Intersection Accidents and Failure to Yield the Right of Way: A Scottsdale Case Study

Intersection Accidents and Failure to Yield the Right of Way: A Scottsdale Case Study

Intersection accidents are among the most dangerous and preventable motor vehicle collisions in Arizona. When a driver fails to yield the right of way—particularly at a stop sign—the consequences are often severe. Vehicles traveling through intersections typically have limited time to react, and the resulting impacts frequently involve high speeds and catastrophic forces.

A recent intersection crash case we were hired to handle in Scottsdale illustrates just how devastating a failure to yield can be, and why these cases require immediate and aggressive legal action.

Why Intersection Accidents Are So Dangerous

Unlike rear-end collisions, intersection crashes often involve vehicles moving perpendicular to one another or directly toward each other. When a driver enters an intersection without yielding, the oncoming motorist is left with no meaningful opportunity to brake or avoid the crash.

These collisions commonly result in:

• High-speed head-on or broadside impacts
• Airbag deployment and significant vehicle intrusion
• Spinal, pelvic, and internal injuries
• Fractures that are not immediately visible on initial imaging
• Long-term pain and functional limitations

In Scottsdale and throughout Maricopa County, failure-to-yield crashes consistently produce serious injuries that disrupt victims’ lives long after the wreckage is cleared.

The Intersection Collision in Scottsdale that Injured Our Client

Our client was driving northbound on Greenway Hayden Loop near its intersection with Paradise Lane in Scottsdale. He was traveling lawfully in his lane at approximately 35–40 miles per hour.

At the same time, another driver approached the intersection from Paradise Lane in a left-turn lane controlled by a stop sign. Instead of yielding the right of way, that driver entered the intersection directly in front of our client’s vehicle.

With no time to avoid the collision, our client’s vehicle struck the front of the other car in a violent head-on crash.

Both vehicles sustained substantial damage and were towed from the scene. The force of the impact was so severe that the airbags in our client’s vehicle deployed, subjecting his body to sudden and extreme forces.

Clear Liability in a Failure-to-Yield Crash

This collision presented no legitimate dispute regarding fault. Arizona traffic laws clearly require drivers facing stop signs to yield the right of way to oncoming traffic.

The at-fault driver violated A.R.S. § 28-701, which mandates that drivers operate their vehicles with reasonable care and control their speed to avoid collisions. Entering an intersection from a stop-controlled approach directly into the path of oncoming traffic is a textbook failure to yield.

Despite clear-cut liability in many intersection accidents, insurance companies frequently attempt to delay, minimize, or undervalue claims.

Despite clear-cut liability in many intersection accidents, insurance companies frequently attempt to delay, minimize, or undervalue claims. Proper legal handling from the outset is critical to preventing those tactics from succeeding.

Severe Injuries Caused by Intersection Impact Forces

The physics of intersection collisions are unforgiving. In this case, the abrupt deceleration caused our client’s body to be violently thrown forward against his seatbelt and restraints. His head and neck snapped forward and backward in a classic whiplash motion while intense force traveled through his lower spine and pelvic region.

Emergency responders transported him by ambulance to a nearby hospital emergency room as a Level Red trauma activation.

Doctors performed extensive diagnostic testing, including:

• X-rays
• CT scans of the head, brain, neck, spine, abdomen, and pelvis

Our client was diagnosed with blunt abdominal trauma and chest and abdominal wall contusions and was kept overnight for observation due to concerns about internal injuries.

Delayed Symptoms and Hidden Injuries

As is common in serious intersection accidents, not all injuries were immediately apparent. After discharge, our client continued to experience extreme pain and stiffness in his lower body, particularly in the tailbone and lower back. He reported being largely immobilized for days following the crash due to the severity of his pain.

Subsequent evaluations revealed:

• Persistent coccyx and sacral pain
• Imaging consistent with posterior subluxation of the coccyx
• MRI findings indicating nondisplaced fractures of multiple coccygeal segments

Tailbone fractures are exceptionally painful injuries that significantly interfere with sitting, standing, walking, and working. These injuries are consistent with the direct axial loading forces commonly seen in high-speed intersection collisions.

Escalation of Medical Treatment

Despite conservative treatment measures, our client’s pain remained severe and unrelenting. Ultimately, he required a fluoroscopically guided sacrococcygeal joint injection combined with a caudal epidural steroid injection under IV sedation.

Following the procedure, he experienced approximately 80% pain relief. His treating physician noted that additional interventional injections may be required if symptoms persist or worsen. Unfortunately for the client, his relief was only temporary and his pain returned. The client then underwent further injection procedures.

This medical course underscores an important truth: intersection crashes often result in injuries far more serious than insurers initially claim.

Long-Term Consequences Beyond Medical Bills

Before the collision, our client lived an active lifestyle, regularly exercising multiple times per week. Following the crash, he experienced ongoing pain that interfered with daily activities, prolonged sitting, and physical exercise.

The lingering pain and limitations caused significant disruption to his quality of life—an impact that cannot be measured solely by medical bills or repair estimates.

Why Intersection Accidents Demand Experienced Representation

Failure-to-yield cases may seem straightforward, but insurance carriers routinely attempt to minimize these claims by arguing that injuries are minor, preexisting, or unsupported.

Effective representation in intersection accident cases requires:

• Immediate preservation of crash and vehicle damage evidence
• Early and decisive establishment of liability
• Medical documentation that aligns biomechanics with injury patterns
• A clear presentation of long-term consequences and future care needs

In this case, our client’s medical expenses alone exceeded $81,000, and the lasting effects of the injuries justified a demand for the full available policy limits.

Holding Negligent Drivers Accountable in Scottsdale

Intersection accidents are not unavoidable mishaps. They are often the predictable result of drivers failing to follow basic traffic laws designed to protect everyone on the road.

This Scottsdale case is a powerful example of how a single failure to yield can permanently alter someone’s life. When negligence causes harm, accountability matters.

If you or someone you care about has been injured in an intersection accident or failure-to-yield crash in Arizona, experienced legal guidance can be critical to securing fair and full compensation.

Scottsdale Injury Lawyers, LLC Will Be Your Advocates

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in an intersection car accident, don’t fight the insurance company alone. Let our experienced Scottsdale personal injury attorneys protect your rights and help you receive full compensation for your injuries.

Contact one of our injury lawyers now to discuss your case.

About the author: The content on this page was provided by Scottsdale personal injury attorney and civil rights lawyer Tony Piccuta with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence. Piccuta graduated with honors from Indiana University-Maurer School of Law in Bloomington, Indiana (Previously Ranked Top 35 US News & World Report).  Piccuta took and passed the State bars of Arizona, California, Illinois and Nevada (all on the first try). He actively practices throughout Arizona and California. He is a trial attorney that regularly handles serious personal injury cases and civil rights lawsuits. He has obtained six and seven figure verdicts in both state and federal court. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers for six years straight. He is a member of the Arizona Association of Justice, Maricopa County Bar Association, Scottsdale Bar Association, American Association for Justice, National Police Accountability Project and Consumer Attorneys of California, among other organizations.

Disclaimer: The information on this web site is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information on this page is attorney advertising. Reading and relying upon the content on this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, you should contact our law firm for a free consultation and to discuss your specific case and issues.

References:

[1] https://www.azleg.gov/ars/28/00701.htm