If car stops instead of just yields when entering frwy. access road-no trfc.-& car bumps them-whose fault?

Question

Details- occurred in Texas. Both cars turning right onto an interstate access road with only a yield sign. No traffic was coming, noted when I glanced over left shoulder. To my shock & horror, I looked forward to see that driver in front of me had totally stopped! He was new to the area and not used to the traffic flow. I bumped him (luckily, only going about 15), but slight damage to each car. Equal fault? Or, just mine, as I was behind?

Answer 1

Texas does have unusual interstate access roads.  Unfortunately, you are most likely in the wrong.  A Yield sign is a modified STOP sign.  The person in front always has the right away and it is the responsibility of the person behind the leader to safely and responsibly overtake the lead vehicle.  In this case you did not safely yield to the leader and are at fault.

This really goes back to maritime law, the lead vessel always has the right of way.  Sorry!

Answer 2

You would be at fault because as the law states, you were not in control of your vehicle even though the person in front stopped.

Answer 3

You are 100% at fault.

You made assumption that the car in front would respond to certain conditions in the same way that you would respond to them, then did not pay attention.

The car in front may have signalled was slowing to a stop, with brake lights etc. and come to a totally legal stop.  Since you were not paying attention, you don't know if they did or not.

But it does not matter whether they signalled properly or not, you have obligation to follow car in front of you at a safe distance and speed, so you can react if they stop suddenly.

Suppose you on the highway doing 60 mph, and the car in front of you has a blow-out, and suddenly loses ability to do 60 mph, rapidly slows to 10 mph.  If you are following so closely that you are unable to slow down before you crash into the back of that car, then you are at fault in that situation.

Point is, it does not matter why the car in front stopped, you need to be paying sufficient attention, and driving with sufficient margin of safety between you and the car in front, that no matter what happens, you do not crash into them.

Answer 4

your fault, no question. It may seem like it is the other drivers fault and I share your frustration with drivers like that. Ultimately, you are responsible for control of your vehicle and were not paying attention and was probably too close to begin with. I hear many times the "the guy in front of me stopped too quick and I could do nothing" but the truth is that you must maintain a safe distance between yourself and the car ahead of you. Also, increase that distance during poor driving conditions. Bottom line,,, you are at fault.

Answer 5

The yield right-of-way is not only for the cars entering FROM the side road, it is also for the cars ON the side road. As long as that car in front was in front of you it had the right of way and it was your obligation to yield to it. Remember this, no matter what the road signage says, there were two stop signs right in front of your eyes. One on each side of the car in front of you. Brake lights.

Answer 6

You are at fault, as you were not paying attention to the road ahead of you.  Possibly following too close.

Answer 7

if the sign was just yeild then it is the other driver's fault but in court it can be both of yours you for not paying attention and him for stoping at a yeild sign

Answer 8

if you hit a car from behind 99% of time it's your fault.

same thing if you get in a accident an your turning left.

sucks but that's how it is.

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