In Connecticut, right-of-way laws are designed to keep order and prevent accidents. These laws indicate who has the right to go first at an intersection, and all drivers must follow them. Failure to yield the right-of-way when required by law is considered a traffic violation that can lead to a ticket, points on your license, and increased insurance rates. In some cases, failure to yield can also result in a car accident. To avoid being involved in a collision, it is essential to understand when you are required to yield in Connecticut. If you were hurt in an accident you believe someone else caused due to not following Connecticut’s right-of-way laws, contact our Waterbury personal injury lawyers today to schedule a free consultation.

Basic Right-of-Way Laws in Connecticut

• If a police officer gives you a signal that is different from the posted traffic signs or signals, you must obey the police officer.
• You must yield to anyone on bicycles on bike paths, even where the bike paths cross into the road you’re driving on.
• Any blind pedestrian walking with a white cane or a guide dog has the right of way, no matter what the situation is.
• When turning left, you are required to yield to vehicles going straight.
• When waiting to drive through a rotary or traffic circle, the vehicle already in the rotary or circle has the right of way.
• At a 4-way stop, the car that arrives first has the right of way.
• When you are coming up on a road – for example, from an alleyway or another side street – any cars already on the road ahead have the right of way.
• You may not cause gridlock – do not enter an intersection if it is going to block traffic. You must be able to pass all the way through.
• If you hear a siren or see flashing lights, you must always yield to emergency vehicles. This means pulling over and stopping or getting out of the way until the vehicle passes or you are told you can proceed.

Pedestrian-Specific Right-of-Way Laws in Connecticut

• When approaching or passing through a crosswalk controlled by traffic signals, stop until pedestrians have completely crossed the travel lanes in which you are driving.
• If there is no traffic signal present, drivers must come to a complete stop prior to entering the crosswalk and remain stopped until pedestrians have crossed completely out of the travel lanes of the highway on which you are driving.
• If there is no stop line or crosswalk markings painted on the pavement, drivers must come to a complete stop before entering the intersection itself. Remember that even if there are no pedestrians present when you approach a crosswalk, you may still be required to yield because pedestrians could enter unexpectedly.
• If you see a pedestrian crossing in an uncontrolled crosswalk (i.e., one without traffic signs or signals), you must slow down or stop if necessary to yield the right of way. You should always use caution when approaching any crosswalk, whether it is marked or unmarked.

If you have been injured in a car or pedestrian accident, please do not hesitate to contact us today to schedule a free consultation. Our team of experienced Waterbury personal injury attorneys will work with you every step of the way to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve.