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St. Louis Failure to Yield Car Accidents

Content Reviewed by: A. Parker Trotz
Mr. Trotz was recognized from 2019-2023 as a Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Star. Mr. Trotz is also a member of the Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association where he serves on the Executive Committee. READ OUR EDITORIAL GUIDELINES

Mr. Trotz was recognized from 2019-2023 as a Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Star. Mr. Trotz is also a member of the Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association where he serves on the Executive Committee. READ OUR EDITORIAL GUIDELINES

Mr. Trotz was recognized from 2019-2023 as a Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Star. Mr. Trotz is also a member of the Young Lawyers Division of the Memphis Bar Association, Memphis Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association, and the Tennessee Trial Lawyers Association where he serves on the Executive Committee. READ OUR EDITORIAL GUIDELINES

Unfortunately, St. Louis roads can be dangerous, and traffic accidents can happen in an instant. It takes a split second as you’re coasting through an intersection for a car or other vehicle to suddenly slam into you because they failed to yield. As a result, you now have to endure catastrophic injuries, excruciating pain, and endless medical bills. 

However, you shouldn’t have to be on the hook for the significant expenses stemming from a failure to yield car accident. You deserve justice and compensation for your losses. NST Law can fight on your behalf to get you the financial recovery you need to heal.  

yield sign at roundabout

What is a failure to yield in St. Louis?

In St. Louis, a failure to yield means not slowing down or stopping your car, motorcycle, or any other vehicle when another vehicle has the right of way. The right of way is a legal term that means a motorist has the right to move first at an intersection or another form of crossing. If a driver doesn’t have the right of way, they need to yield to those that do.

Do bicyclists and pedestrians have to follow the same right-of-way laws as drivers in St. Louis?

Bicyclists using St. Louis roadways will be granted the same rights and be subject to the same duties that apply to drivers. In other words, bicyclists must obey the same traffic laws, including right-of-way laws, as other drivers in St. Louis, with minimal exceptions.  

In addition, pedestrians crossing a road at any point other than within a marked crosswalk at an intersection must yield the right-of-way to all vehicles on the road.  

How serious are failure to yield car accidents?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), failure to yield is the third leading cause of deadly accidents for motorists in the United States. Additionally, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) indicated that over 7% of all motorists involved in fatal crashes fail to yield.  

In St. Louis, the statistics don’t show that motorists fare any better. According to some of Wentzville’s most recent traffic accidents, the local police department found that most crashes occurred at the Wentzville Parkway and West Pearce intersection, with 66% of the auto accidents occurring during the afternoon from 12 to 5 p.m. The most common causes of these collisions were failure to yield, inattention, and tailgating.

St. Louis' Most Dangerous Intersections

Intersections are often busy and dangerous, making them prone to serious motor vehicle accidents, especially when drivers fail to yield. For instance, in July 2021, a St. Louis man died when another motorist struck his motorcycle on Lewis and Clark Boulevard. The fatal crash happened at the intersection of Missouri 367 and Marquis Court in Moline Acres, just north of St. Louis. Police reports indicated that the motorcyclist was struck by a vehicle making a left turn, who failed to yield to the motorcyclist. As a result, the motorcycle rider was hit and killed.   

Although there are many intersections in St. Louis that are considered accident-prone, some of the more deadly intersections in the bustling Missouri city include: 

  • Dorsett Road and I-270 
  • Blue Ridge Cutoff and I-70 
  • James S. McDonnell Blvd and I-270
  • Spoede Road and I-64

How can I prevent or avoid a failure to yield car accident in St. Louis?

Although you cannot prevent all failure to yield accidents in St. Louis, there are things you can do to help avoid these serious incidents, including: 

  • When in doubt, you should always yield, whether or not the law requires it.  
  • Pay extra attention to road markings, traffic signals, yellow lights, yield signs, and stop signs.  
  • When entering the highway, yield to vehicles already traveling on these roads.  
  • Pause at four-way stops, and let the car that’s already made a complete stop go first. 

How is fault determined in a failure to yield accident?

Proving fault in a failure to yield accident in St. Louis is important because it can affect the value of your settlement. Missouri follows a comparative fault system, meaning your monetary damages correspond to your percentage of fault in the car accident. This law enables injured drivers to obtain more compensation based on lesser blame or no attributed guilt in an auto accident.  

Due to the complexities of car accident laws, you must work with a St. Louis car accident lawyer who can properly evaluate your case and handle any investigation needed after a failure to yield accident to effectively establish fault and preserve the value of your claim. 

Documentation your attorney can gather to help support your failure to yield accident claim includes: 

  • Police report and driver histories  
  • Medical records and treatment plans 
  • Photos and videos of the accident or accident scene 
  • Witness testimony 
  • Expert witness testimony
  • Proof of lost wages 

Will I have difficulty proving liability in a failure to yield car accident in St. Louis?

Unfortunately, proving liability in a failure to yield car accident in St. Louis is not always easy. Even if it’s clear that another motorist was liable for the collision, you still need to provide detailed evidence and relevant documentation showing that the other individual caused the accident due to their intentional, reckless, or negligent actions. 

Generally, to show that another individual was negligent, you need to establish the following elements:  

  • The other driver had a duty to exercise reasonable caution on the road. 
  • The other driver was negligent and did not exercise proper care when driving, such as failing to yield. 
  • The other driver’s negligence resulted in the accident. 
  • The victim suffered serious injuries because of the negligent party’s actions which resulted in monetary damages.  

To prove these factors, you must hire a St. Louis motor vehicle accident lawyer to obtain the critical evidence needed to adequately assert your arguments and get you the compensation you deserve.  

What are the penalties for a failure to yield accident in St. Louis?

Penalties for failing to yield resulting in car crashes in St. Louis depend on the damages and injuries incurred because of the violation. For example, if the breach caused a physical injury, a court may impose a 30-day driver’s license suspension and up to a $200 fine. If the violation caused a severe injury, the court can raise this fine to $500, and the driver’s license suspension period may be increased to 90 days. Finally, if the failure to yield causes a death, the wrongful party can face a $1,000 penalty and a revocation of their driving privileges for six months.

Can I receive compensation if I'm injured in a failure to yield car accident in St. Louis?

If you suffered injuries in a failure to yield car accident in St. Louis, you might be entitled to financial compensation. Generally, this compensation includes:  

  • Medical care expenses such as fees incurred for doctors’ office visits, prescription medications, surgeries, hospital stays, and emergency services required to treat your physical injuries  
  • Lost wages and lost earning capacity 
  • Personal property damage 
  • Pain and suffering
  • Other economic and non-economic damages, including ongoing mental anguish or loss of enjoyment in activities or a lifestyle previously enjoyed (before the accident)  

When you work with a St. Louis car accident attorney, your lawyer can ensure you fight for fair compensation needed to assist in your recovery or get your life back on track.

How can a St. Louis personal injury attorney at NST Law help me after a failure to yield car accident?

Following a failure to yield car accident, you’re already likely to be experiencing a difficult time. The last thing on your mind is probably fighting with insurance companies or initiating a civil lawsuit to obtain justice and the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages.   

Fortunately, with a St. Louis personal injury attorney fighting on your behalf, you won’t have to go through this challenging ordeal alone. If you retain a car accident lawyer like the lawyers at NST Law, they can:  

  • Review your injury claim, determine if you have a viable case, and help you decide the best legal option to pursue 
  • Answer all your questions and provide you with the legal advice needed to steer your next steps
  • Investigate your failure to yield car crash and secure the necessary evidence to prove fault and damages
  • Hold the at-fault driver and all other negligent parties accountable for the injuries you sustained
  • Handle all the negotiations with the insurance company
  • Take your case to trial and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve 

If a failure to yield car accident left you harmed, don’t wait any longer to seek legal advice. Contact NST Law today for a free consultation and let our legal team get you the information you need to fight for your rights and the financial recovery you’re entitled to receive. 

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