Safely navigating Minnesota’s roads, crosswalks and intersections requires knowing how the state’s right-of-way laws work. When a driver ignores your right-of-way and fails to yield, the result can be a serious accident. Understanding your legal rights and options in this situation is imperative. If someone ignored your right-of-way and crashed into you in Minnesota, contact a Minneapolis car accident lawyer today.
What Is the Right-of-Way?
The right-of-way is the legal right to proceed first into an intersection or across a road in a certain situation. The right-of-way determines who must come to a stop and wait for other road users to proceed before continuing. It is critical for all drivers and pedestrians to obey Minnesota’s right-of-way laws, as this is the only thing preventing collisions at intersections and crosswalks.
Who Has the Right-of-Way and When in Minnesota?
It is a common misconception that pedestrians always or automatically have the right-of-way in Minnesota. Pedestrians are also required to yield in many situations. The right-of-way is granted to different road users based on the location and circumstances.
Minnesota’s right-of-way laws include:
- At an intersection with a stop sign, all drivers approaching must come to a complete stop. The right-of-way goes to the vehicle that approached first. If more than one vehicle approaches simultaneously, the car on the right has the right-of-way.
- At intersections with traffic control signals, only vehicles given the green light have the right to proceed. Pedestrians at traffic-controlled intersections must obey posted “Walk” signs to cross.
- If a vehicle is making a left-hand turn at an intersection and does not have a green turn arrow, the driver must stop and yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic and crossing pedestrians.
- At unmarked intersections and in crosswalks, pedestrians have the right-of-way. Drivers must stop and yield to pedestrians who are crossing within their half of the roadway, or close enough to their half to constitute an immediate hazard.
- Within a roundabout in Minnesota, drivers wishing to enter must yield the right-of-way to traffic already within the roundabout.
There are also special rules in certain circumstances. For example, every motorist is required to yield the right-of-way to an emergency vehicle that is flashing its lights or using its siren. Drivers on both sides of the street must also yield to a school bus that has come to a stop and deployed its flashing lights or stop signs.
The Consequences of Failing to Yield the Right-of-Way
Failing to yield the right-of-way in Minnesota can lead to the collision of two or more vehicles, or a vehicle and a vulnerable cyclist or pedestrian. Injuries from these accidents can range from broken bones to life-altering traumatic brain injuries. Sadly, many right-of-way accidents involving bicyclists and pedestrians are fatal.
If the evidence shows that a driver violated Minnesota’s right-of-way laws in the moments leading up to a collision, this can serve as proof of negligence. While Minnesota typically uses a no-fault car insurance law, which requires victims to seek coverage from their own insurance providers, proof of negligence can be used to hold an at-fault driver accountable if the victim suffered serious injuries.
If someone ignored your right-of-way and crashed into you in Minnesota, contact the car accident lawyers at Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC for a free consultation about your legal options.