What Does Yielding The Right Of Way Mean?
North Carolina traffic laws control where you are allowed to drive and who has the right to the road when two vehicles both want to use the same stretch of it. In some cases, you may have the right to use the road, and in others, you will be required to yield the right of way to another driver.
How do you know when you need to yield? That depends on circumstances and the laws governing those circumstances. Failure to do so can lead to accidents, and consulting a Charlotte car accident attorney can help you navigate the legal implications if you’re involved in a crash.
What Does “Yield” Mean In Driving?
Yielding the right of way means that you slow down or stop as necessary to allow another party to walk, drive, or ride on a section of the road that you are approaching. In some instances, the law will require you to yield the right of way. There are also times when you may choose to yield it to better avoid getting into a car accident.
When You Need To Yield the Right of Way To Another Vehicle
There are several cases when you might be required by law to yield the right of way to another vehicle.
Yield Right of Way Signs
The most clear-cut example is when you are approaching a yield sign or a stop sign at an intersection. If the other lane doesn’t have a stop sign, you must yield the right of way until no vehicles are present in the crossing lane.
Turning Left
When you are making a left turn at an intersection or to enter a driveway, you must give the right of way to opposing traffic that is not turning.
Unmarked Intersections
When two cars approach an intersection at roughly the same time from different angles, the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right. If three vehicles enter at the same time, all but the right-most vehicle must yield.
When You Need To Yield the Right of Way To a Pedestrian
Your car is much larger than a pedestrian. The last thing you want to do is get into a pedestrian accident. You need to follow these pedestrian right-of-way rules to avoid that.
Marked Crosswalks
Unless a traffic control signal indicates that you have the right of way, you are required to yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing at a marked crosswalk. This is true whether the marked crosswalk is at an intersection or not.
Intersections Without Signs Or Crosswalks
When an intersection has no signs, signals, or crosswalks, pedestrians have the right of way when crossing the roadway. Without a crosswalk to remind you, it might be hard to notice that a pedestrian is crossing. Fortunately, these intersections usually occur only on roads with low-speed limits.
Entering Or Exiting a Driveway
When you need to drive over part of a sidewalk to enter or exit a driveway, pedestrians walking along the sidewalk have the right of way.
Bicycles and the Right of Way
Bicycles are typically treated as vehicles when ridden on the road. Thus, you are required to yield the right of way to a bicycle rider in the same situations where you would be required to yield to a car. If you don’t, you will be liable if your actions cause a bike accident.
Yielding the Right of Way Prevents Liability
Right-of-way laws don’t only prevent accidents. They also protect you from liability when you get into an accident. If you yield the right of way as the law requires, then another driver may be responsible if you get into an accident.
Contact an Experienced Charlotte Car Accident Lawyer at Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers Today For Help
For more information, contact an experienced Charlotte car accident lawyer at Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
We proudly serve clients in Charlotte, NC, and its surrounding areas:
Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers
1009 East Blvd Suite 110, Charlotte, NC 28203
(704) 980-9999
Open Monday to Friday
from 8:30 am to 5 pm
