[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/yielding-the-right-of-way\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/yielding-the-right-of-way\/","headline":"What Does Yielding the Right-of-Way Mean?","name":"What Does Yielding the Right-of-Way Mean?","description":"Without clear rules on merging, turning, or entering intersections, there would be chaos on Georgia roads.\u00a0Yielding the right-of-way means letting another vehicle enter an intersection, turn, or merge into traffic before you proceed.\u00a0However, don\u2019t forget that right-of-way laws also apply to pedestrians and cyclists. What Is Georgia\u2019s Law...","datePublished":"2025-05-13","dateModified":"2026-01-14","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/johnsherrod\/#Person","name":"John Sherrod","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/author\/johnsherrod\/","identifier":8,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/63ed235ae61137a2e8dec557ea4cd48dee882e0dc0bbcf9da6642f47d925925d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/63ed235ae61137a2e8dec557ea4cd48dee882e0dc0bbcf9da6642f47d925925d?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Sherrod & Bernard, P.C.","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/SB-Logo-1.png","width":300,"height":109}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/yield-sign.jpg","url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/yield-sign.jpg","height":667,"width":1000},"url":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/yielding-the-right-of-way\/","video":[{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"VideoObject","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Z2DAd9PZXgU#VideoObject","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Z2DAd9PZXgU","name":"Georgia\u2019s Right of Way Laws - Sherrod & Bernard, P.C.","description":"For more about car accident cases, visit:  https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/georgia-right-of-way-laws\/\n__________________________________\nSherrod & Bernard, P.C. - Personal Injury Lawyers in Douglasville\n8470 Price Ave \nDouglasville, GA 30134\nPhone: (770) 920 - 8350\nwww.sherrodandbernard.com","thumbnailUrl":["https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Z2DAd9PZXgU\/default.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Z2DAd9PZXgU\/mqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Z2DAd9PZXgU\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Z2DAd9PZXgU\/sddefault.jpg","https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/Z2DAd9PZXgU\/maxresdefault.jpg"],"uploadDate":"2025-05-10T20:45:12+00:00","duration":"PT1M33S","embedUrl":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Z2DAd9PZXgU","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w#Organization","url":"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCNK4EK-AuNLyADEP1Gsgx7w","name":"Sherrod and Bernard","description":"When you are in a legal bind, you need an experienced attorney you can count on to provide you with skilled representation and sound legal counsel. Every lawyer under the sun will tell you that he or she is the right person for the job, but you need a firm backed with a successful track record. You need the firm of Sherrod & Bernard, serving the Douglasville area.\n\nAfter attending the University of Georgia together, attorneys John Sherrod and Ken Bernard founded the law firm of Sherrod & Bernard, P.C. in 1992. From the very beginning, the goal of our firm has been to provide each and every client with the quality personal service and skilled representation they deserve. You can count on our work ethic and our commitment to our clients.\n\nYou need a highly skilled attorney to successfully resolve your legal issues. One of our lawyers can help. 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At Sherrod and Bernard, you don't have to have funds to hire our firm. Instead, we handle these cases on a contingency fee basis. You only pay if we collect from the at-fault party. Our fee is based on a percentage of the overall recovery. In most cases, it's one-third of the recovery. 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Instead, multiple laws cover different situations where drivers must yield the right-of-way. Some of those laws include:Approaching an intersection \u2013\u00a0When two cars arrive at an intersection simultaneously, the driver on the left should yield to the vehicle on the right. (Ga. Code \u00a7 40-6-70)Turning left \u2013\u00a0Any drivers attempting to turn left at an intersection or into an alley or driveway must yield to any drivers traveling from the opposite direction that are close enough to pose a safety hazard. (Ga. Code \u00a7 40-6-71)Approaching a stop sign \u2013\u00a0Any driver approaching a stop sign must stop at the marked stop line. When there\u2019s no marked line, they must stop before the crosswalk. If there\u2019s no crosswalk, they should stop at the point closest to the intersecting road with a clear view of approaching traffic. After stopping, the driver must yield to any vehicle already in the intersection or close enough to pose a safety hazard. (Ga. Code \u00a7 40-6-72)Approaching a yield sign \u2013\u00a0Drivers must slow down when approaching a yield sign and, if necessary, stop and yield to any vehicles already in the intersection or close enough to be a safety hazard. (Ga. Code \u00a7 40-6-72)Pedestrians \u2013\u00a0Pedestrians must follow posted signs and signals. (Ga. Code \u00a7 40-6-90) They must also yield to cars already on the road if they cross the street outside a marked crosswalk unless they have already safely entered the street. (Ga. Code \u00a7 40-6-92) However, drivers must watch out for pedestrians and yield to those within crosswalks if the pedestrian is on their half of the road or within one lane of it. (Ga. Code \u00a7 40-6-91)\ufeffWhat Are Some Common Right-of-Way Situations?Georgia\u2019s right-of-way laws can be complex. Here are some guidelines to follow as you\u2019re driving:Intersections \u2013\u00a0At four-way stops, the general rule is \u201cfirst come, first served.\u201d If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the car on the right has the right-of-way. At a T-intersection, the car on the through road has the right-of-way.Left turns \u2013\u00a0If you\u2019re making a left turn at an intersection, whether marked with a traffic signal or uncontrolled, you should yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians.Roundabouts \u2013\u00a0Vehicles already in the roundabout have the right-of-way. If you\u2019re entering, wait for a safe gap before merging with the circulating traffic.Emergency vehicles \u2013\u00a0When police cars, fire trucks, ambulances, or other emergency vehicles approach with lights flashing or sirens blaring, all drivers should yield the right-of-way by pulling over to the right side of the road and stopping until the emergency vehicle has passed.Highway merging \u2013\u00a0When merging onto a highway, drivers entering from the ramp should yield to traffic already on the highway.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat Are Some Reasons a Driver May Fail to Yield the Right-of-Way?There are many reasons why Georgia drivers might fail to follow right-of-way laws, such as:Distracted drivingImpaired drivingAggressive driving or road rageSpeedingIgnorance of traffic lawsPoor visibilityMisjudgment of other vehicles\u2019 speed or distanceMechanical failureInadequate signage or road markingsOverconfidence in driving skillsWhat Injuries Might Result from a Failure-to-Yield Accident?Failure-to-yield accidents in Georgia often happen at high speeds and cause catastrophic injuries, such as:WhiplashConcussionsTraumatic brain injuries (TBIs)Broken bonesSpinal cord injuriesLacerations and bruisesInternal bleedingSprains and strainsDislocated jointsPost-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)What Should I Do If I Am in a Failure-to-Yield Accident?Failure-to-yield accidents can cause devastating injuries. It\u2019s essential to protect your rights as best you can after a collision. Here\u2019s what to do after a failure-to-yield accident in Georgia:Document everything \u2013\u00a0As soon as you can, write down all the details you remember about the\u00a0accident. If you have pictures from the scene, save and organize them. Save the contact information for anyone who saw the crash.Obtain a police report \u2013\u00a0If the police responded to the scene, there should be an official police report. You can usually obtain this from the law enforcement agency that investigated the collision.Gather medical documentation \u2013\u00a0Keep a detailed record of all your medical treatments and costs related to the accident, from the initial emergency room visit to any follow-up appointments, physical therapy sessions, or prescribed medications.Inform your insurance company \u2013\u00a0Report the accident to your insurance company as soon as you can. However, don\u2019t describe any details of the accident until you talk to a lawyer.Keep a personal diary \u2013\u00a0Document any pain you feel, both physical and emotional, and the ways the accident has impacted your day-to-day life. This can be instrumental in a personal injury claim.Hire a personal injury attorney \u2013\u00a0The sooner you hire a lawyer, the more they can do to protect your rights and find evidence proving the other driver caused your injuries.Contact a Georgia Car Accident LawyerThe Georgia car accident attorneys at\u00a0Sherrod &amp; Bernard, P.C., believe in holding negligent drivers accountable for their actions. We are here to guard your rights and help you recover fair compensation after a failure-to-yield accident caused by someone else. Call us today or complete our online contact form for a free consultation.Visit Our Georgia Car Accident Law Offices"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What Does Yielding the Right-of-Way Mean?","item":"https:\/\/www.sherrodandbernard.com\/blog\/yielding-the-right-of-way\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]