South Carolina Failure-to-Yield Truck Accident Attorneys

Among the most important rules of the road are those governing the right-of-way and when to yield it. These rules provide necessary order to the roadways and prevent traffic collisions – when motorists follow them. Unfortunately, South Carolina truck drivers sometimes fail to yield the right-of-way when required, contributing to catastrophic and entirely preventable traffic accidents. Because their vehicles are so much larger than everything else on the road, their mistakes can have an outsize impact on other road users.

At Jebaily Law Firm, we want to help if you sustained injuries in a truck accident in South Carolina caused by a driver who failed to yield. Our experienced attorneys can investigate the accident, determine who is liable, and demand they compensate you accordingly. Tell us more about the accident, and we’ll tell you more about how we can help when you.

Contact us now for a free consultation with a South Carolina failure-to-yield truck accident lawyer.

What Does ‘Failure-to-Yield’ Mean?

All road users must yield the right-of-way to other road users at some point. For instance, you probably know that motorists must yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, and those turning left must yield to oncoming traffic.

When a driver or another road user neglects or refuses to yield the right-of-way when required to, they are committing a failure-to-yield violation. A failure-to-yield violation isn’t just illegal – it’s also incredibly dangerous. Road users who fail to yield the right-of-way are behaving unpredictably, which confuses other road users and places everyone at risk.

Failure-to-yield violations are especially serious problems when trucks are involved, as these large and unwieldy vehicles leave little room for error. When a truck driver doesn’t yield the right-of-way to another road user, the result can be a deadly – and entirely preventable – collision.

South Carolina Right-of-Way Laws

Article 17 of South Carolina’s Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways outlines the state’s right-of-way laws, which mandate the following:

• Motorists approaching intersections must yield the right-of-way to other motorists already in the intersection when no traffic signs or signals are present.
• When two motorists approach an intersection at the same time, or when it is not clear who should proceed first, the motorist on the left should yield the right-of-way to the motorist on the right.
• Motorists who approach intersections intending to turn left must yield the right-of-way to motorists already in the intersection.
• Motorists who have stopped at red lights intending to turn left must yield the right-of-way to opposing vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
• Motorists are permitted to turn right on red unless traffic signs are present that explicitly prohibit it. Before turning right on red, motorists must stop, then proceed cautiously, yielding to road users already in the intersection or close enough to present a hazard.
• Motorists must always yield the right-of-way to emergency vehicles with flashing lights or sirens engaged by pulling over as soon as it is possible to do so safely.

Why Are Truckers Prone to Failure-to-Yield Accidents? 

Any road user can commit a failure-to-yield violation that leads to an accident.

Truck drivers may be especially prone to make these mistakes due to:

• Distracting activities – Driving a truck is hard, monotonous work. When truckers succumb to distractions like texting, watching videos, or playing games, they are more likely to overlook other road users and accidentally fail to yield the right-of-way.
• Impairing substances – Research suggests that many truck drivers use drugs and alcohol to cope with the demands and stresses of their jobs. Rather than acting as performance enhancers, these substances impair drivers’ physical and cognitive abilities, increasing the risk of mistakes like failure-to-yield wrecks.
• Excessive fatigue – Many truck drivers operate on odd schedules and travel long distances, which can wreak havoc on the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Fatigue can be just as impairing as intoxication, so it’s no surprise that many failure-to-yield accidents involve drowsy truck drivers.
• Reckless behaviors– Trucking companies commonly pay their drivers by the mile, which means there is an incentive for truckers to travel as swiftly as possible. When truck drivers engage in dangerous behaviors like speeding and tailgating, they are more likely to fail to yield the right-of-way and cause wrecks.

Common Types of Semi-Truck Accidents Due to Failure-to-Yield

When semi-truck drivers fail to yield the right-of-way on South Carolina roads, they often contribute to the following types of traffic collisions:

Compensation for Injuries from a Failure-to-Yield Truck Wreck

A successful failure-to-yield truck accident claim can provide you with compensation for the following types of accident-related losses:

• Hospital bills and other medical expenses you incur for the treatment of crash injuries
• Reduced income from any time you miss at work due to accident-related injuries
• Projected losses in your future earning capacity, if you suffer permanent injuries
• Crash-related pain, suffering, and lost quality of life
• Incidental expenses, such as out-of-pocket travel costs for medical appointments

How Our Lawyers Can Help You with a Truck Accident Claim

When you retain the services of Jebaily Law Firm, you can count on our experienced South Carolina truck accident lawyers to help with your injury claim by:

• Explaining your rights and reviewing your claim to determine its potential value
• Identifying all possible sources of compensation for your truck accident injuries
• Conducting an independent investigation into the failure-to-yield truck accident
• Communicating with trucking companies, insurers, and other parties on your behalf
• Obtaining medical records, accident reports, and other evidence for your claim
• Interviewing eyewitnesses and crash reconstruction experts for valuable testimony
• Managing the essential legal documents, details, and deadlines of your claim
• Filing case paperwork and negotiating tirelessly to maximize your settlement
• Taking your case to court and representing you at trial if the other side won’t pay

Contact the Experienced South Carolina Tractor-Trailer Accident Lawyers at Jebaily Law Firm 

Hurt in a truck accident caused by a driver who didn’t follow the rules of the road? Then contact Jebaily Law Firm today to speak with a failure-to-yield truck accident lawyer in South Carolina during a free consultation.