Menu
Failure to yield accidents occur when motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians don’t abide by right-of-way rules on the road. These collisions are alarmingly common across Colorado and the United States, resulting in serious injuries and property damage. Nearly all such accidents stem from at least one person’s negligence, which means injured parties may be entitled to compensation for their losses.
The Colorado traffic code establishes clear rules for right-of-way, but many drivers either don’t understand these laws or choose to ignore them. If you’ve been injured in a failure to yield accident in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, or the surrounding areas, contacting an experienced personal injury attorney at McCormick & Murphy can help you understand your legal options.
Colorado motorists don’t automatically have the right-of-way, even with a green signal. State traffic laws dictate when drivers must yield to other vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. All motorists are required to avoid collisions regardless of circumstances, with special attention needed at intersections, crosswalks, and school zones.
At 4-way stops, vehicles must yield to whoever reached the intersection first. When multiple vehicles arrive simultaneously, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right. Left-turning vehicles must yield to oncoming traffic unless traffic signals indicate otherwise. Emergency vehicles with active lights and sirens always have the right-of-way, requiring all other traffic to pull over when safe.
Colorado law also specifies that vehicles entering highways from acceleration lanes must yield to highway traffic, and vehicles must yield to pedestrians in both marked and unmarked crosswalks. Failing to follow these rules can result in traffic citations, points on your license, and liability for any resulting accidents.
Failure to yield accidents occur when a driver disregards traffic laws governing right-of-way and causes a collision. Unlike other accident types, the injured victim often strikes the at-fault driver who failed to yield rather than being struck themselves.
Common scenarios include:
The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) reports that failure to yield is among the top causes of serious intersection accidents statewide. In most cases, the person who fails to yield is primarily at fault, though Colorado’s comparative negligence laws may reduce damages if the injured party is partially responsible.
These collisions stem from various forms of negligence or recklessness:
Failure to yield accidents often occur at high speeds and frequently result in T-bone collisions, which are particularly dangerous. The Colorado State Patrol reports these accidents commonly cause serious injuries including dislocated shoulders, hearing damage, traumatic brain injuries, whiplash, spinal cord damage, and internal injuries. The risk increases significantly when large vehicles like semi-trucks or commercial vehicles are involved.
Victims who can prove another driver’s failure to yield caused their collision may recover both economic and non-economic compensatory damages. Economic damages include medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost income, property damage, and future medical expenses. Non-economic damages cover pain and suffering, emotional distress, disfigurement, and loss of enjoyment of life.
Colorado follows a modified comparative negligence system, meaning victims can recover damages as long as they’re less than 50% responsible for the accident. However, their compensation will be reduced by their percentage of fault.
Proving fault requires collecting compelling evidence such as:
The statute of limitations for filing personal injury claims in Colorado is generally three years from the date of the accident, making prompt legal consultation essential.
If you’ve been injured due to someone else’s failure to yield, the dedicated Colorado Springs personal injury attorneys at McCormick & Murphy, P.C. can evaluate your case and help determine if you’re entitled to compensation. With offices in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Pueblo, we serve clients throughout the Front Range region.
Our experienced team can:
A member of our legal team is available 24/7 at 719-389-0400 or through our website. We offer free initial consultations and work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Immediate Neighborhood (0.1-2 miles):
Close Proximity (2-5 miles):
Within 5-10 miles:
Within 10-15 miles:
We provide convenient and exceptional legal services to personal injury victims throughout the state of Colorado, we have offices in:
Fill out the form and we will contact you ASAP!
Disclaimer: The information on this website is for information purposes only. This website should not be taken as legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. This information should not be taken as the formation of a lawyer or attorney client relationship.
© 2025 McCormick & Murphy, P.C. | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions