August 23, 2023 / Car Accident

What Does Yielding the Right of Way Mean?

Yielding the right of way means allowing another driver, cyclist, or pedestrian to proceed before you at designated points on the road, such as at an intersection. The Texas Transportation Code creates rules that govern who has the right to proceed first when two vehicles intersect on the road. 

Knowing what yielding the right of way means and when Texas law requires it is essential to safe driving. Failure to yield the right of way can result in an accident that causes death or severe injuries. 

An experienced Texas car accident attorney can help protect your rights if you are injured by a driver who fails to yield the right of way. 

When Should You Yield the Right of Way?

You should always yield the right of way to an emergency response vehicle. If you encounter an ambulance, police car, firetruck, or other vehicle with its lights on, you should yield the road to them as quickly as is safely possible. 

You must also know when to yield the right of way at an intersection. When approaching an uncontrolled intersection in Texas, a driver must yield to any vehicles already there. An uncontrolled intersection is one in which there are no traffic signals or stop signs.

If two cars approach an intersection simultaneously, the vehicle on the left should yield the right of way to the vehicle on its right. If you are turning right, you should yield to traffic that is already driving in the direction you intend to drive. When turning left, you must yield to all oncoming traffic.

Helpful Texas Rules of the Road

While most right-of-way rules are straightforward, there are a few helpful tips for navigating Texas roads. 

The following guidelines explain when to yield the right of way in some commonly encountered situations:

  • Drivers on more minor roads should yield the right of way at an intersection with drivers on a more significant road.
  •  Drivers on a road that dead ends at another road should yield to drivers on a road that does not dead end.
  •  Drivers should always yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk and anyone using a seeing-eye dog or a white cane.
  • Drivers on surface roads should always yield to drivers exiting a freeway.
  • Drivers on unpaved roads must yield to drivers on a paved road.
  • Drivers approaching a four-way stop or an uncontrolled intersection should yield to other drivers who arrive at the intersection before them.
  •  Drivers should always obey the traffic signals and stop signs at a controlled intersection.
  • Drivers must always yield to trains.
  • Drivers must yield to school buses and emergency vehicles. 
  • Slower drivers should move to the right lane and yield the left lane to drivers moving faster.
  • When a traffic light is not working, all drivers should stop and yield to the vehicle that arrived before them. If vehicles arrive simultaneously, the drivers on the left should yield to the drivers on the right. 

Do not assume that the other driver will follow the right-of-way rules. You must be aware of the actions taken by other drivers at an intersection, just as on the open road. When in doubt, let the other driver go first. Also, remember to look out for motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. 

Common Accidents Caused by Failing to Yield the Right of Way

Failing to yield the right of way can result in serious accidents. 

Some of the most common accidents that occur when a driver fails to follow the right-of-way rules include:

If you have been injured because a driver failed to yield the right of way, contact an experienced Bedford personal injury attorney to protect your rights and get the compensation you deserve for your injuries. 

A Texas Car Accident Attorney Can Help After a Crash Caused By Failing to Yield the Right of Way

Yielding the right of way means allowing another driver, cyclist, or pedestrian to go before you.  

You must know the rules of yielding the right of way to drive on Texas roads safely.

Failure to properly yield the right of way can result in accidents and serious injuries. Contact an experienced Texas personal injury attorney if you have been injured in a failure-to-yield accident. 

Contact the Car Accident Law Firm of Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers in Bedford for Help Today

For more information, please contact an experienced car accident lawyer at Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers to schedule a free initial consultation today. We have convenient locations in Fort Worth and Bedford, Texas.

Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Fort Worth
209 N Hampton St,
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 839-3143

Parker Law Firm Injury Lawyers – Bedford
2317 Plaza Pkwy #100,
Bedford, TX 76021
(817) 503-9200