have the right-of-way, requiring all other traffic to pull over when safe.

Colorado law also specifies that vehicles entering highways from acceleration lanes must yield to highway traffic, and vehicles must yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks. Failing to follow these rules can result in traffic citations, points on your license, and liability for any resulting accidents.

Failure to Yield Accidents

Failure to yield accidents occur when a driver disregards traffic laws governing right-of-way and causes a collision. Unlike other accident types, the injured victim often strikes the at-fault driver who failed to yield rather than being struck themselves.

Common scenarios include:

A driver making a left turn failing to yield to oncoming traffic
Aggressive or distracted drivers merging into another lane without proper space
Drivers improperly entering streets from private driveways or parking lots
Drivers failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks or school zones
Vehicles failing to yield to emergency vehicles with active sirens and lights
Drivers rolling through stop signs or running red lights
Failure to yield when entering highways from on-ramps

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reports that failure to yield is among the top causes of serious intersection accidents statewide. In most cases, the person who fails to yield is primarily at fault, though Colorado’s comparative negligence laws may reduce damages if the injured party is partially responsible.

Causes of Failure to Yield Accidents

These collisions stem from various forms of negligence or recklessness:

Driver intoxication from alcohol or drugs
Distracted driving (texting, phone use, eating)
Brake failure from manufacturing defects or poor maintenance
Non-functioning traffic signals
Improperly placed or obscured signage
Poor road design or construction
Aggressive driving or road rage incidents
Driver fatigue or drowsiness
Confusion about right-of-way rules
Poor visibility due to weather conditions
Speeding that prevents adequate stopping time

Failure to yield accidents often occur at high speeds and frequently result in T-bone collisions, which are particularly dangerous. The Colorado State Patrol reports these accidents commonly cause serious injuries including dislocated shoulders, hearing damage, traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, spinal cord damage, and internal injuries. The risk increases significantly when large vehicles like semi-trucks or commercial vehicles are involved.

Recovering Damages

Victims who can prove another driver’s failure to yield caused their collision may recover both economic and non-economic compensatory damages. Economic damages include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost income, property damage, and future medical expenses. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.

Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence system, meaning victims can recover damages as long as they’re less than 50% responsible for the accident. However, their compensation will be reduced by their percentage of fault.

Proving fault requires collecting compelling evidence such as:

Accident scene photographs including debris, skid marks, and vehicle positions
Damage documentation for all vehicles involved
Eyewitness testimony
Video recordings from traffic cameras, dashcams, or nearby businesses
Police reports and citations issued
Cell phone records (in cases of suspected distracted driving)
Expert testimony from accident reconstruction specialists
Medical records documenting injuries

The statute of limitations for filing personal injury claims in Colorado is generally three years from the date of the accident, making prompt legal consultation essential.

Contact an Experienced Colorado Springs Failure to Yield Accident Attorney

If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s failure to yield, the dedicated Colorado Springs personal injury attorneys at McCormick & Murphy, P.C. can evaluate your case and help determine if you’re entitled to compensation. With offices in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Pueblo, we serve clients throughout the Front Range region.

Our experienced team can:

Investigate your accident and gather crucial evidence
Handle communications with insurance companies
Calculate the full extent of your damages
Negotiate for a fair settlement
Take your case to court if necessary

A member of our legal team is available 24/7 at (719) 800-9407 or through our website. We offer free initial consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.

Failure To Yield Right Of Way Accident Attorney Services

General Right-of-Way Violations

Highway & Traffic Areas

Pedestrian & Cyclist Safety

Emergency & Commercial Vehicles

General Right-of-Way Violations

Highway & Traffic Areas

Pedestrian & Cyclist Safety

Emergency & Commercial Vehicles

Colorado Springs Failure To Yield Right Of Way Accidents

Yielding the Right-of-Way

Failure to Yield Accidents

Causes of Failure to Yield Accidents

Recovering Damages

Contact an Experienced Colorado Springs Failure to Yield Accident Attorney

Failure To Yield Right Of Way Accident Attorney Services

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