Motorists have an obligation to avoid accidents, which means they need to yield to other vehicles when appropriate. Unfortunately, thousands of motorists every year refuse to yield and end up causing costly collisions.
If you’ve been injured in an accident, you probably need compensation to cover your medical and other expenses.
You should meet with an experienced Grand Junction Failure to Yield lawyer to discuss your case.
Why Our Grand Junction Failure to Yield Lawyers Can Help
Failure to yield accidents can happen in a variety of ways:
- At an intersection, a motorist refuses to yield to a vehicle that has the right of way
- In a crosswalk, a motorist refuses to yield to a pedestrian crossing
- On the freeway, a vehicle refuses to yield to allow a car to merge from the on-ramp
Bringing a claim for compensation is not easy. You need to gather sufficient evidence about the accident and your injuries. You also might need to jump through a lot of hoops to get the insurance company to take your claim seriously.
Unfortunately, many claims are also denied. We have represented clients who had very valid injuries but who nevertheless received denial letters from insurers. A denial meant that the victim would have to shoulder the entire cost of the accident, from medical bills to lost wages.
We can help. When what you need to focus on is getting well, we can collect evidence and submit your claim to the insurance company for consideration. We can also bring a lawsuit, if necessary, to protect your right to compensation.
Injuries from Failure to Yield Accidents
When a motorist fails to yield, other motorists can suffer serious injuries from resulting collisions, including:
- Traumatic brain injuries;
- Broken bones, especially in the legs, arms, and hands;
- Lacerations or cuts;
- Sprains;
- Strains;
- Contusions (deep bruises)
- Joint injuries;
- Nerve damage;
- Facial injuries;
- Back injuries; and
- Spinal cord damage, including paralysis.
These injuries require prompt medical intervention so that you can get well. Any delay might compromise your ability to get full compensation. If necessary, call out an ambulance to the scene of the accident so you can get to the hospital.
Proving Fault
The motorist who refused to yield is at fault, meaning they are legally responsible for paying compensation to injured victims.
Fault is often in dispute. There are no two ways about it—some motorists will lie and claim that they had the right of way and that you are really the one responsible for the accident. We wish this weren’t the case, but you absolutely must obtain helpful evidence at the scene of the crime to bolster your case.
For example, you should helpfully get the following soon after the collision:
- Take pictures of all vehicles involved in the crash. Focus on where the vehicles collided with each other, and zoom in if needed. These pictures will help establish who struck who.
- Write down your memories as soon as possible and be detailed. When did you see the other vehicle? How fast was it going? Did you hit your horn or brake?
- Find witnesses. They can testify as to what happened, which is compelling testimony. Get their names and contact information.
If you were hit outside a store, then there might be video of the accident since many businesses now have security cameras pointed toward their parking lots and surrounding areas.
In Colorado, both parties can be at fault. The key is to prove that you were less than 50% responsible. Anyone who is 50% responsible or more will not receive compensation.
Avoid Delay
Colorado has a statute of limitations related to car accidents. Specifically, injured victims only get 3 years from the date of the crash to bring a lawsuit in court. If you delay for any reason and fall outside this 3-year window, then a judge will dismiss your case and you will not receive any compensation.
This sounds like a severe rule—because it is. A statute of limitations is a defendant’s best friend and could potentially be an accident victim’s worst nightmare. To protect yourself, reach out to an attorney as soon as possible at (970) 230-7656.
Legal Advice You Can Trust after a Grand Junction Failure to Yield Accident
Cimarron Ridge Legal Group has been representing injured motorists in Grand Junction and surrounding areas for decades. We have 70 years of combined legal experience to put to work for our clients.
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