Driving in Brooklyn, NY, can often feel chaotic. Busy streets, crowded intersections and impatient drivers create situations that put even the safest drivers at risk. Unfortunately, accidents frequently happen when other drivers fail to yield. No matter how cautiously you drive, someone else’s carelessness or negligence can lead to serious harm.
When you’ve been hurt because another driver failed to follow traffic rules, a Brooklyn failure to yield accident lawyer can help you understand your options and work toward securing the compensation you deserve.
Why Hire a Failure to Yield Accident Lawyer in Brooklyn?
Hiring an accident lawyer in Brooklyn means you’ll have someone on your side who knows exactly how insurance companies and defense attorneys handle personal injury cases. Because liability in failure to yield accidents can be complex or disputed, your lawyer’s experience in establishing fault and collecting strong evidence can make a huge difference in your claim. By hiring an experienced attorney early, you improve your chances of securing a fair settlement and holding negligent drivers fully accountable.
At Cellino Law, we have years of proven experience representing injured New Yorkers. You don’t have to worry about upfront fees, and we won’t charge you unless we win your case.
What Are the Causes of Failure to Yield Accidents?
There are many reasons why accidents happen when drivers fail to yield, and most involve negligence on the part of other drivers due to carelessness, recklessness or simply a lack of attention.
Aggressive Driving
Aggressive drivers are incredibly dangerous and a major cause of failure to yield accidents in Brooklyn. These drivers often cut off other vehicles, speed through busy intersections or ignore traffic signs, making collisions much more likely. When drivers behave aggressively, they significantly increase the risk of causing serious accidents and injuries.
Distracted Driving
When drivers text, talk on the phone, eat or change the radio station, they take their attention away from the road. Even a moment of distraction can cause a driver to miss a stop sign or fail to notice an approaching car, leading directly to an accident.
Inexperienced Driving
New drivers or those unfamiliar with Brooklyn’s busy streets may not fully understand traffic laws, or they can become overwhelmed by hectic road conditions. They might misjudge their timing or become confused about when to yield, causing an accident.
Even if the driver is inexperienced, they must follow New York traffic laws. If their mistake causes an accident, the injured person has the right to seek compensation for their injuries and losses.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving is another major factor that contributes to failure to yield accidents. Under New York Vehicle and Traffic Law § 1212, reckless driving is defined as operating a vehicle in a way that disrupts normal traffic flow or puts others on the road at risk. Drivers who behave recklessly may weave through traffic, speed excessively or ignore clear signals and signs. Because they’re moving unpredictably or too quickly, they might not notice that another driver, pedestrian or cyclist has the right of way. This careless behavior makes it far more likely that a reckless driver will enter intersections or merge lanes without properly yielding, causing dangerous collisions.
What Types of Injuries Can Occur in Failure to Yield Accidents?
Sadly, accidents caused by failing to yield can lead to serious injuries with long-lasting effects.
Serious Physical Injuries
Common physical injuries from failing to yield in Brooklyn are often severe and can dramatically change a person’s life. The most common injuries include:
- Head Trauma: Concussions or traumatic brain injuries that may lead to long-term cognitive difficulties.
- Spinal Cord Injuries: Injuries that can cause paralysis or significant loss of mobility.
- Broken Bones: Injuries often requiring surgery, casts, or extensive rehabilitation.
- Severe Lacerations: Deep cuts that may result in permanent scarring, infections, or damage to underlying tissues and muscles.
- Internal Injuries: Damage to internal organs or internal bleeding, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical intervention.
These injuries frequently lead to intense and lasting pain, require extensive medical treatment and often result in long-term or permanent physical limitations.
Fatalities
In the worst-case scenario, someone deciding not to yield while driving can be fatal. High-speed impacts or collisions with pedestrians and cyclists at intersections often have tragic outcomes. Families dealing with these devastating losses deserve support and justice. A Brooklyn failure to yield accident lawyer can help hold those who are responsible accountable for their actions.
Emotional and Psychological Traumas
Beyond physical harm, failure to yield accidents frequently cause emotional and psychological distress. Someone who is injured might suffer from anxiety, depression or even PTSD. Coping with the emotional aftermath can be just as challenging as dealing with physical injuries and can significantly impact your life.
What Type of Compensation Is Available to Those Injured in Failure to Yield Accidents?
If you’ve been hurt because another driver didn’t yield, you have a right to pursue financial compensation for your losses. Several types of damages might be available.
Economic
Economic damages provide compensation for direct financial losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages and property damage. Here’s a list of common economic expenses you might have in a failure to yield accident:
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Property damage
- Physical therapy
- Medical equipment
- Home care services
- Future medical costs
- Transportation costs
These damages help ensure you can cover the costs associated with recovery and get back on stable financial footing after your accident.
Non-Economic
Non-economic damages are designed to compensate for intangible losses that don’t have clear financial values. Here are some of the most common:
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Loss of consortium (impact on relationships)
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Mental anguish
- Loss of reputation
Although non-economic losses aren’t easily quantified, they are essential in recognizing the full impact of your accident.
Punitive
Punitive damages aim to punish negligent drivers who caused your injuries. These damages are awarded when the responsible driver’s behavior was particularly reckless or egregious, like with aggressive driving or driving under the influence. Punitive damages also serve as a warning to others to avoid similar harmful behaviors.
A Failure to Yield Accident Lawyer Can Help You Seek Justice
The impact of an accident caused by another driver not yielding can be hard to handle, particularly when you’re healing from injuries. A compassionate and experienced failure to yield accident lawyer can guide you through the legal process, help you understand your rights and fight for the compensation you deserve. Cellino Law offers a free case review to evaluate your situation and outline the best steps forward.
If you’ve been injured in a failure to yield accident in Brooklyn, NY, don’t face the legal process alone. Contact us today to discuss your options and start working towards recovery.