Across intersections, merging lanes, roundabouts, and uncontrolled streets, failing to yield the right of way is a leading cause of crashes. It’s also one of the top reasons insurance claims are reduced or denied.
Why does this matter to you? Because even if you think you’re not at fault, right-of-way laws can be used against you by an insurance adjuster looking for a reason to limit your payout.
You may have the damage. You may even have the hospital bills. But if the report says you failed to yield to oncoming traffic or left the roadway, your compensation could take a hit.
In this post, we’ll walk you through how right-of-way laws play into auto insurance claims. You’ll learn how fault is determined, what common mistakes can cost you, and what left roadway meaning insurance might actually imply in your claim file.
Let’s get into it—so you don’t get stuck paying for someone else’s mistake.
How Right-of-Way Laws Work
Right-of-way laws dictate who must yield and who can proceed in any given traffic situation. These rules are based on the idea that no one “owns” the road—it’s about who has legal permission to move first.
Every state has its own traffic code, but most follow common standards. Here are typical scenarios where right-of-way matters:
- At four-way stops (first to stop, first to go)
- At uncontrolled intersections (vehicle on the right goes first)
- At yield signs (yield to cross traffic)
- When merging or changing lanes
- When making left turns across traffic
These laws aren’t just for safe driving. They’re written into insurance fault determinations. That means breaking them doesn’t just risk a ticket—it can put you legally at fault for a crash.
Why Fault Matters in Insurance
In an at-fault state, the driver who caused the crash is financially responsible. That includes damage to the other vehicle, your own, and any injuries that result.
Insurance companies don’t base their decision only on damage or injuries—they base it on fault.
If they determine that you broke a traffic law (like failing to yield the right of way), they’ll use that to:
- Shift blame to you
- Reduce your payout
- Deny your claim entirely
And in comparative negligence states (like Texas, Georgia, or Alabama), your percentage of fault reduces your compensation. For example, if you’re 40% at fault for failing to yield to oncoming traffic, you might only get 60% of your total claim amount.
Common Right-of-Way Situations That Impact Claims
1. Left Turns Across Traffic
This is one of the most misunderstood (and most common) scenarios. You’re waiting to make a left turn at a green light. There’s oncoming traffic, but you think you have time. You turn. A vehicle coming straight hits you.
You might think: “They should’ve slowed down.” But insurance companies often see this as a clear case of failing to yield to oncoming traffic.
The driver going straight almost always has the legal right of way. Unless they were wildly speeding or ran a red light, you’ll be blamed.
Insurance impact:
- You’re labeled the at-fault driver.
- Your property and injury claims may be reduced.
- Your liability coverage could be maxed out if others are hurt.
2. Failure to Yield When Merging or Changing Lanes
Highway on-ramps and lane merges are another danger zone. If you move into a lane and sideswipe another vehicle—or force them off the road—you may be charged with failing to yield the right of way, even if you didn’t cause major damage.
You might also hear terms like improper lane change or unsafe merge on the police report, both of which shift fault to you.
3. Rolling Through a Stop Sign
Even if you slow down and check both ways, failing to come to a complete stop is a violation. If you roll through and get hit, you’ve broken a traffic law—and opened the door for the insurer to deny your claim.
Remember: a partial stop is still failing to yield.
4. Pedestrian Crosswalks
If you’re in a hurry and don’t see a pedestrian at a crosswalk, that’s failing to yield. Even if they weren’t in your lane, or you didn’t hit them directly, insurers will count that as driver negligence.
This can lead to expensive personal injury claims—and worse, legal action.
What “Left Roadway” Means in Insurance Terms
One phrase that confuses many drivers after a crash is “left the roadway.” It may appear in your police report or insurance documents.
So what does left roadway mean insurance boils down to?
From an insurer’s point of view, “left the roadway” implies that the driver:
- Lost control
- Was distracted
- Was impaired
- Overcorrected
- Was speeding
- Was driving recklessly
Even if you swerved to avoid an obstacle or animal, the report might still mark that you “left the roadway,” and that can shift liability to you.
For example: If you hit a guardrail or veer into a ditch, even alone, your own insurer might reduce your payout under the claim of driver negligence.
Or worse—if you “left the roadway” and caused a chain-reaction crash, you could be facing liability for other people’s damages and injuries.
Insurers see this term as a red flag. If it shows up in your paperwork, it’s time to speak with a lawyer.
How Insurance Adjusters Assign Fault
Most insurance adjusters rely on:
- The police report
- Traffic law analysis
- Witness statements
- Dashcam or surveillance footage
- Vehicle damage locations
- Road conditions
If the police report lists failure to yield, the adjuster doesn’t have to do much more. That one line can be enough to assign blame.
Even statements like “I thought I had time” or “I didn’t see them” can be used as admissions of guilt.
Important: You don’t have to accept an adjuster’s version of events. You have the right to contest their determination—and that’s where legal support makes a difference.
What to Do After a Crash Involving Right-of-Way Issues
- Call 911 – Always get a formal report. Don’t just swap info.
- Take Photos Immediately – Capture road signs, signal lights, car positions, skid marks, and damages.
- Don’t Admit Fault – Even casual phrases can be twisted by adjusters.
- Get Medical Attention Promptly – It shows injuries resulted from the crash—not something later.
- Document Everything – Keep records of bills, conversations, and repairs.
- Consult an Attorney Before Filing a Claim – Especially if the report mentions right-of-way issues or the term left the roadway.
Case Example: When Failure to Yield Was Wrongly Blamed
Let’s say you were making a legal left turn. You had a green arrow, but the oncoming driver ran a red light and hit you. The police officer on scene didn’t have access to traffic footage and assumed you turned into traffic without yielding.
Now your claim is denied.
This happens all the time. Without legal help, most people don’t know how to challenge the police report or pull traffic camera data. Insurance companies bet on that.
But a personal injury attorney can:
- Demand footage or intersection data
- Reconstruct the accident with experts
- File a dispute with the insurer
- Take the case to court, if needed
Don’t Fight This Alone
If you’ve been in a crash involving failing to yield the right of way, or you’ve seen left roadway on your accident report, you need a legal team who knows how to challenge insurers and hold them accountable.
At Mike Slocumb Law Firm, we’ve handled thousands of traffic accident cases where right-of-way violations were used to deny rightful claims. We know how adjusters work—and how to push back with the facts.
We’ll review your case at no cost and tell you your best options. If the insurance company is wrong, we’ll help you prove it.
Call us today or reach out online. Let us fight for what you’re owed.
Final Thoughts
Right-of-way isn’t just a traffic rule—it’s a deciding factor in your insurance payout. Failing to yield can put you on the hook for thousands. And if your report mentions “left the roadway,” expect scrutiny.
Insurance companies use these terms to avoid paying. But you don’t have to accept their version of the story.
Talk to a lawyer before you talk to your insurer. The Mike Slocumb Law Firm is ready to help.